Yankees produce pair of homers in rain-soaked 7-4 win over Rays

The Yankees extended their winning streak to three games on Thursday afternoon, as a pair of early-inning homers helped them outlast the Rays in a rain-soaked 7-4 victory at Yankee Stadium.

Here are the takeaways…

— It didn't take long for the Yankees to inflict damage on Rays starter Ryan Pepiot. After a lucky one-out double to shallow left from Paul Goldschmidt — the high fly was lost in the sky and found grass between four fielders — Cody Bellinger continued his torrid pace at the plate with an RBI single to right-center that broke the ice. The swirling Bronx winds didn't impact the ensuing at-bat for Giancarlo Stanton, however, as the veteran slugger bumped the first-inning lead to 3-0 with a mammoth two-run homer to left that traveled 432 feet.

— The Yankees posted another three-spot off Pepiot in the second. Following back-to-back one-out walks from Ryan McMahon and Anthony Volpe, leadoff man and catcher Ben Rice ripped a cutter to right-center that landed in the bullpen for a three-run blast. The 410-foot shot was No. 16 on the season for Rice, who finished July with just two homers in 56 total at-bats. The Yankees jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the third, when newly-acquired outfielder Austin Slater grounded into a fielder's choice that scored Jazz Chisholm Jr., who sparked the brief rally with a one-out walk of his own.

— The early and ample run support appeased Marcus Stroman, who managed to hold the Rays hitless through three innings with three strikeouts across 38 pitches. But the groove didn't last for the veteran right-hander, as he gave up a leadoff single to Brandon Lowe in the fourth that snowballed into a five-hit, four-run rally and cut the Yankees' lead to three. Stroman needed 28 pitches to complete the frame, and it marked his first start with four-plus runs allowed since returning from the injured list on June 29.

— Heavy rain began to fall in the top of the fifth, and Stroman worked quick enough to produce three outs on eight pitches and make the game official. While play resumed after a mid-inning chat between a grounds crew member and umpire, the tarp was rolled out shortly thereafter with runners on the corners for the Yankees and one out. Rather than handing the Yankees a rain-shortened win, the league made both teams sit through a nearly three-hour delay, and the prolonged fifth inning ended with a double-play groundout from Slater.

— Yerry De Los Santos was tasked with bulk relief duty following the delay, and didn't disappoint the Yankees. He faced the minimum through three innings of work, punching out five across 33 pitches. Jonathan Loaisiga then handled the ninth inning, and worked around a leadoff double to earn his first save of the season. The Yankees' offense produced just a pair of singles after the rain showers.

Game MVP: Ben Rice

Rice's three-run shot in the second inning wound up providing just enough cushion, as the Yankees' seven-run lead was cut down to three by the fourth. It was welcomed power from Rice, who's hitting just .228 over his last 30 games.

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees (60-49) will fly down to South Beach and begin a three-game weekend set with the Marlins on Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m.

LHP Carlos Rodón (11-7, 3.18 ERA) is slated to take the mound, while the Marlins have yet to name their starter.

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