ST. PETERBURG – The Yankees had a couple of missed opportunities Tuesday night against the Rays, but they were nothing compared to the opportunity they wasted in the standings.
The Bombers’ 6-3 loss at Tropicana Field left them three games behind the Blue Jays in the American League East, a number which could have been trimmed to two thanks to Toronto’s loss to the lowly Braves in Atlanta.
Nick Franklin’s two-run home run in the sixth against Nick Rumbelow proved to be the difference in the game as Jake Odorizzi and a trio of Rays relievers held the Yankees scoreless over the final five innings.