Chandler Simpson collected three hits, scored a pair of runs and the Tampa Bay Rays completed a three-game sweep of the New York Yankees by hanging on for a 5-4 victory on Sunday afternoon in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Simpson went 5-for-10 in the series and made his mark on each game. He drove in two runs Friday and scored the game-winning run in the 10th on Saturday after entering as a pinch runner in the eighth.
The speedy outfielder helped the Rays complete their first three-game sweep of the Yankees at Tropicana Field since June of 2018 by getting a pair of singles and a triple.
Simpson started the game with a single off New York’s Cam Schlittler (2-1), took third on a base hit by Junior Caminero and scored on a sacrifice fly by Yandy Diaz.
In the second, Simpson hit an RBI single that scored Taylor Walls after the shortstop stole second.
Simpson got his third hit when he tripled to right field off Ryan Yarbrough and scored on Caminero’s sacrifice fly off Camilo Doval in the seventh after the Yankees scored twice to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Cedric Mullins tripled and scored on a groundout by Richie Palacios as the Rays gave starter Drew Rasmussen (1-0) a three-run lead.
The Rays added their fifth run when Jake Fraley scored on Taylor Walls bunt fielder’s choice when first baseman Ben Rice’s throw home was late.
Rasmussen returned from the paternity list and allowed one hit in six scoreless innings during his first start since April 1. Rasmussen struck out seven, walked none and retired the final 14 hitters he faced.
Jazz Chisholm Jr, had the only hit off Rasmussen when he doubled in the second. Rasmussen was yelling at Chisholm because he thought signs were being stolen but he apologized to the second baseman in the fifth.
Schlittler allowed three runs on seven hits over five innings, striking out eight and walking one.
The Yankees lost their fifth straight game, with each loss by two runs or fewer.
New York scored its first two runs in the seventh when Cody Bellinger hit an RBI single and Giancarlo Stanton grounded out as a pinch hitter.
Aaron Judge hit a two-run homer with nobody out in the ninth off Mason Englert. Englert allowed a two-out double to Amed Rosario and intentionally walked Austin Wells before retiring Ryan McMahon on the next pitch for his first career save.
