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Yankees 2, Rays 1: Starlin Castro hits a home run and the saves Yankees from being no-hit

Brian Blanco/Getty Images

The Yankees snuck out a victory today to take the three-game series against the Rays. They couldn't get a thing going against Jake Odorizzi, and he took a no-hitter into the seventh inning. It looked like it was just going to be one of those days. Thankfully, they found their moment and took advantage.

Nathan Eovaldi did a good job keeping the team in the game, allowing only one run on six hits and two walks. He also struck out seven batters over six innings. Eovaldi allowed his only run of the day in the third inning when Brandon Guyer hit one to Starlin Castro, who was unable to field it cleanly. After a ground out and a wild pitch, Guyer moved to third base, and Evan Longoria singled him in to take the lead. Eovaldi was mostly able to avoid any big innings, but he did have a scare in the sixth when the Rays loaded the bases before he managed to shut them down.

It wasn't until the sixth inning that the Yankees even had a base runner. Dustin Ackley grounded to short, but managed to cross first base before the throw got in. After a review it was deemed that the runner was safe and Brad Miller was given a rather questionable error to end the perfect game, but preserve the no-hitter. Everything changed in the seventh inning when Brett Gardner worked a walk. Starlin Castro managed to take advantage of a mistake pitch by Odorizzi that travelled right over the heart of the plate, and the second baseman launched a two-run homer to center field. It was just enough to take the lead, and it was the team's only hit of the day–a feat they last accomplished in 1914!

The big three came in after the sixth and it was business as usual for them. Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller struck out five over their two innings of work, while Aroldis Chapman brought on a little more drama. There was a line drive down the left field line that just missed being a home run and went foul, and Aaron Hicks overran a ball in foul territory, but managed to make a trick play for the out. Chapman buckled down, though, and got two strikeouts of his own to steal one away from the Rays.

The Yankees will spend Memorial Day in Canada, as Ivan Nova takes on Marco Estrada and the Blue Jays at 7:07 PM.