Randy Arozarena, Rays beat Yankees in intense season series opener

ST. PETERSBURG — Though the Rays are 10 games ahead of the Yankees in the standings, Friday’s first meeting of the season contained all the intensity and some of the hostility of years past.

The Rays won 5-4, rallying to score the go-ahead run in the seventh inning when Wander Franco doubled in Yandy Diaz.

It capped an eventful night in which Randy Arozarena homered in the first inning, then was hit by Yankees pitchers his next two times at-bat. The second plunking sparked words between the dugouts and, after warnings were issued to both teams, the ejection of manager Kevin Cash.

“Every time you play the Yankees, it feels like you’re playing in the World Series,” Diaz said via team interpreter Manny Navarro. “So since we won (Friday), it felt like we won the World Series.”

With the win, the Rays improved their majors-best record to 27-6, matching the second-best 33-game start in the modern era (since 1901), behind the 1902 Pirates and 1984 Tigers, who were 28-5. Tampa Bay also became the first modern-era team to win 18 of its first 20 home games.

The last-place Yankees dropped to 17-16.

Arozarena said he did not think he was hit intentionally by Yankees pitchers Jhony Brito or Albert Abreu. Cash agreed, but seemed to fault the umpiring crew for not being proactive in issuing a warning after Brito plunked Arozarena in the third.

“It’s on us as managers, coaches and more so umpires to protect our players. And I felt like at that point there’s got to be a little common sense. A little more awareness on there, and then there wasn’t,” Cash said. “Warn the first time, and then if it happens again … But either either way, I don’t like seeing Randy get hit. Very confident they don’t like seeing their guys get hit. Just protecting Randy.”

Crew chief Lance Barksdale told a pool reporter the umpires did not consider either plunking to be intentional. Both pitchers said they weren’t, and Yankees manager Aaron Boone agreed: “We’re not trying to hit anyone.”

Arozarena was the center of attention from the start, as it was the first of the Friday games featuring a Randy Land seating area in leftfield. He made it a more festive Cinco de Mayo with his first-inning homer that hit the netting over the rays tank to the right of centerfield, which meant the fans in section 141 got a free beer, soda or water.

“Very happy and excited,” Arozarena said, “and I know the fans are pretty excited, too, because they’re able to drink for free because of me.”

The Rays expanded their lead to 3-0 with Isaac Parades walking to open the second and scoring on a sacrifice fly, and Diaz leading off the third with his ninth homer, matching his 2022 total. Tampa Bay was positioned for more when Wander Franco followed with a double, and then the action got heated.

Brito’s first pitch struck Arozarena’s left elbow as he pulled it back to protect his ribs. Arozarena, saying later he felt Brito “just kind of let a sinker slip,”…