Yankees determined to wake sleepy bats in rematch vs. Rays

Getting into a climate-controlled environment hardly solved woes at the plate for the New York Yankees on Friday night.

Tweaking the top of the lineup helped the Tampa Bay Rays, however.

The Yankees will attempt to get rolling offensively and halt a three-game losing streak on Saturday evening when the American League East rivals continue a three-game series in domed Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.

After winning seven of their first eight games, the Yankees have lost four of their last five. During their past three games, the Yankees are hitting .112 (10-for-89) with 35 strikeouts.

In Friday's 5-3 loss to the Rays, the Yankees scored twice in the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Cody Bellinger and a triple by Amed Rosario. New York did not get another hit until Ben Rice's pinch-hit homer in the eighth inning. The Yankees struck out 12 times.

"I think up until the last game of the homestand, we've been walking a ton, giving ourselves an opportunity," manager Aaron Boone said. "Just got to get some guys clicking and get that big hit. We're not hitting a ton of long balls right now, but for the most part, approach wise we've been good.

"It's going to happen sometimes from the offense, and they'll get it rolling some people will pay the price."

Tampa Bay tweaked the top of its lineup after going 11-for-62 (.177) and getting outscored 15-4 in a pair of losses to the visiting Chicago Cubs this week.

Yandy Diaz batted fourth on Friday and hit a tying two-run homer in the first inning after starting the Rays' first 12 games out of the leadoff spot.

Chandler Simpson moved up to that spot, had an RBI single, drove in two runs and is hitting .373 this year. Junior Caminero batted behind Simpson and reached base twice after hitting third or fourth in the previous 12 games.

"Chandler is a very talented young hitter, and Yandy I think he can probably hit anywhere," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "He's so talented. We'll see how it goes. We'll continue to mix and match. I didn't think Chandler or either one of them were going to think too much of it."

Cash may keep Simpson in the lineup Saturday against Yankees starter Max Fried (2-0, 1.35 ERA) especially since the outfielder is batting .385 vs. left-handed pitching this season.

The Yankees have yet to see a starting pitcher allow more than three runs and hope for some length from Fried after Luis Gil lasted four innings. Fried, a left-hander, allowed three runs on five hits in 6 2/3 innings while pitching in inclement weather in a no-decision against the Miami Marlins on Sunday. New York lost 7-6.

Fried is 5-0 with an 0.77 ERA in five career starts against the Rays, who batted .121 in those outings. Last season, he was 3-0 with an 0.84 ERA in three starts against Tampa Bay and held Diaz to one hit in eight at-bats.

The Yankees had four left-handed hitters on the bench Friday when they faced southpaw Steven Matz, but Rice will return to the lineup at first base against right-hander Nick Martinez (0-0, 2.25 ERA).

Martinez has a pair of no-decisions in his initial two starts with Tampa Bay. He allowed one run on one hit in six innings on Sunday when the Rays scored three times in the 10th for a 4-1 win at Minnesota.

Martinez is 2-2 with a 5.09 ERA in 10 career appearances (five starts) against the Yankees. He last started against them on 2017, when he was with the Texas Rangers.

--Field Level Media