ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (CBSNewYork/AP) — There’s no question DJ LeMahieu and Gary Sanchez are both early contenders for league MVP. On the Fourth of July, they both added to their cases in a pivotal series in Tampa.
LeMahieu hit a tie-breaking two-run single and Sanchez had a long three-run homer in the 10th inning, and the AL East-leading New York Yankees overcame a ninth-inning blown save by closer Aroldis Chapman to beat the second-place Tampa Bay Rays 8-4 in the opener of a four-game series Thursday night.
Edwin Encarnacion added to the fireworks with his 25th homer for the Yankees, who are 15-2 since June 15 and have a season-high, 7 ½-game lead over the Rays.