Junior Caminero hit a two-run homer, Drew Rasmussen recovered from a rocky start on the mound and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the New York Yankees 4-2 in the opener of a four-game series

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NEW YORK — For a seven-game stretch this past week, Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe was gaining steam at the plate. Volpe hit two home runs in a game in Atlanta, the beginning of a stretch where he was batting .292 with a 1.099 OPS and four homers in 26 plate appearances.

The Rays entered Monday three games out of the final playoff spot, and facing the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers this week, respectively. If they aspire to bring “Troptober” across the bridge, it has to start soon. The tone was set early with a two-run shot by Junior Caminero in the first.

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Once again though, those walks pile up. The one to Jonathan Aranda was the catalyst for the first inning home run, and three more over the course of the game inflated Schlittler’s pitch count. A walk to Yandy Díaz precipitated an RBI single that untied the game and ended Cam’s night just one out into the fifth.

While GM Brian Cashman mostly is pursuing pitching help following an active weekend upgrading the lineup, NBA superstar Luka Doncic was in attendance Monday night to see the Yankees’ bats mostly silenced in a 4-2 loss to the Rays at the Stadium.