Steven Souza Jr. celebrated his 27th birthday in style. Drew Smyly was the guy getting all the gifts.
Souza homered twice and the Tampa Bay Rays went deep five times in all, finally giving Smyly some run support Sunday in an 8-1 victory over the New York Yankees.
"We've got a lot of thump," Souza said. "We got off to a slow start. We faced some tough pitchers early on, some real good ones. And this last week and a half or so, guys have really started to fall into their groove."
Souza and Corey Dickerson each hit a two-run homer in a five-run first inning against Michael Pineda. That was a welcome present for Smyly, who had received three runs of support in his first three starts this year.
Steve Pearce and Logan Forsythe added solo shots to help Tampa Bay prevent a three-game sweep and finish 3-3 on its road trip to Boston and New York.
"It was awesome," Smyly said. "It makes my job way easier when you have a big lead like that."
Alex Rodriguez exited with stiffness on his left side, but New York received positive news after the game when results of an MRI on his oblique were negative. No immediate roster move will be made and A-Rod was traveling with the team to Texas, the Yankees said.
The 40-year-old slugger drove in New York's run with a fourth-inning double off the top of the left-field fence, then was pulled for a pinch hitter in the sixth.
"He was warming up to take his at-bat, is when he felt it," manager Joe Girardi said. "Taking a few swings in the cage."
"Anytime someone leaves with an oblique, you're not really optimistic because they take a while depending on the severity of it," Girardi added before the MRI results were announced. "And I even think sometimes when players physically feel ready, I still don't think they have the strength that they had before."
New York completed a 3-6 homestand and lost for the eighth time in 11 games.
Smyly (1-2) went seven innings in his third consecutive strong start. The left-hander allowed six hits and one walk with six strikeouts, five days after dominating the Red Sox.
"I think I'm just starting to kind of understand the hitters, starting to understand myself, have more of a game plan out there," said Smyly, whose college roommate at Arkansas was AL Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel of the Houston Astros. "Every game with experience you learn something new, you get better and better. I'm feeling healthy and things are going well."
Pineda (1-2) retired his first two batters and was ahead 0-2 on Evan Longoria before he doubled off the center-field fence. Dickerson followed with his fifth homer, deep into the right-field bleachers.
Pearce singled and scored on a double by slumping Brad Miller before Souza homered deep into the left-field stands. With that, the Rays had scored five runs in a span of nine pitches.
Tampa Bay (8-10) scored three runs or fewer in 13 of its first 17 games.
"We've been a little bit quiet here and there, but these guys can hit," manager Kevin Cash said. "Evident today."
STINGY STUFF
Smyly has a 2.52 ERA in 23 starts since he was acquired from Detroit in a trade for David Price on July 31, 2014. That's the lowest during that stretch for any American League pitcher who has made at least 15 starts. Smyly ended his outing leading the majors with 33 strikeouts this season.
BIRTHDAY BOY
Souza became the first major leaguer to hit two homers on his birthday since Minnesota's Trevor Plouffe in June 2012. "I'll play him next year (again)," Cash said. Souza's opposite-field drive to right in the fifth gave him his second career multihomer game -- both this month. Souza is 6 for 12 with three home runs against Pineda.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: LF Desmond Jennings was rested, with Dickerson playing left field and Forsythe the DH. Pearce made his first start at second base for the Rays, one day after his Tampa Bay debut at third.
Yankees: OF Aaron Hicks (left shoulder inflammation) was planning to accompany the team to Texas as the Yankees wait to determine if he needs to go on the 15-day disabled list.
UP NEXT
Rays: All-Star RHP Chris Archer (0-4, 7.32 ERA) faces Baltimore RHP Kevin Gausman (season debut) in the opener of an eight-game homestand Monday night. Archer is 0-7 in 10 starts since beating the Orioles on Aug. 31 last year, and hasn't won at Tropicana Field since June 23. "A big start. Let's get back home and get him going," Cash said. "It's time for us to pick him up. He picked us up quite a bit last year."
Yankees: A nine-game road trip begins Monday night at Texas, with RHP Nathan Eovaldi (0-2, 6.11 ERA) on the mound for New York.
