Acce s the Yankees beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside Dj Stewart Jersey buzz on the Yankees. Whenever trash day comes in The Bronx, the Yankees can to s most of Sundays game out to the curb. But then after the Yankees finally made things interesting with an eighth-inning rally, Aaron Boone left himself open for second-gue sing with his pinch hitting decisions on a day when he was managing with a short bench. It was an all-around ugly day on which the Yankees struggled to pitch, catch or, until late, hit the ball as they dropped a second straight series with a 7-5 lo s to the Rays on a dreary afternoon in The Bronx. After Will Warren turned in another slog of a start that did not make it through the fifth inning, the Yankees (19-15) came alive late to tease a comeback before it fizzled for their fourth lo s in the past six games. Will Warren reacts during the Yankees lo s to the Rays on May 4. Robert Sabo for the NY Post Explore More Its tough, especially a day like today, rubber match, a chance to win the series, Aaron Judge said. We kind of fell short, especially on the offensive side not really getting things going. The Rays (16-18) led 7-2 entering the eighth inning when Judges leadoff double sparked a rally that loaded the bases for J.C. Escarra with no outs in a 7-3 game. Oswald Peraza commits an error during the Yankees lo s to the Rays on May 4. Robert Sabo for the NY Post With Ben Rice and Austin Wells on the bench, Boone said he was going to either pinch hit for Escarra or Jorbit Vivas (who was on deck) but opted to go with Escarras experience playing in his 11th career MLB game compared to Vivas third which did not work out as the backup catcher grounded into a 1-2-3 double play. Im choosing between Escarra and Vivas there, Boone said. I knew I had one shot with Rice there. So no, not at that point with no outs. I was going to use [Rice] for Vivas. Boone was limited in what he could do because the Yankees were If Boone had pinch hit for both Escarra and Vivas, then he would have had no one to play second base in the top of the ninth. But after Escarra hit into the double play, Vivas hit for himself and delivered his first career hit, a two-run single that pulled the Yankees within 7-5. Rice then pinch hit for Oswaldo Cabrera and worked a four-pitch walk, but Oswald Peraza grounded out to end the threat. Boone could not pinch hit Wells for Peraza because then he would have had nobody to play shortstop with Volpe down and Pablo Reyes already out of the game. As it was, Escarra had to move from catcher to third base for the top of the ninth, though that could have been avoided if Wells or Rice had just pinch hit for Escarra and Vivas and Cabrera hit for themselves. CHECK OUT THE AND Will Warren delivers a pitch during the Yankees lo s to the Rays on May 4. Robert Sabo for the NY Post In the end, the Yankees fell to 0-11 when trailing after the sixth inning this season. Its tough, but this team, we battle with the best of them, Judge said. We got faith in everybody in this lineup, up and down. We know what were capable of doing. Thats where we were able to rally in the last couple innings. We gave ourselves a chance in the ninth, but we just couldnt get that one guy on to see if we could get some magic going. Cody Bellinger hits a home run during the Yankees lo s to the Rays on May 4. Robert Sabo for the NY Post Ja son Domnguez cant field a ball during the Yankees lo s to the Rays on May 4. Robert Sabo for the NY Post The Yankees were in a 5-0 hole by the fourth inning as Warren continued experiencing growing pains. The young right-hander got tagged for five runs (three earned) on seven hits and three walks acro s 4 / innings. He struck out a career-high eight, but that served as little consolation on a day when his ERA grew to 5.65 and he failed to complete five innings for the fourth time in seven starts. Go beyond the box score with the Bombers Sign up for Inside the Yankees by Greg Joyce, exclusively on Sports+. Thank you By clicking above you agree to the and . Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Yankees bats, meanwhile, were held in check early by right-hander Taj Bradley, who followed a strong start by Zack Littell on Saturday. Cody Bellinger broke up the shutout in the sixth inning with a two-run shot, his 200th career home run making it a 5-2 game, but it wasnt enough. Thats what [the Rays] do, Boone said. You look at the arms they run out against you, starting and relief, you got to be able to win some low-scoring games too. They held us down pretty well this series. Liked the way we battled today to work our way back in it with being really short today, but obviously a tough series where they were able to hold us down enough to get a couple. Ron Darling Jersey