Yankees one loss from elimination after Rays win Game 2 of the ALDS 5-2

The Tampa Bay Rays beat the Yankees 5-2 on Monday night in St. Petersburg, Florida, and now lead their best-of-five American League Division Series 2-0. One more Rays win sends Tampa Bay to the AL Championship Series.

Game 3 is Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium. Another loss would end New York’s season and stretch its World Series drought to 17 seasons.

Yankees errors open the door in the fifth inning

The game was tied 1-1 going into the fifth. Jonathan Aranda singled and Junior Caminero doubled. With the rest of the infield drawn in, second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. was playing a few steps deeper, so when Liam Hicks grounded his way, Chisholm could only get the out at first while Aranda crossed the plate. Tampa Bay led 2-1.

Shortstop George Lombard Jr. then booted a Chandler Simpson grounder, letting Caminero score. Brent Headrick replaced starter Cam Schlittler and struck out Victor Mesa Jr., but Lombard’s wide throw on a Jonny DeLuca grounder was New York’s fourth error of the night. Richie Palacios followed with a two-run single to center, making it 5-1.

Schlittler, who went 14-6 with a 1.95 ERA in the regular season, lasted 4 1/3 innings. He gave up four runs, two earned, on six hits and struck out two. He had limited the damage early, allowing just one run in a first inning in which his defense booted the ball three times. No team had committed that many errors in the opening inning of a playoff game since Oakland did it against Boston in the 1975 ALCS.

Ben Rice homers twice as the offense stalls without Aaron Judge

Ben Rice drove in both New York runs with two home runs. The first, a solo shot in the fourth, tied the game at 1. The Yankees have scored two runs in two games while Aaron Judge, a three-time AL MVP, sits out with a calf injury. They loaded the bases in the fifth, but Cam Booser got out of it when Cody Bellinger’s deep drive to center was caught just short of the wall. Bryan Baker retired all three batters he faced in the ninth to earn his second save in as many games.