In a run of inconsistent play, Cody Bellinger is among the most consistent hitters for the New York Yankees.
After he hit a tying homer on Tuesday that helped to even a four-game series with Tampa Bay at one win apiece, the Yankees hope to see more clutch hits from Bellinger when they host the Rays on Wednesday.
Bellinger reached 20 homers for the fifth time in his nine-year career after he hit the three-run shot in the third inning in New York’s 7-5 victory.
Bellinger has gone deep 10 times in his past 24 games since June 29, including a three-homer performance against the Chicago Cubs on July 11. He is batting .343 (47-for-137) with 11 homers and 25 RBIs in his past 33 games and reached 20 homers in his 98th game of the season.
“Massive,” manager Aaron Boone said about how valuable Bellinger has been. “He’s been so good on both sides of the ball. The speed and athleticism on the bases too. A ton of big hits.”
The latest big night from Bellinger occurred on a night in which Anthony Volpe sandwiched a pair of throwing errors around a tiebreaking RBI single in the fourth and a homer in the eighth.
Volpe has five homers in his past 10 games. He also has 15 errors, the most among major league shortstops, and the Yankees have made 12 errors in their past eight contests.
“One thing for certain is he’s really, really good out there and he’s clearly had some struggles,” Boone said of Volpe.
The offense provided by Bellinger and Volpe gave the Yankees their fifth win in 13 games following a five-game winning streak July 6-11. The Yankees are 16-24 since getting off to a 42-25 start.
The Rays, who are 8-19 in their past 27 games, expect Brandon Lowe to rejoin the lineup after he missed the past nine games with left ankle and left foot tendinitis. The Rays are 2-7 without him.
Lowe is batting .269 with 19 homers and 50 RBIs in 86 games this season. He was 5-for-25 in seven games before the injury.
“When he’s playing well, hitting well, the Rays are a good team. So real excited,” said Tampa Bay right-hander Zack Littell, the scheduled starter on Wednesday.
The Rays are 2-for-20 with runners in scoring position in the series.
Right-hander Will Warren (6-5, 4.82 ERA), who is 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA in his past three starts, will make the start on Wednesday for the Yankees.
Warren received his second straight no-decision Friday after he allowed two runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings. New York relievers, however, yielded 10 runs in the 12-5 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Warren is 0-1 with a 5.68 ERA in two career starts against the Rays.
Littell (8-8, 3.72) was tagged for five runs and 10 hits over six innings during Friday’s 7-2 loss at Cincinnati.
Littell is 3-1 with a 4.81 ERA in four career starts against the Yankees.
–Field Level Media