NEW YORK -- Souza homered twice and the Tampa Bay Rays went deep five times in all, finally giving Smyly some run support Sunday in an 8-1 victory over the New York Yankees.
"We've got a lot of thump," Souza said. "We got off to a slow start. We faced some tough pitchers early on, some real good ones. And this last week and a half or so, guys have really started to fall into their groove."
Souza and Corey Dickerson each hit a two-run homer in a five-run first inning against Michael Pineda. That was a welcome present for Smyly, who had received three runs of support in his first three starts this year.
Steve Pearce and Logan Forsythe added solo shots to help Tampa Bay prevent a three-game sweep and finish 3-3 on its road trip to Boston and New York.
"It was awesome," Smyly said. "It makes my job way easier when you have a big lead like that."
Alex Rodriguez exited with stiffness on his left side, but New York received positive news after the game when results of an MRI on his oblique were negative. No immediate roster move will be made and A-Rod was traveling with the team to Texas, the Yankees said.
The 40-year-old slugger drove in New York's run with a fourth-inning double off the top of the left-field fence, then was pulled for a pinch hitter in the sixth.
"He was warming up to take his at-bat, is when he felt it," manager Joe Girardi said. "Taking a few swings in the cage."
"Anytime someone leaves with an oblique, you're not really optimistic because they take a while depending on the severity of it," Girardi added before the MRI results were announced. "And I even think sometimes when players physically feel ready, I still don't think they have the strength that they had before."
New York completed a 3-6 homestand and lost for the eighth time in 11 games.
Smyly (1-2) went seven innings in his third consecutive strong start. The left-hander allowed six hits and one walk with six strikeouts, five days after dominating the Red Sox.
"I think I'm just starting to kind of understand the hitters, starting to understand myself, have more of a game plan out there," said Smyly, whose college roommate at Arkansas was AL Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel of the Houston Astros. "Every game with experience you learn something new, you get better and better. I'm feeling healthy and things are going well."
Pineda (1-2) retired his first two batters and was ahead 0-2 on Evan Longoria before he doubled off the center-field fence. Dickerson followed with his fifth homer, deep into the right-field bleachers.
Pearce singled and scored on a double by slumping Brad Miller before Souza homered deep into the left-field stands. With that, the Rays had scored five runs in a span of nine pitches.
Tampa Bay (8-10) scored three runs or fewer in 13 of its first 17 games.
"We've been a little bit quiet here and there, but these guys can hit," manager Kevin Cash said. "Evident today."
STINGY STUFF
Smyly has a 2.52 ERA in 23 starts since he was acquired from Detroit in a trade for David Price on July 31, 2014. That's the lowest during that stretch for any American League pitcher who has made at least 15 starts. Smyly ended his outing leading the majors with 33 strikeouts this season.
BIRTHDAY BOY
Souza became the first major leaguer to hit two homers on his birthday since Minnesota's Trevor Plouffe in June 2012. "I'll play him next year (again)," Cash said. Souza's opposite-field drive to right in the fifth gave him his second career multihomer game -- both this month. Souza is 6 for 12 with three home runs against Pineda.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: LF Desmond Jennings was rested, with Dickerson playing left field and Forsythe the DH. Pearce made his first start at second base for the Rays, one day after his Tampa Bay debut at third.
Yankees: OF Aaron Hicks (left shoulder inflammation) was planning to accompany the team to Texas as the Yankees wait to determine if he needs to go on the 15-day disabled list.
UP NEXT
Rays: All-Star RHP Chris Archer (0-4, 7.32 ERA) faces Baltimore RHP Kevin Gausman (season debut) in the opener of an eight-game homestand Monday night. Archer is 0-7 in 10 starts since beating the Orioles on Aug. 31 last year, and hasn't won at Tropicana Field since June 23. "A big start. Let's get back home and get him going," Cash said. "It's time for us to pick him up. He picked us up quite a bit last year."
Yankees: A nine-game road trip begins Monday night at Texas, with RHP Nathan Eovaldi (0-2, 6.11 ERA) on the mound for New York.
