Erasmo Ramirez: Ramirez dominates the Yankees for 7th win

James Loney’s two-run single in the top of the first held up for the duration of the game as the Tampa Bay Rays (43-41) won big, 8-1, over the New York Yankees (44-38) Sunday afternoon in Yankee Stadium.

The Rays walked six after Mark Teixeira hit a tying three-run homer in the eighth against Kevin Jepsen – without allowing a hit.

Fortunately for the Yankees, they have emerged victorious both times and will go for a home sweep Sunday by trying to hand the Rays an eighth straight defeat.

“You look at what Tex has done in the middle, Brian McCann and Alex, they’ve all had really good first halves”.

“It feels good to win – there’s no real difference (from) playing against any other team”, said Bour, who was picked up by the Marlins for $12,500 as a Rule 5 selection in 2013 (see full recap).

Tampa Bay lost its sixth in a row and second straight in extra innings.

After Michael Pineda struck out 10 in seven innings of five-hit ball, Steven Souza Jr. tied the score with a two-run, ninth-inning drive, the first home run off Dellin Betances (5-1) since August 13. Forsythe singled to right, Longoria scored, Loney scored. New York also recalled INF Gregorio Petit from Triple-A and optioned OF Taylor Dugas to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre…. “The stuff was not there (like) the last two times and there’s not much to say”.

Cabrera was nailed in the ninth on a throw from Gardner, the center fielder. Tanaka, however, hung a 2-2 two-seamer to speedy No. 8 hitter Kevin Kiermaier pulled it past the first-base bag into the corner for a leadoff triple. Then he saw Casali halfway to third when the ball reached Nova’s glove and called for Nova to throw to third.

Going into the season, New York wondered about Teixeira’s production.

“I think the guys are not down but more disappointed and hurt because we know what it can be and how close it was to being two victories (in New York) instead of two losses”, Elmore said. Boxberger said he thought he could get Young at second base but decided on the sure out at first. He threw 47 pitches and is likely to get one more minor-league start before coming off the DL.

In Phoenix, Cliff Pennington’s sacrifice fly to deep left field drove in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th.

Ramirez was charged with one run in 5 2-3 innings and suffered a 6-2 loss to Cleveland on Tuesday after the Rays won his previous five outings. Rays RHP Jake Odorizzi (strained left oblique) will make one more rehab start before returning next weekend.

The Yankees’ Jacoby Ellsbury, out since May 19 with a sprained right knee, could be activated. He played Monday and Wednesday.

“We played a great game, we battled, we made some pitches, it was just their night”, Archer said. “The defensive scouting reports are so good that you either have to crush it or get lucky”.

The right-hander is 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA against New York this year in four appearances – one start.

– Friday’s game at Yankee Stadium opened an important 10-game run to the All-Star break, during which the Rays play the teams atop the three divisions in the American League.