Castro Lifts Yankees to Series Win, 2-1

      The Yankees and Rays squared off today in the third and final game of the series in Tampa. Nathan Eovaldi took the ball for the Pinstripers this afternoon in hopes of taking the rubber game despite Pineda's garbage outting yesterday. Nasty Nate has been dealing lately, going 5-0 with a 2.92 ERA in his last six, and 5-2 with a 3.95 ERA overall this season. Tampa Bay sent right-hander Jake Odorizzi to the bump to oppose New York, who's 2-2 in ten starts, with a 3.46 ERA in 2016. He has struggled against the Yankees early in his career, having lost three times to them just last season. But you would not have known that if you watch today, as both starters were phenomenal today and this quick and close contest.
     The two out RBI hit by the opposition has been a problem throughout the season and reared its ugly head again today. With two outs in the bottom of the third, Evan Longoria fought off a 98-mph fastball by Eovaldi, dumping it into right for a single that scored Brandon Guyer and gave the Rays a one run lead. That one run would seem a lot larger than it's minimal value, however, because Odorizzi was dealing.
     The Rays righty Odorizzi was dominant all afternoon, tossing a perfect game through the first five innings. In fact, he had only four three-ball counts through the first six frames. The fourth three-ball count concluded when Dustin Ackley hit a sharp ground ball to short, where Brad Miller bobbled it and threw the ball in the dirt to Logan Morrison, allowing Ackley to reach base as the first baserunner of the ballgame for New York. Odorizzi didn't even allow his first hit of the game until the top of the seventh. After walking Gardner with one out, Odorizzi served up an absolute bomb to Starlin Castro that was not only the first hit for New York, but also gave up the shut out and the lead as well.
     With the Yankees taking a 2-1 lead in the seventh, Girardi was able to deploy No-Run DMC in relief of Eovaldi, who was again phenomenal, leaving with a final line of 6 IP, 1 ER, 2 BBs and 7 K's. Delin showed why he leads all of MLB relievers in strikeouts, fanning a pair in a scoreless seventh inning of work. Miller followed suit by striking out the side in the eighth, and Chapman collected his seventh consecutive save as he fanned two Rays to close out the series win. Seven of the Final nine hitters of the game went down via the strikeout. In fact, with the win today, the Yankees are 19-1 when leading after six innings.
      Tomorrow, the Yankees hit the road for a three game set in Toronto against the rival Blue Jays, with first pitch scheduled for 7:07 PM/ET.