the first one, the series was a split. In the first game, the Yankees streak of consecutive games with a home run came to an end at 31. Yankees tied the series 1–1 (7–5 runs) July 4–7, at Tampa Bay Rays Right before the All-Star break, the pinstripes played a four-game series at Tropicana Field against Tampa Bay. Despite the Yanks taking a 2–0 lead with two similar 8–4 wins which went into extra innings, the Rays recovered to split the series. Yankees tied the series 2–2 (20–14 runs) All-Star break The 90th Major League Baseball All-Star Game, which ended in a 4–3 win for the American League, had a big presence of pinstripes. Second baseman DJ LeMahieu and catcher Gary Sánchez were both on the AL starting lineup, Masahiro Tanaka was the winning pitcher, and Aroldis Chapman made the save. CC Sabathia threw the ceremonial first pitch. July 12–14, vs. Toronto Blue Jays The Yankees began the second half of the season with a ten-game homestand. In a three-game series against the Blue Jays, two out of three low scoring affairs went New York's way. Yankees won the series 2–1 (9–4 runs) July 15–18, vs. Tampa Bay Rays The Yankees and the Rays met at Yankee Stadium for the last time in the 2019 season, leaving just two games to play at Tampa Bay later in the season. The Yanks claimed the series and finished 8 games ahead of the Rays. The Yankees started the series with a 5–4 loss, as Aroldis Chapman blew the save and allowed a three-run homer with two outs in the top of the ninth. Travis d'Arnaud hit three home runs, including the go ahead one, and became the first catcher to do so against the Yankees. The pinstripes bounced back the next day with an 8–3 win. In the bottom eighth, with the Yankees trailing 3–2, an Aaron Judge two-run homer sparked a rally to even the series, capped by Didi Gregorius' fourth career grand slam. Winning pitcher David Hale kept the game close in the seventh, inducing d'Arnaud into an inning-ending double play with bases loaded. The third game, intended for July 17, was postponed because of inclement weather, so the series ended on a doubleheader on July 18. The first game started badly for the Yanks, with Domingo Germán allowing two home runs to start the contest. However, Gio Urshela soon