Yankees ride five-run first inning to 9-2 win over Diamondbacks

With the win and the Rays ' loss earlier in the evening, the Yankees are 4.0 games behind Tampa for first place in the AL East.

-The Yankees got to Eduardo Rodriguez early, loading the bases (walk, single, walk) with no outs in the first. Ben Rice worked his way back from a 1-2 count to walk and force in the game's first run. Amed Rosario , starting at third base, blooped a single to drive in a run. Spencer Jones struck out before a passed ball allowed Heliot Ramos to score from third. George Lombard Jr. followed up with a two-run single to give the Yankees a 5-0 lead.

- Gerrit Cole , after allowing seven home runs in his last two starts, had a shutdown 12-pitch first inning after the Yankees gave him that five-run lead. However, the longball would bite Cole in the second, when Corbin Carroll launched a two-run shot to put Arizona on the board.