New York Yankees: Are the Rays being cocky or just confident after Game 1 loss?

New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, Kevin Cash
Aug 23, 2020; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; against the Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash (16) leaves the field during a game against Toronto Blue Jays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Mary Holt-USA TODAY Sports

While their body language projected sadness and disappointment after falling 9-3 to the New York Yankees on Monday night, the Tampa Bay Rays’ quotes after the game did project a sense of confidence that they will be OK, even though they dropped an important first game and now have to win three of the next four to advance to the American League Championship Series.

According to NJ Advance Media, while the Rays did acknowledge that the Yankees played good ball on Monday, they also said that they aren’t too worried about falling 0-1 in the best-of-five series.

“Not overly concerned,” said Rays manager Kevin Cash. The Rays ended with a 40-20 record, the best in the American League, and they took eight of ten games against the New York Yankees.

“I don’t think we’re too frustrated by one game,” losing pitcher Blake Snell explained. “I think we’re right where we need to be.”

The Yankees have been able to consistently hit to this point

The Rays’ strongest unit is pitching, and that group couldn’t contain the Yankees yesterday. In fact, the Bombers have scored 31 runs in three games so far in the postseason, with a total of 11 home runs.

“We still have confidence that we’re still going to win,” Rays first baseman Ji-Man Choi said.

Tonight, talented right-hander Tyler Glasnow will have the responsibilty of keeping the New York Yankees’ bats at bay.

“I like our depth pitching wise,” Snell said. “I like how we’re feeling in the clubhouse. I expect a big game out of us (Tuesday). I just think we’re that good of a team. I know how good they are, and they had a great game. So they got us (in Game 1), but I think (Tuesday night) we’ll be ready to go. We got Glasnow on the mound, so that’s exciting for us.”

“They (the Yankees) can hit,” Cash said. “There’s no secret in that. So there was nothing that was unexpected. They just got some guys back that are healthier. There were a handful of players that didn’t have consistent reps specifically against us or throughout the 60-game season for injury reasons. They looked healthy tonight.”