ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — In an early-season showdown against the best team in the AL East, the Yankees improved their chances to eventually slide into first place.
Not only did the Yankees hand the division-leading Rays a 4-3 defeat in front of 20,846 at Tropicana Field on Friday night, they watched Tampa Bay’s stud starter, Tyler Glasnow, leave the game with a right forearm problem.
“We know we are up against a really good club and obviously going up against a good pitcher,’’ manager Aaron Boone said before the Yankees won for the 15th time in 20 games and moved one-half length back of the Rays.