Rays take series from Yankees behind Cobb’s solid start.

Rays back up solid outing by Cobb, take series from Yankees.

ST. PETRSBURG, FL – Fans around Tampa Bay had to wonder Wednesday night which Rays team would show up in the rubber match with the Yankees. Would it be the 7-3 victors who came to play on Opening Day? Or the team that couldn’t figure out C.C. Sabathia 24 hours earlier?

The answer came quickly.

Corey Dickerson would hit his first career lead off HR to give Tampa an early 1-0 lead on Michael Pineda.

Jacoby Ellsbury would answer right back and tie things up with a bomb of his own in the top of the second off Alex Cobb. The tie wouldn’t last long.

The home half of the third inning saw everything. A “catwalk single” by Logan Morrison, a blown call at the plate that replay still got wrong, and a Rays catcher stealing second base. Yes, you read that right. Derek Norris, who’d driven in two runs in the inning, stole second base. So did Mallex Smith, who drove in the other run in the inning.

Cobb would exit with two outs in the sixth inning to a standing ovation from the Rays faithful. He would hand a 4-1 lead over to the combination of Xavier Cedeno and Jumbo Diaz. It would stay that way after Diaz struck out Starlin Castro to end the building threat by the Yanks.

Erasmo Ramirez had some tense moments in the top of the eighth inning but got away unscathed. The Rays would take that same 4-1 lead they had since the second inning to the ninth.

2016 All-Star closer, Alex Colome, would become a human target in the top of the ninth. Taking two liners off his body leading to two base runners for the Yankees. However, a double play and a fly ball later locked in the “W” and an opening series win for the Rays.

NEXT UP:

• The Rays welcome in the Toronto Blue Jays. Wednesday kicks off the four-game series with LHP Blake Snell taking the ball at 7:10 PM.

NOTABLES:

• First time the Rays have won an opening series since 2012.
• Derek Norris stolen base in the 2^nd inning was first by a Rays catcher since Ryan Hanigan back in 2014.
• Tim Beckham’s 12-game hitting streak was snapped in tonight’s win.