Gio Urshela homered and drove in three runs Thursday as the New York Yankees topped the Tampa Bay Rays 6-2 in the opener of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees improved to 11-5 in the season series with the Rays on a windy and overcast day the was the 20th anniversary of David Cone's perfect game.

The Thursday game featured Yankees manager Aaron Boone going on a profane rant toward rookie plate umpire Brennan Miller. Boone's rant occurred after the start of the game was delayed 86 minutes by the threat of rain although it never rained.

Brett Gardner took exception to a called strike-three call in the second inning and was seen gesturing from the dugout by raising his arms and slamming his bat. During the subsequent at-bat of DJ LeMahieu, Boone cursed out Miller.

Boone was tossed before coming out of the dugout, then came out to finish the argument before exiting for the clubhouse.

Boone's objections to Miller's strike zone occurred two batters after Urshela tied the game at 2-2 by hitting a 1-0 slider from Yonny Chirinos (8-5) into the right field seats. It was Urshela's ninth homer and second of the four-game series that was due to conclude with the nightcap Thursday.

In the fifth inning, Gary Sanchez's RBI single off Tampa Bay third baseman Yandy Diaz's glove snapped the tie. Following Luke Voit's soft RBI single, Urshela made it 5-2 with a double down the left field line.

New York's Aaron Hicks added a solo homer in the sixth off Ryne Stanek.

Austin Meadows and Diaz homered in the first inning for Tampa Bay, which took a 2-0 lead eight pitches in off Domingo German (12-2). The Rays did not have an at-bat with a runner in scoring position until the ninth.

German settled down after getting beaten on his curveball for both homers, allowing two runs on four hits in six innings. He struck out five, walked two, induced two double-play grounders and joined Texas right-hander Lance Lynn as the second 12-game-winner in the majors.

Tommy Kahnle, Zack Britton and David Hale finished up the victory by tossing a scoreless inning apiece.

Chirinos allowed five runs (four earned) on nine hits in five innings. He struck out eight and walked two.

--Field Level Media