New York Yankees beat TB Rays in first face-to-face duel

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Adam Ottavino's great escape in the seventh inning helped restore the Yankees' impulse on Friday night, during the first trials of the AL East.

And once again, it was Gio Urshela who gave the great success, scoring a single no-fault that allowed the Yankees to win a 4-3 win against the Rays, first in the standings, in front of 20,846 spectators at Tropicana Field .

Now led by the Yankees (23-15) with just half a game, the Rays (23-14) promise to be a valid candidate all season.

But the Yankees stayed close to the top of the division despite many injuries to key players. And on Friday, Rays crossed their collective fingers while starter Tyler Glasnow came out with a pain in his right forearm.

Glasnow came in with a 6-0 record and a points average of 1.47.

But he was in the club in the sixth inning when two of his legacy runners scored on Urshela's powerful single to drop Emilio Pagan.

The Yankees rally began when Gary Sanchez's impressive pop-up found himself in the center circle of this three-ring circus, the only dome-filled baseball stadium.

The baseballs hitting Trop's podiums, when they are on fair territory, are at stake, and the shutdown Willy Adames could not hold on, which kicked off the Yankees rally.

Spotted ahead 2-0, Domingo German conceded two home runs in the fifth, while the Rays took the lead 3-2.

Right next to the list of injured due to a sprained right thumb, Austin Meadows fired a two-point shot. Two batters later, the former Yankee Ji-Man Choi completed a decisive circuit in the center.

The German (7-1) had previously scored only two homers on his first seven starts (eight appearances) this season.

Ottavino loaded the bases seventh without leaving, but he came out.

He eliminated Tommy Pham, who chased a slider that would have been ball four. And then, he launched Choi in a crazy double game that ended the round, deflecting Ottavino to second baseman DJ LeMahieu, who jumped on the bag and shot the first goal, just giving Choi.

Tommy Kahnle threw another scoreless run before Ottavino, while Zack Britton and Aroldis Chapman finished the Yanks 15th win in the last 20 games.

More: Didi Gregorius is eager to go while he works at the Yankees after an elbow operation

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Danny Farquhar presents the Yankees' extended training match in Tampa
Pete Caldera, Editor, @pcaldera

On Friday in Tampa, Danny Farquhar started playing battles again in a 20-shot practice match against the Blue Jays' minor league. He gave up an undeserved run on two hits.

On April 20, 2018, right-wing Farquhar was in the Yankees' camp as a guest not part of the team. He was coming back from an event that was putting his life in danger. He was suffering from a cerebral hemorrhage caused by a ruptured aneurysm while he was trying to beat the White Sox.

More: Danny Farquhar makes a moving return on a mound with the Yankees

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Recovered from Tommy John's operation, left-handed Jordan Montgomery is progressing to the point of being ready to boost the Yankees' rotation by August.

"It's a realistic goal to think about," said Montgomery, who kicked off a 30-hole session on Friday. Next time, "I'll start incorporating curveballs" while increasing the number of throws.

"The reinforcement is going well and I'm not (too) eager to let him go," said Montgomery.

Also Friday, Dellin Betances (conflict at the right shoulder) finished his third day of throwing at 60 feet. He will increase his distances on Sunday. "We are slowing down to start rebuilding it now," Boone said of the right-hander, who may be considering a return to the Yank market in June.

James Paxton (inflammation of the left knee) has resumed the game and "it seems he has responded rather well" since his arrival on the list of 10-day wounded May 4, according to Boone. Paxton is a candidate to return to the rotation by the end of May.