Rougned Odor Helps Yankees Avoid Sweep at Hands of Rays

 YANKEES 8 - RAYS 4 

For the better part of three-plus hours it was looking pretty ugly for the New York Yankees. They were down 4-3 heading into the eighth inning, starring at an uncertain future. Could the Yankees actually get swept away by the Rays and fall to 3-6 in the cellar of the AL East? 

It look entirely possible. Nothing had been going the Yankees way in this series. They were shutout Saturday afternoon, and on Sunday Jordan Montgomery got smacked around by the Rays, continuing the disturbing fact that the Yankees do not have enough starting pitching behind Gerrit Cole. 

Yet somehow the Yankees hung around long enough for struggling shortstop Gleyber Torres to break out of his early season slump when he lined a RBI single to center, scoring Aaron Judge to tie the game at four. 

Finally, some life from a lifeless offense. 

After a stellar job by Chad Green and Darren O'Day to work a scoreless eighth inning, Aroldis Chapman worked around a Mike Zunino double to strikeout Kevin Padio swinging to get out of the jam and force extra innings. 

In extras the Yanks finally cashed in on the international rule. With Aaron Judge leading off on second base, Aaron Hicks was hit by a pitch to begin the inning. A sacrifice by Mike Tauchmann was followed by a Fielder's Choice for Torres, when shortstop Will Adames threw Judge out at home for the first out. 

With runners on first and third, Odor blooped a single to center, scoring Hicks to give the Yankees a 5-4 lead.

Odor's story is a miracle in itself. He was acquired by the Yankees from the Texas Rangers for virtually nothing, and hadn't played in a game until today's finale in Tampa. With the Yankees scuffling offensively coming into the game, any kind of help, anywhere would have been appreciated. Odor even shaved off his trademark beard that became so synonymous with him during his time in Texas. He looked like a different guy. On Sunday he was. 

 Gary Sanchez followed that up with a RBI single of his own, scoring Torres to make it 6-4. Finally, Gio Urshela, who had a big day with a two-run homer to straight-away center field earlier in the game, doubled to drive in Odor; Sanchez scored on a fielding error. 

Just like that the Yanks were up 8-4. 

Albert Abreu settled down the Rays quietly in the bottom of the 10th with a pair of strikeouts to end the losing streak and get the Yankees back on track at 4-5 on the year. 

The Bombers visit the Blue Jays in Dunedin Florida on Monday night.