A hard childhood evolved into problems with alcohol, including a blackout at a party that ended up with Heathcott having a shotgun pulled on him and waking up in an emergency room with a deep gash that he doesn’t remember receiving. On September 11, the Yankees announced Teixeira would miss the rest of the season.

Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier went 0-for-4 at the plate in Tuesday’s win over the Yankees, but his full-sprint catch to turn a potential RBI double into an inning-ending out in the seventh inning drew rave reviews from both clubhouses. He flew to left as Gomes picked up his first save of the season.

With over six innings passing before the Yankees registered their first hit, CC Sabathia was pitching like the unlikely hero to that point in the game (he had allowed only one run).

The Yankees, though, rallied in the ninth off Boxberger (4-10), who has six blown saves along with his 10 losses, most by any major league reliever this year.

“Obviously it would have been nice”, he said.

Warren, who began the season in the rotation, is 0-1 with a 4.32 ERA in three starts against the Rays in 2015. That put the Yankees back on top.

J.P. Arencibia added a two-run single in the ninth to give the Rays a three-run cushion as Rico Noel failed to come up with a diving catch. “It kind of knocks you on your heels a little bit when you get down that early, that quickly”, said Tigers manager Brad Ausmus after the brutal loss.

Asked if he thought a day or two off to clear his head might help, Ellsbury said, “I feel I’m an everyday player”.

But you can understand why he did.

-RHP Jake Odorizzi had another quality start, giving up three hits and three runs in six innings to improve to 8-8 this season. “He’s just trying to get it going”.

Following the Yankees’ first road interleague series in Washington back in May, A-Rod went on a tear following two days off. He rattled off an 11-game hitting streak, slashing.400/.457/.500, lifting his season average from.246 to.282. That’s what I’ve been throughout my career.

“It’s tough”, a tight-lipped Girardi said. “It’s a lot to ask of them, but we think they’re capable of doing the job and we need it”.

Alex Rodriguez enjoyed being overshadowed by a rookie. Despite the pre-game report, their 40-year old DH still batted third in the lineup and he even managed to crush his team-leading 32nd home run of the year off Jake Odorizzi during last nights ball game.

Logan Forsythe had an RBI single in the first and Tampa Bay went ahead 2-1 when Mikie Mahtook doubled, stole third and scored on catcher Brian McCann’s throwing error in the second.