On the times the hitting is on, and the pitching is decent, the Tampa Bay Rays look like a ballclub.
It was that way Saturday, when the Rays blasted the New York Yankees, 9-5. Tampa Bay had nine extra base hits, taking a 9-1 lead and then holding on.
Hank Conger, who entered the game with only three RBI, had a three-run homer and two doubles. Evan Longoria had a home run and four RBI.
Matt Moore had not gone as many as five innings in his last four outings, but this time, he went 6 2/3 innings. The Yankees scored the last four runs off the Rays’ bullpen.
The Rays had six players with at least two hits each: Longoria, Conger, Brad Miller, Steve Pearce, Logan Morrison and Corey Dickerson.
Tampa Bay, which had lost six of its previous seven, pulled to within 22-25 on the season.
The Rays play today at 1:10 p.m. With Jake Odorizzi on the mound.