Rays’ Tyler Glasnow had to endure painful moment

NEW YORK — Tyler Glasnow couldn’t explain what was going on during the odd fifth-inning sequence Saturday when his right leg and left hand suddenly cramped up, except that it hurt a lot and that he knew it looked weird.

“It’s one of those that was so bad, I couldn’t stretch it out,” the Rays right-hander said. “And then it just kept getting worse and worse.”

His teammates also were wondering.

“I said he looked like (actor) Jim Carrey from Liar Liar when he was doing the claw,” third baseman Joey Wendle said.

The best Glasnow could figure, despite drinking water during the game, he was dehydrated, possibly more from using an energy drink during the fourth inning to try to shake a sluggish feeling. He started to get some cramps in the fourth, then severely in the fifth, bringing manager Kevin Cash and athletic trainer Mike Sandoval to the mound.

“An interesting situation,” Cash said. “I don’t know if I’ve ever witnessed anything like that, but I’m glad he’s okay.”

With an assist from shortstop Willy Adames for running to the dugout, Glasnow chugged a bottle of water and another with Right Stuff electrolytes and said he felt better. He then showed it with a couple of warmup pitches. Glasnow finished the fifth, and the Rays went on to finish off their 6-3 win over the Yankees.

“I’m happy Cash left me in that game,” said Glasnow, who improved to 2-0 on the season. “I was a little worried just after all that and how dramatic it was.”

Miscellany

• Right-hander Andrew Kittredge is scheduled to be the opener Sunday, with lefty Ryan Yarbrough, who doesn’t match up well with the Yankees, slated to handle the bulk of the innings.

• Cash said once centerfielder Kevin Kiermaier went through his morning workout with no issues from the previously strained left quad, they decided to go ahead and activate him rather than waiting until Sunday.

• Glasnow is the first Rays pitcher to work at least five innings and allow no more than one run in his first four starts.

• The six straight series wins against the Yankees are fourth most in Rays history. They won nine straight against the Blue Jays (2009-10) and seven against the Astros (2010-15) and Jays (2011-12). ... The Rays are 7-1 in their past eight games at Yankee Stadium after going 1-7 in their previous eight.

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