Offense takes control early as Jake Odorizzi pitches Rays past Yankees
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Jake Odorizzi is focused on a strong second half and not trade speculation.
Odorizzi pitched masterfully into the seventh inning, Logan Forsythe and Corey Dickerson hit solo homers in the first, and the Tampa Bay Rays cooled off the surging New York Yankees 5-1 on Friday night.
Scouts from many playoff contenders were in attendance with Monday's non-waiver trade deadline looming.
"I'm not really worried about it, to be honest," Odorizzi said. "I'm worried about what I do here, and coming out in the second half and starting off well, which I think we have. That's what my purpose is, to get better because in the first half I wasn't happy with myself."
Odorizzi (5-5) struck out five and allowed six hits over 6 2/3 innings. Alex Colome entered with two on and one out in the ninth, and got two straight outs for his 23rd save.
Odorizzi went eight scoreless innings in previous start Friday at Oakland, a game that Tampa Bay lost 1-0 in 13 innings. The Rays are 6-5 since losing 24 of 27.
"Odo's last two starts were tremendous," Rays manager Kevin Cash said.
Teams represented included San Francisco, the Chicago Cubs, Florida, Cleveland, Washington, Toronto, Baltimore, Texas and the Chicago White Sox.
Ivan Nova (7-6) gave up five runs and six hits in 4 1/3 innings. When pulled by Yankees manager Joe Girardi, Nova directed several comments toward plate umpire Laz Diaz walking toward the dugout and then fired his glove against the wall after reaching the dugout steps.
"Ivan wasn't pleased with his strike zone," Girardi said. "It's hard for me to tell, but I thought there were some pitches that looked pretty good."
Nova didn't blame the strike zone for his loss, but "bad" pitch command.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: RHP Alex Cobb (Tommy John surgery) resumed a minor league rehab assignment after taking 2 1/2 weeks off due to fatigue and struck out two over two hitless innings for Class A Charlotte.
MOVING DAY
Tampa Bay placed 1B Logan Morrison (right forearm strain) and OF Oswaldo Arcia (right elbow strain) on the 15-day disabled list. RHP Brad Boxberger (strained left oblique) was reinstated from the 15-day DL and INF-OF Nick Franklin was recalled from Triple-A Durham.
A-ROD
Girardi said DH Alex Rodriguez could start Saturday night after being out of the lineup six straight games. A-Rod, who singled as a pinch-hitter in the ninth, is in a 2-for-22 slump.
UP NEXT
Rays LHP Drew Smyly (2-11) looks to end an 11-start winless streak -- that includes seven losses -- as he goes against Yankees RHP Nathan Eovaldi (9-6).
