Ryan McMahon hit a third-inning grand slam and tied a career high with five RBIs, while Ben Rice hit a pair of solo homers as the host New York Yankees rolled to a 9-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night.
McMahon drove in five runs for the fourth time in his career and started his big night with a two-strike single off Tampa Bay spot starter Mason Englert (0-4) for a 2-0 lead in the second.
After George Lombard Jr. started the third with a homer to right-center field, McMahon lifted a full-count offering down the right field line for a 7-0 lead.
It was the third baseman’s third career grand slam, and McMahon went deep after Anthony Volpe took ground balls at third before the game.
Rice homered on the first pitch of the contest from Englert to become the 13th Yankee with 40 homers in a season. After hitting his fourth career leadoff homer, Rice homered again into the right field seats for an 8-1 lead in the fourth.
Rice had his fifth career multi-homer game and became the seventh player to reach 40 homers this season. Rice also added a single and reached base four times.
The Yankees (91-67) won for the 10th time in 15 games. Rookie Spencer Jones doubled and scored on McMahon’s RBI single in the second, while Heliot Ramos chipped in a sacrifice fly.
New York’s Gerrit Cole (10-9) allowed two runs on three hits in 5 2/3 innings in a postseason tuneup. Cole struck out eight, walked three and reached double-digit victories for the 10th time in his career.
Jonny DeLuca hit an RBI double, and Cedric Mullins homered for the Rays (96-62), who fell three games behind Milwaukee for the best record in baseball.
After clinching their fifth AL East title on Tuesday, the Rays rested AL hits leader Yandy Diaz and played Junior Caminero for five innings.
Englert allowed eight runs on nine hits over 3 2/3 innings after Ian Seymour was originally slated to start for Tampa Bay. Seymour is expected to pitch in Thursday’s series finale.