1:05PM,EDT,April 24,2016
Yankee Stadium, New York, New York
Yankee Stadium, New York, New York
View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
Tampa Bay - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
---|---|---|
Michael Pineda pitching for New York | TB | NYY |
Forsythe struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
Morrison grounded out to first. | 0 | 0 |
Longoria doubled to deep center. | 0 | 0 |
Dickerson homered to right center (407 feet), Longoria scored. | 2 | 0 |
Pearce singled to right center. | 2 | 0 |
Miller doubled to deep left, Pearce scored. | 3 | 0 |
Souza Jr. homered to left center (428 feet), Miller scored. | 5 | 0 |
Kiermaier doubled to deep right. | 5 | 0 |
Casali popped out to second. | 5 | 0 |
5 Runs, 6 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
New York - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
Drew Smyly pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | NYY |
Ellsbury flied out to left. | 5 | 0 |
Gardner grounded out to pitcher. | 5 | 0 |
Beltrán singled to center. | 5 | 0 |
Teixeira grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Beltrán out at second. | 5 | 0 |
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
Tampa Bay - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
Michael Pineda pitching for New York | TB | NYY |
Forsythe singled to center. | 5 | 0 |
Morrison struck out swinging. | 5 | 0 |
Longoria struck out swinging, Forsythe stole second. | 5 | 0 |
Dickerson struck out swinging. | 5 | 0 |
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
New York - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
Drew Smyly pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | NYY |
Rodriguez struck out swinging. | 5 | 0 |
McCann struck out swinging. | 5 | 0 |
Headley struck out looking. | 5 | 0 |
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
Tampa Bay - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
Michael Pineda pitching for New York | TB | NYY |
Pearce homered to left center (397 feet). | 6 | 0 |
Miller struck out swinging. | 6 | 0 |
Souza Jr. struck out swinging. | 6 | 0 |
Kiermaier grounded out to first. | 6 | 0 |
1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
New York - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
Drew Smyly pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | NYY |
Castro flied out to left. | 6 | 0 |
Gregorius popped out to third. | 6 | 0 |
Ellsbury flied out to right. | 6 | 0 |
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
Tampa Bay - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
Michael Pineda pitching for New York | TB | NYY |
Casali struck out swinging. | 6 | 0 |
Forsythe singled to right. | 6 | 0 |
Morrison struck out swinging. | 6 | 0 |
Longoria walked, Forsythe to second. | 6 | 0 |
Dickerson flied out to right. | 6 | 0 |
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
New York - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
Drew Smyly pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | NYY |
Gardner hit by pitch. | 6 | 0 |
Beltrán struck out swinging. | 6 | 0 |
Teixeira grounded out to third, Gardner to second. | 6 | 0 |
Rodriguez doubled to deep left, Gardner scored. | 6 | 1 |
McCann struck out swinging. | 6 | 1 |
1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
Tampa Bay - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
Michael Pineda pitching for New York | TB | NYY |
Pearce grounded out to third. | 6 | 1 |
Miller grounded out to second. | 6 | 1 |
Souza Jr. homered to right (370 feet). | 7 | 1 |
Kiermaier struck out swinging. | 7 | 1 |
1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
New York - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
Drew Smyly pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | NYY |
Headley walked. | 7 | 1 |
Castro singled to left, Headley to second. | 7 | 1 |
Gregorius flied out to right. | 7 | 1 |
Ellsbury grounded into fielder's choice to first, Castro out at second, Headley to third. | 7 | 1 |
Gardner grounded into fielder's choice to second, Ellsbury out at second. | 7 | 1 |
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
Tampa Bay - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
Kirby Yates pitching for New York | TB | NYY |
Yates relieved Pineda. | 7 | 1 |
Casali struck out looking. | 7 | 1 |
Forsythe flied out to right. | 7 | 1 |
Morrison reached on infield single to third. | 7 | 1 |
Longoria struck out looking. | 7 | 1 |
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
