Rays 10, Yankees 8: So You’re Telling Me There’s a Chance..?

What. A. Game.

From start to finish, Tampa Bay had to gut today’s ballgame out.

Chandler Simpson made his debut, as he started in centerfield and hit leadoff. Simpson had about 10 family and friends that he left tickets for, and a few more made the trip to Tampa.

The Rays’ first inning woes would continue, as Paul Goldschmidt and Jazz Chisholm Jr contributed to a 2-0 Yankees lead in the first frame.

In the top of the second, Trent Grisham homered to make it a 3-0 New York lead.

The Rays offense showed some signs of life in the third, as Yandy Diaz singled home Jose Caballero to make it 3-1.

The Yankees would create what seemed to be an insurmountable 6-1 lead in the fourth on a two-RBI single by Aaron Judge and a sacrifice fly by Austin Wells to make it 6-1. Tampa Bay had just scored seven runs since their 16-run outburst on Monday against Boston.

There was a scary moment to end the top half of the fifth, as Rortvedt and Aranda collided with Aranda taking the brute end of things and being shaken up, but Aranda would return to game action.

With their backs against the wall, the Rays came out swinging. Jake Mangum singled in Junior Caminero, and Ben Rortvedt singled in Kameron Misner and Caballero to make it a two-run ballgame at 6-4.

In the ninth, it felt as though the wheels fell off again as Pete Fairbanks gave up two runs to extend the Yankee lead to 8-4. With closer Devin Williams entering the game for the save, it felt as though New York was in the drivers seat to clinch the series.

Not so fast.

Chandler Simpson collected his first MLB hit, RBI, and run in mere minutes on a ground-rule double to left field to plate Caballero yet again and make it 8-5.

The not-so-fleet-afoot Diaz beat out an infield single to plate Ben Rortvedt, and the slumping dawg Brandon Lowe had his day, driving in a pair on a single to center to knot the game anew at 8-8.

The Yankees would have runners at first and third with none out in the 10th and come up short to bring Jonathan Aranda to the dish with Christopher Morel as the ghost runner at second base.

Ryan Pepiot and Max Fried are the probable starters for the 13th and final game of the homestand, as well as getaway day, a 1:40 PM ET start from Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, FL.