Yankees 3, Rays 2
NEW YORK -- Rookie left fielder Ramon Flores delivered a sacrifice bunt which resulted in an error that sent home the winning run with none out in the bottom of the ninth inning as the New York Yankees squandered a two-run lead before getting a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday at Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees beat the Rays for the eighth time in 12 meetings when Flores bunted on his third attempt against Tampa Bay closer Brad Boxberger.
Boxberger (4-4) came off the mound to field the ball but his throw bounced in front of first baseman James Loney for an error.
The throw from second baseman Jake Elmore was late and pinch runner Jose Pirela slid in with the winning run as the Yankees emerged from the dugout to celebrate.
The wild final sequence touched off a second straight celebration, coming approximately 16 hours after catcher Brian McCann's three-run home run in the 12th gave the Yankees a 7-5 win on Friday.
The Yankees needed a second straight game-ending home run after Dellin Betances (5-1) was unable to get his eighth save.
Betances opened the ninth by allowing a single to Loney and then hung a 2-and-2 curveball that right fielder Steven Souza sent a few rows over the left field fence for his 15th home run and second hit in the last 28 at-bats.
Betances kept the game tied by getting two strikeouts and a few moments later, first baseman Mark Teixeira opened the game-winning rally with a double that was just out of Loney's reach, went past second baseman Jake Elmore and to the warning track in right field.
Following a walk to right fielder Chris Young, Flores came up with a chance to win it. He showed bunt twice, but Boxberger did not throw a strike, but on the next pitch he executed.
Flores' execution of the bunt came on a day when right-hander Michael Pineda struck out 10 in seven-plus scoreless innings.
The Yankees scored their first two runs in a span of four batters to open the game against Tampa Bay's Nathan Karns (4-5). Designated hitter Alex Rodriguez had an RBI single and Teixeira lifted a sacrifice fly for his fifth RBI since the eighth inning of Friday's game.
Karns settled down after the rocky opening sequence and nearly matched Pineda. He allowed five hits and struck out a career-high 10 hitters.
The Rays saw their losing streak reach a season-high seven games.
NOTES: The Rays made three roster moves before the game, as they optioned LHP C.J Riefenhauser to Triple-A Durham, purchased the contract of LHP Everett Teaford from Durham and designated 1B Marc Krauss for assignment. That gives the Rays a total of 80 roster moves since Opening Day. ... New York LHP Andrew Miller (forearm) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session before the game. The Yankees have not decided the next step for Miller, who has been on the disabled list since June 11. ... Tampa Bay RHP Steve Geltz apologized for not talking to the media after giving up C Brian McCann's home run Friday, and also tweeted to fans and followers that he was sorry for the letdown.