Major League Baseball

Yankees stumble in 2-0 loss to Rays, Snell

Published Sep. 22, 2016 11:09 p.m. ET

foxsports

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) Blake Snell and the Tampa Bay Rays' bullpen combined to strand 11 New York runners in a 2-0 win Thursday night that prevented a much-needed three-game sweep by the Yankees.

New York went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position, including 0 for 7 against Snell. The Yankees started play 2 1/2 games in back of Baltimore for the second AL wild-card spot and also trailed Seattle, Houston and Detroit.

Snell (6-8) gave up five hits and three walks. New York had scoring threats in four of five innings against him, leaving the bases loaded in the third when Chase Headley flied out. Headley returned to New York's lineup after missing three games because of back tightness.

Chase Whitley, in his third game since returning from Tommy John surgery, allowed two hits in 2 2/3 innings, and Alex Colome finished for his 35th save in 37 chances.