#Yankees ripped by Rays as four-game win streak snapped

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — After four straight wins, the Yankees had a chance to move into a tie for first place with another victory on Thursday.

But their trip from the basement to the top of the AL East will have to wait, as they saw their winning streak come to a halt on Thursday in a 9-1 loss to the Rays at Tropicana Field.

On a day Gleyber Torres was confirmed to have COVID-19, the offense was shut down by 41-year-old Rich Hill, while Jameson Taillon had another shaky outing.

Hill, the former Yankee, befuddled the Bombers over 6 ²/₃ innings, using a variety of soft — by today’s standards — sliders and curveballs and a fastball that topped out at 90 mph.

But the lefty also brought in a nine-inning scoreless streak over his previous two outings that he continued on Thursday.

Hill got a fly out to right from Gio Urshela with two on to end the top of the third. And with runners on the corners and one out in the sixth, he got the slumping Mike Ford to hit into a double play.

And Taillon, who allowed four runs in 4 ²/₃ innings, didn’t help by putting the Yankees in a significant hole early.

The right-hander got the first two batters he faced, but then gave up three straight hits.

Manuel Margot started the first-inning rally with a single to right and went to third on Brandon Lowe’s double to right. Yandy Diaz drove in both runners with a single to center to make it 2-0 in a 27-pitch first inning for Taillon.

Taillon rebounded in the second by striking out the side in order, but walked Randy Arozarena to lead off the bottom of the third.

Austin Meadows followed with a two-run homer to increase the Yankees’ deficit to 4-0.

Taillon didn’t make it through the fifth, leaving with two on and two out.

Michael King got the final out of the inning, but King’s scoreless streak came to an end in the sixth.

King entered the night having not allowed a run in 12 ¹/₃ innings over four appearances this season, but he followed a leadoff walk to Joey Wendle by allowing a single to Kevan Smith. King struck out the next two batters, but Arozarena took him deep and the three-run shot all but ended the Yankees’ comeback hopes.

Justin Wilson’s miserable season continued with another poor performance. He has now allowed runs in four of his past five appearances.