Richie Palacios started the game with a home run against Marcus Stroman, kicking off Tampa Bay’s four home runs. Jose Siri also hit a home run and took a leisurely trot around the bases. The Rays won 6-4 against the New York Yankees on Sunday.
Randy Arozarena hit his third home run in two days, and José Caballero also homered as the Rays hit four home runs for the second consecutive game, a feat they had achieved only once in their first 97 games.
Siri hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning off Jake Cousins. He celebrated by raising both hands near second base and cupping his right hand to his ear while rounding third.
“They boo a lot here,” Siri said through a translator. “They even boo their own team. I don’t think that’s a good thing.”
After the Rays built a 5-0 lead, Aaron Judge hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning off Jason Adam, a 444-foot shot to left field. Judge leads the majors with 35 home runs and 89 RBIs.
Tampa Bay has won two straight games after losing the series opener and improved to a record of 50-49, moving back above .500 heading into Monday’s series finale. The Rays have been at .500 22 times this season.
“I would love if we didn’t have a 23rd,” closer Pete Fairbanks said.
New York fell to 9-20 since starting the season 50-22. Aaron Boone was ejected before the start of the seventh inning for arguing, his fifth ejection this season and 38th of his managing career.
Boone was defending Alex Verdugo, who was upset over a called third strike on a pitch that seemed low.
New York’s starting rotation had a major league-best 2.86 ERA during a 51-24 start through June 18 but has posted a major league-worst 6.39 ERA since then. The Yankees allowed 22 runs in the first inning of their first 70 games but have given up 25 in their last 31 games.
“We know we’re better than this,” Boone said.
New York hit into two double plays, bringing their total to a major league-high 94, and failed to score before Judge’s homer despite nine of their first 20 batters reaching base. The Yankees were 4 for 28 with runners in scoring position in the first three games of the series, leaving 23 runners stranded.
