Yankees hold Rays hitless with runners in scoring position

ST. PETERSBURG — The first call was made in the fifth inning, as Marcus Stroman handed over the baseball and a bases-loaded headache to the bullpen. In strode Tim Hill, the sidewinding left-hander, who promptly extinguished the jam by striking out Josh Lowe on three pitches and inducing a Randy Arozarena flyout.

Those have been the situations that saw leaks spring during a slide that has lasted nearly a month, but perhaps Wednesday’s game will restore some confidence. The Bombers’ bullpen performed admirably, avoiding damage repeatedly to lock down a 2-1 victory over the Rays at Tropicana Field.

Luke Weaver needed just one pitch to generate an inning-ending double play in the sixth inning, then escaped another jam after issuing a pair of seventh-inning walks, retiring Lowe on a flyout and striking out Arozarena. In all, Yanks hurlers held Tampa Bay hitless in nine at-bats with runners in scoring position, stranding 10 men on.

Not only did Trent Grisham cover 61 feet to complete a game-saving catch in the eighth inning, robbing Yandy Díaz of extra bases, but the outfielder provided the Yankees’ offensive support against Zach Eflin.

Grisham connected for a run-scoring double in the second inning and lifted a sacrifice fly in the fourth. Stroman scattered seven hits over 4 1/3 innings, holding the Rays to a run, produced by Díaz’s fifth-inning fielder’s choice.

Juan Soto stole second base in the eighth inning, marking the Yanks’ first successful steal since June 14.