New York - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
Drew Smyly pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | NYY |
Beltrán grounded out to pitcher. | 7 | 1 |
Teixeira singled to shallow center. | 7 | 1 |
Ackley hit for Rodriguez. | 7 | 1 |
Ackley singled to right, Teixeira to second. | 7 | 1 |
McCann struck out swinging. | 7 | 1 |
Headley flied out to center. | 7 | 1 |
0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
Tampa Bay - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
Kirby Yates pitching for New York | TB | NYY |
Dickerson popped out to third. | 7 | 1 |
Pearce hit by pitch. | 7 | 1 |
Miller struck out swinging. | 7 | 1 |
Souza Jr. struck out swinging. | 7 | 1 |
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
New York - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
Drew Smyly pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | NYY |
Castro singled to left. | 7 | 1 |
Gregorius grounded into double play, shortstop to first, Castro out at second. | 7 | 1 |
Ellsbury flied out to left. | 7 | 1 |
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
Tampa Bay - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
Nick Goody pitching for New York | TB | NYY |
Goody relieved Yates. | 7 | 1 |
Kiermaier struck out swinging. | 7 | 1 |
Casali lined out to center. | 7 | 1 |
Forsythe homered to right (379 feet). | 8 | 1 |
Morrison struck out swinging. | 8 | 1 |
1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
New York - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
Steven Geltz pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | NYY |
Geltz relieved Smyly. | 8 | 1 |
Gardner struck out swinging. | 8 | 1 |
Beltrán flied out to left. | 8 | 1 |
Teixeira lined out to right. | 8 | 1 |
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
Tampa Bay - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
Nick Goody pitching for New York | TB | NYY |
Romine catching. | 8 | 1 |
Torreyes in right field. | 8 | 1 |
McCann at first base. | 8 | 1 |
Longoria struck out swinging. | 8 | 1 |
Dickerson walked. | 8 | 1 |
Pearce grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Dickerson out at second. | 8 | 1 |
Miller lined out to first. | 8 | 1 |
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
New York - Bottom of 9th | SCORE | |
Jhan Marinez pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | NYY |
Mariñez relieved Geltz. | 8 | 1 |
Ackley popped out to shortstop. | 8 | 1 |
McCann struck out swinging. | 8 | 1 |
Headley grounded out to second. | 8 | 1 |
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors |
Tampa Bay Rays | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
Forsythe DH | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 20 | .303 | .370 | .545 |
Morrison 1B | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 17 | .080 | .132 | .100 |
Longoria 3B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 27 | .253 | .291 | .453 |
Dickerson LF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 22 | .259 | .295 | .603 |
Pearce 2B | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17 | .257 | .333 | .371 |
Miller SS | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 21 | .115 | .179 | .231 |
Souza Jr. RF | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 16 | .291 | .339 | .600 |
Kiermaier CF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 21 | .250 | .345 | .458 |
Casali C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 17 | .139 | .162 | .250 |
Totals | 39 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 2 | 16 | 178 | |||
BATTING 2B: Longoria (6, Pineda); Miller (3, Pineda); Kiermaier (4, Pineda) HR: Dickerson (5, 1st inning off Pineda 1 on, 2 Out); Souza Jr. 2 (5, 1st inning off Pineda 1 on, 2 Out; 5th inning off Pineda 0 on, 2 Out); Pearce (1, 3rd inning off Pineda 0 on, 0 Out); Forsythe (3, 8th inning off Goody 0 on, 2 Out) RBI: Dickerson 2 (9), Miller (4), Souza Jr. 3 (11), Pearce (4), Forsythe (8) 2-out RBI: Dickerson 2, Miller, Souza Jr. 3, Forsythe Rays RISP: 2-5 (Dickerson 1-3, Casali 0-1, Souza Jr. 1-1) Team LOB: 7 | ||||||||||
BASERUNNING SB: Forsythe (2, 2nd base off Pineda/McCann) | ||||||||||
FIELDING DP: 1 (Miller-Morrison). |
Game Information
Stadium | Yankee Stadium, New York, NY |
Attendance | 40,981 (82.6% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
Game Time | 2:50 |
Weather | 60 degrees, sunny |
Wind | 13 mph |
Umpires | Home Plate - Ben May, First Base - Angel Hernandez, Second Base - Will Little, Third Base - Ted Barrett |
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