Yankees squash lefty troubles, best Robbie Ray in win over Padres

SAN DIEGO — If the Yankees are going to have success in the postseason — especially if they are going to meet the Red Sox in an American League wild card series — they are going to have to find a way to beat lefty starters. Saturday was an encouraging day in that regard.  Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees.Even without Aaron Judge, who may be just days away from making his long-awaited return to the lineup, the Yankees knocked left-hander Robbie Ray out of the game in the third inning on the way to a 5-1 win over the Padres at Petco Park. Ray’s lack of command helped them out, offering four free passes, but the Yankees stayed patient and then attacked to race out to a 5-0 lead before hanging on late as Carlos Rodón and the bullpen combined for a three-hitter. Ben Rice led the way, reaching base in all five of his plate appearances by going 3-for-3 with two walks while fellow lefty slugger Spencer Jones, in his homecoming series, roped a pair of hits off Ray on his first day as the full-time center fielder again after Trent Grisham landed on the injured list.

And Cody Bellinger, the Yankees’ best left-on-left hitter, lived up to it by capping off a four-run second inning with a two-run single. Setting up a rubber game on Sunday, with Gerrit Cole on the mound against former teammate Michael King, the Yankees (81-61) kept pace with the Rays and remained four games back for the division and 3 ¹/₂ games clear of the Red Sox for the top AL wild card with 20 games left. After escaping some early trouble, Rodón settled in to toss five innings of one-run ball – the first time he has completed five innings in four starts back from the injured list.The left-hander walked three but struck out seven, his most in a game since June 17. The Yankees wasted chances to fully blow the game open, stranding 12 men on base, but Michael Fulmer, Brent Headrick,...