First, the Yankees brought thunder. Then, they endured the rain. The Yankees rode an early offensive eruption to a 7-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday afternoon, though they had to wait through a nearly three-hour weather delay to finish off the series-clinching victory in the Bronx.

Ben Rice hit a three-run homer in the second inning after Giancarlo Stanton blasted a two-run shot in the first as the host New York Yankees raced out to a seven-run lead and recorded a 7-4 victory over the sliding Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday afternoon in the final game before the trade deadline.