Rays top Yankees
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Sergio Romo got to view the game from the perspective of Brooks Robinson, Mike Schmidt and Wade Boggs. And he got a save, too.
Romo relieved in the eighth inning, shifted to third base when Jonny Venters replaced him in the ninth and then struck out Brett Gardner to end the game with two on and give the Tampa Bay Rays a 3-2 win over the New York Yankees on Wednesday.
Romo became the 11th pitcher to also play third base in the same game since 1908, and the first since Philadelphia’s Bill Wilson at Pittsburgh on Aug. 6, 1971, according to Baseball Reference.
“Just to be able to say I played third base in the big league, it’s in the books,” Romo said. “It was a fun game. Very, very fun game.”
Scheduled Rays starter Nathan Eovaldi was traded to AL East-leading Boston about two hours before game time, and manager Kevin Cash used six pitchers to combine on a seven-hitter.
“Cash and the other guys around here aren’t afraid to mix things up,” Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier said. “They thought it was the best chance for us to win, and we did. So they look like geniuses.”
Tampa Bay improved to 1923 in games it used its bullpen throughout rather than a traditional starting pitcher.
New York has lost just two series since May, and both are against the Rays. Tampa Bay swept three games in late June, took two of three this week and has won six of its last seven against the Yankees. New York, 14-14 over its last 28 games, acquired reliever Zach Britton from Baltimore late Tuesday but said he will not report until Thursday’s homestand opener against Kansas City.
“That’s a tough loss,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Sure, frustrating.”
Neil Walker hit a sacrifice fly in the second inning, but the Rays took a 3-1 lead in the sixth when Kiermaier hit a two-run homer off Luis Cessa (1-2) and C.J. Cron added a solo drive against Jonathan Holder.
Romo relieved Jose Alvarado with two on and one out in the eighth, allowed Giancarlo Stanton’s sacrifice fly and struck out Gleyber Torres, who went 0 for 3 with a walk in his return from a strained right hip that caused the rookie to miss 15 games. He also made a nifty play up the middle on Matt Duffy’s first-inning grounder. bmcgair@pawtuckettimes.com
PAWTUCKET – It’s taken some time, probably much longer than Marcus Walden originally anticipated. But he’s finally back on the mound for the Pawtucket Red Sox.
The righthander found himself thrust into action mere hours after getting activated off the disabled list. He tossed a scoreless sixth inning Wednesday night against Columbus, throwing 18 pitches (11 strikes) and getting the assistance of an inning-ending double-play ball.
Walden retired the first hitter he faced before allowing a double and a walk. He then got Columbus second baseman Yu-Cheng Chang hit into a twin killing that was started by PawSox shortstop Mike Miller.
For Walden, it was his first appearance in a PawSox uniform since May 30. The next day, he was placed on the disabled list with right arm inflammation. Before getting hurt, Walden was 0-2 with a 7.07 ERA in six games (five starts) for Pawtucket.
Walden opened the season on Bos-