Luis Gil struck out a career-high nine over 5 2/3 innings for his first major league win in three years, and the New York Yankees took advantage of Adam Civale’s control problems in a four-run fifth to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-4 on Sunday. Civale walked three straight batters with two outs in the fifth, then gave up Alex Verdugo’s two-run single and RBI singles by Jose Trevino and Oswaldo Cabrera — all in a three-pitch span — as New York spurted ahead 5-1.
Zach Eflin took a shutout into the seventh inning, Isaac Paredes hit a three-run homer in a four-run fifth and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Texas Rangers 5-2 on Tuesday night. Eflin (1-1) allowed three of his five hits and lone run in the seventh, then was removed after Jonah Heim's one-out RBI single. Heim also had a two-out run-scoring single in the ninth off Pete Fairbanks, who retired Leody Tavares on a game-ending flyout near the left-field wall with with two on.
Nathan Eovaldi struck out eight in seven shutout innings. Corey Seager homered and the Texas Rangers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 on Wednesday. Eovaldi (1-0) scattered four hits and walked one, throwing 103 pitches.
Scott, 29, was 9-5 with a 2.31 ERA and 12 saves in 16 chances last season, when he made $2,825,000. He is eligible for free agency after this year's World Series. Teams have a 353-266 advantage since arbitration started in 1974.
Harold Ramírez lost to the Tampa Bay Rays in salary arbitration on Thursday and will earn $3.8 million instead of his $4.3 million request. Chris Cameron, Allen Ponak and Scott Buchheit made the decision, one day after hearing arguments. Ramírez won last year at $2.2 million, when the team offered $1.9 million, then set career bests with a .313 batting average, 12 homers and 68 RBIs.