Souza homers twice on birthday, Rays rout Yankees 8-1

NEW YORK (AP) — Steven Souza Jr. homered twice on his 27th birthday and the Tampa Bay Rays went deep five times in all, finally giving Drew Smyly some run support Sunday in an 8-1 victory over the New York Yankees.

Souza and Corey Dickerson each hit a two-run homer in a five-run first inning against Michael Pineda. Steve Pearce and Logan Forsythe added solo shots to help Tampa Bay prevent a three-game sweep and finish its 3-3 road trip to Boston and New York on a positive note.

Alex Rodriguez exited with stiffness on his left side (oblique) and was sent for an MRI, the Yankees said. Rodriguez drove in New York's lone run with a fourth-inning double off the top of the left-field fence, then was pulled for a pinch hitter in the sixth.

New York completed a 3-6 homestand and lost for the eighth time in 11 games.

Smyly (1-2) went seven innings in his third consecutive strong start.

Associated Press