Brandon Lowe hit a two-run double in the first inning off opener Nick Nelson, and the Tampa Bay Rays kept up their domination of the Yankees with an 8-2 win Friday night that set off frustrated fans who caused a brief interruption.
Tampa Bay arrived in New York with eight defeats in 11 games and had not held a lead in 25 innings. The young, athletic Rays spurted to an 8-0, seventh-inning lead and beat the Yankees for the 16th time in their last 21 meetings, including during last year’s division series.
The Yankees dropped to 5-8 and managed a triple crown of failed pitching, hitting and fielding.