[Art Deco]

Game 1: In one of their poorer efforts of the year, the Rays were zapped by the Lightning 8-3 as they continue to have trouble with this franchise, having been swept in four games last season when they were known as the Miami Roughnecks. Jack Leiter had another poor start, this time in the pitcher-friendly confines of the Trop, giving up 3 in the 3rd on a 3-run Victor Mesa Jr homer and 2 more in the 4th, going 4.2 6 5 5 3 7 with the strikeouts the only good thing about his outing. Blake Money took over in long relief and was only a little better, giving up 3 runs (2 earned) over 3 1/3. Meanwhile the offense couldn't get anything going against Hunter Greene until it was too late, with the exception of Yordan Alvarez's 21st HR of the year, a solo shot in the 4th. Wander Franco hit a 2-run triple in the 8th but to sum up the night he was tagged out at third when Columbus pulled the old hidden ball trick. The Yankees came back with 3 in the 9th to beat the Mets with the winning hit courtesy of new acquisition Victor Robles, so the lead is cut to 9 1/2.

Game 2: The Rays took out all their frustrations at being 1-3 on this mini-homestand by putting up a touchdown and extra point in the first inning, kicking a field goal in the 2nd, and cruising to a 14-2 win over Columbus. Yoendrys Gomez didn't stand a chance, giving up hit after hit to a parade of Rays batters, allowing 7 runs on 6 hits and getting only two outs in the first, and Miguel Diaz was battered for 4 runs and 9 hits in 3 1/3 of relief as they totaled 21 hits for the day. Leading the parade was Wander Franco, who finished a triple short of the cycle, going 4-6 with a HR (#18) and 2 RBI. Yordan Alvarez (3-6 with 2 doubles and an RBI), Hunter Bishop (3-4 with 2 RBI) and Nate Clark (3-5 with 2 doubles and an RBI) also had big days. Interestingly, Jhon Diaz led the team in RBI on the day thanks to a bases-clearing pinch-hit double in the 7th for the final runs. Christian Little was absolutely dominant with all this run support, retiring the first 12 Lightning before Andrew Benintendi led off the 5th with a homer. That was the only baserunner Little allowed as he went 7 1 1 1 0 12 in one of the best starts of his career and is now 11-5, 3.14. Liam Hendriks gave up a run in the 8th and Jack Filby had a scoreless 9th to close out the game. The Yankees won, so we're still 9 1/2 up.

Team record: 70-38. Next up: Yet another off-day (something tells me we're not getting much if any rest in August and September) before a weekend 3-game trip to Cincinnati.