Yankees-Rays rivalry is getting more hostile

It’s never going to escalate to the level of Red Sox-Yankees, but when the Rays open a three-game series against the Yankees on Friday night at Yankee Stadium, first place in the AL East will be in the air.

That should be enough to stir emotions between teams that met last weekend in St. Petersburg, Fla., where CC Sabathia, Luke Voit and Aaron Boone were annoyed about Voit getting drilled high on the left arm by Yonny Chirinos on Saturday.

Thanks to well-pitched efforts by Domingo German and Masahiro Tanaka, the Yankees won two of three from the Rays who took advantage of Yankees relievers Jonathan Holder and Nestor Cortes, Jr. to swipe the middle game.

The 26-15 Rays lead the 26-16 Yankees by one-half length, based largely on a 14-5 record outside of the dreadful Tropicana Field. The Yankees are 15-9 in The Bronx and 11-7 away from the Stadium.

As for the Voit drilling, it left the Yankees in a foul mood especially after shortstop Gleyber Torres was hit in the right elbow Friday night, was lacking arm strength on Saturday and didn’t play Sunday.

Immediately after DJ LeMahieu homered to start the fifth inning, Voit got hit by a 95-mph fastball he thought was dangerously close to his head.

Led by Sabathia, who was ejected last year in the same building for retaliating after a Yankee got hit and who starts Friday night, the Yankees dugout came alive.

“It’s the same thing, hit a homer and they throw up and in,’’ Sabathia said. “It’s stupid.’’

And dangerous according to Voit.

“It’s just up and in on me, it’s the top of my shoulder, it’s frustrating. I am not saying he was or he wasn’t [trying]. He can hit me anywhere else. It’s just when it is up and in it’s a sketchy situation that can be career-ending,’’ Voit said. “After giving up the home run he is probably frustrated and trying to throw as hard as he could and it got away. That’s why I was so pissed off.’’

Aaron Boone explained the reason for the Yankees’ reaction was based somewhat on Torres getting hit in the right arm Friday night.

“We have had a lot of guys hit, see your brothers get knocked around you don’t like it,’’ said Boone, who watched Gary Sanchez get hit by a Chirinos breaking ball two batters after Voit was drilled. “Obviously, we saw Gleyber [Friday] night and Voit tonight. That’s part of the game but you worry about your dudes.’’

Going into Thursday night’s action the idle Yankees were tied with the Royals and Mariners for second place among AL teams in hit by pitches with 19. The Twins led with 21.

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