Yankees vs. Rays score: Tampa hits four Game 2 homers to even ALDS; New York strikes out 18 times

The Rays slugged four homers en route to their Game 2 win

The Tampa Bay Rays defeated the New York Yankees, 7-5, in Game 2 (box score) of their best-of-five American League Divisional Series on Tuesday night at Petco Park in San Diego. After the Yankees won Game 1 on Tuesday, homering four times, the Rays reversed the roles, and notched their Game 2 win with four home runs of their own. The ALDS is now tied at 1-1.

Here are three takeaways from Tampa's Game 2 win.

Yankees opener strategy backfires

After New York ace Gerrit Cole delivered in Game 1, the Yankees announced they would be sending out rookie right-hander Deivi Garcia to start Game 2. Manager Aaron Boone chose Garcia over lefties J.A. Happ and Jordan Montgomery and veteran Masahiro Tanaka. Tuesday proved that Garcia was sent out as New York's opener.

The 21-year-old threw just one inning in the loss (and allowed a solo homer to Randy Arozarena) before Happ entered in the second inning. Happ allowed four more runs, via a pair of two-run homers to Mike Zunino and Manuel Margot, and put the Yankees in a 5-1 hole. Despite Giancarlo Stanton closing the gap with his fourth-inning, three-run homer, the Yankees offense didn't score another run after that.

Adam Ottavino and Jonathan Loaisiga came in after Happ, with each giving up a run in their short appearances.

Ultimately, Boone's pitching plan backfired. Quite ironically, the opener strategy was popularized by the Rays a few seasons ago. Ideally, the pitching plan allows for a platoon advantage early on and prevents weaker starting pitchers from being overexposed by facing the opponent's best hitters too many times. With the Yankees looking to gain the 2-1 series advantage Wednesday, Boone will take a more traditional route with Tanaka.

Anderson dominates for Rays out of bullpen

Pitching depth is a strength of the Rays, and it was on full display Tuesday night in San Diego. After Rays starter Tyler Glasnow completed his brilliant start -- 5 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, franchise record 10 K, 3 BB -- Tampa brought in right-handed reliever Nick Anderson.

He kept the dominant momentum with his two innings in relief. Anderson came in the seventh inning on a two-on, no-out jam before striking out the next three batters. He would go on to make it six up, six down altogether after he got Aaron Hicks to pop up, struck out Luke Voit and finished with Giancarlo Stanton flying out to left. His longest at-bat was vs. Gary Sanchez in a seven pitch resulting with Sanchez striking out swinging.

Anderson doesn't get the save next to his name in tonight's boxscore (that goes to Peter Fairbanks) but he's certainly earned himself a shout out in our takeaways. It's even more impressive what he was able to do considering how locked in the Yankees offense had been entering tonight's game. Anderson finished with four strikeouts, and Rays pitchers combined to record 18 strikeouts -- the most in any nine-inning MLB postseason game ever.

Stanton continues torrid '20 postseason

Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton played just 23 regular season games this year. He was sidelined with a handful of injuries before coming off the injured list in time for final two months of the regular season and was included on New York's postseason roster. Entering Tuesday's Game 2, Stanton had homered in every postseason game thus far. He continued that streak with two home runs in the loss. He was responsible for four of New York's five runs, and he's contributed eight RBI in a span of three at-bats dating back to Monday's Game 1.

Stanton's first homer of the game came in the second inning. The solo shot tied the game at 1-1. His second homer was a 458-foot, three-run home run in the fourth inning. Both homers came off Rays starter Tyler Glasnow. Take a look:

That's some serious power. With the pair of Game 2 home runs, Stanton joined Lou Gehrig and Reggie Jackson as the only Yankees to ever homer in four consecutive postseason games.

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CBS Sports was with you throughout the game. You can relive all the action below.

[Oct 6, 2020 at 11:54 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

Judge grounds out and the series is evened up, 1-1. There will be at least three games on Thursday

[Oct 6, 2020 at 11:53 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

two outs, LeMahieu RBI single. First and third, two out for Judge. Anyone interested in this? Anyone? Bueller?

[Oct 6, 2020 at 11:45 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

correct call, Gleyber did not go

[Oct 6, 2020 at 11:45 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

oh man, close call on the check swing. Now the tying run comes to the plate after two walks

[Oct 6, 2020 at 11:44 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

after a walk, CB Bucknor bails out Fairbanks with a bad strike call

[Oct 6, 2020 at 11:44 pm ET · Mike Axisa]

That strike was ... questionable.

[Oct 6, 2020 at 11:38 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

Peter Fairbanks on to close things down for the Rays

[Oct 6, 2020 at 11:27 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

Anderson at 22 pitches through six batters as Stanton lines out sharply to left. I'd bet Anderson at least starts the ninth. Rays have Yankees down to three outs left.

[Oct 6, 2020 at 11:25 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

that's 16 strikeouts for the Yankees' offense, tying a franchise playoff record

[Oct 6, 2020 at 11:25 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

Anderson now with four strikeouts and a routine fly

[Oct 6, 2020 at 11:12 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

though I guess I shouldn't say "outing" like he's done. He'll stay in to at least start the eighth

[Oct 6, 2020 at 11:12 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

Anderson strikes out Sanchez, LeMahieu and Judge to leave two on. Unreal outing. Much more important than any "save" will be, yet so many teams hold back a closer for the stat instead of getting the biggest outs with the best reliever. The Rays have this one right.

[Oct 6, 2020 at 11:09 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

two strikeouts. This one looking and very close. LeMahieu didn't like it

[Oct 6, 2020 at 11:03 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

Anderson's numbers since joining the Rays last year are outrageous

[Oct 6, 2020 at 11:01 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

Frazier single and the tying run comes to the plate with no outs. Castillo is done. Huge spot and it looks like it'll be the Rays "put out the fire" guy in Nick Anderson

[Oct 6, 2020 at 10:57 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

8-pitch walk for Torres to start the inning against Castillo

[Oct 6, 2020 at 10:42 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

another bomb. This one is Austin Meadows. Call this the Chris Archer Trade Game

[Oct 6, 2020 at 10:38 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

there are far too many of those these days, haha

[Oct 6, 2020 at 10:37 pm ET · Mike Axisa]

Diego Castillo is one of those guys that makes me wonder how he ever gives up a hit.

[Oct 6, 2020 at 10:33 pm ET · Mike Axisa]

Still not a fan of base cam. Doesn't add much to the broadcast.

[Oct 6, 2020 at 10:32 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

a walk ends Glasnow's night. Here's Diego Castillo and the Rays are lined up to use all their high-leverage arms. The sure things to get used are obviously Castillo and then Nick Anderson (assuming it stays close)

[Oct 6, 2020 at 10:23 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

Zunino crushes one that ends up a lineout double play to end the inning. Guessing we'll see Glasnow kind of empty his tank here

[Oct 6, 2020 at 10:20 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

Kiermaier greets Loaisiga with an RBI single. Insurance for Rays. 6-4.

[Oct 6, 2020 at 10:15 pm ET · Matt Snyder]

stolen bases are pretty rare these days. One happened in each game simultaneously there last pitch