Yankees Rally Past Rays 7-5 as Boyle Struggles in Debut Start

The New York Yankees overcame an early deficit to defeat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-5 on July 31, 2023, marking a challenging debut for pitcher Joe Boyle in the Rays’ rotation. Despite starting strong with a three-run lead, Boyle’s performance deteriorated, allowing the Yankees to capitalize and turn the game in their favor.

The Rays initially took control of the game, with Jonny DeLuca delivering a two-run triple and Jonathan Aranda hitting a home run in the third inning, establishing a 3-0 lead. However, the tide turned in the third inning when Boyle struggled with his control. After walking two batters, Cody Bellinger hit a three-run homer, bringing the Yankees back into contention.

In the fourth inning, the Yankees continued to exploit Boyle’s difficulties, scoring three additional runs, aided by two defensive errors from the Rays. Boyle’s outing ended after just 3 1/3 innings, during which he allowed six runs, four of them earned, along with four hits and three walks. This performance marked Boyle’s first loss of the season, a disappointing outcome for a player expected to bolster the Rays’ rotation.

Rays manager Kevin Cash expressed his faith in Boyle despite the tough outing. “We think really highly of him,” Cash stated. “He’s been really good for us in the outings up here. But, yeah, the command… you’ve got to give credit to their lineup for not doing him any favors and kind of waiting him out.”

The defeat dropped the Rays to a .500 record of 54-54. While Boyle bore the brunt of the blame, the game was not solely on his shoulders. Jose Caballero, the usually reliable second baseman, committed an error that contributed to the Yankees’ rally in the fourth inning. New catcher Nick Fortes, who was acquired from Miami following the trade of Danny Jansen to Milwaukee, also struggled defensively with a throwing error.

The Rays had opportunities to reclaim the lead but struggled in critical moments, finishing the game with a disappointing 1-for-10 performance with runners in scoring position. Although they scored a run in the seventh inning on a double from Taylor Walls, they could not capitalize further, with Yandy Diaz grounding out to end the inning.

In the eighth, the Rays threatened again with back-to-back singles from Aranda and Junior Caminero, but a double play halted their momentum. The Yankees responded with a home run from Anthony Volpe, extending their lead to 7-4.

The Rays made one final push in the ninth inning. Josh Lowe opened the inning with a triple and scored on a ground out by Tristan Gray. With two outs and Aranda batting, the tying runs were on base, but he struck out, sealing the Yankees’ victory.

Boyle’s first start was particularly challenging given he was paired with Fortes, a new catcher with whom he had no previous rapport. The two worked through the game together, adjusting their strategy on the fly. “It’s hard, but we talked and we did our best,” Boyle reflected. Fortes echoed this sentiment, highlighting the efforts of the entire Rays staff to help him integrate quickly into the team’s game plan.

The Yankees and Rays will face off again on August 1, 2023, with Zack Littell scheduled to pitch for the Rays against Will Warren for the Yankees. The game is set to begin at 19:05 ET and will be broadcast on local networks as well as the MLB Network.