After scuffling in the Bronx on Friday and Saturday, the Rays finally punched back Sunday and the bullpen enjoyed a pseudo day off in an 8-1 victory at Yankee Stadium.

Left-hander Drew Smyly stymied hitters for seven innings, allowing one run and six hits with six strikeouts. The bats contributed to bashing, with birthday boy Steven Souza Jr. launching two home runs to lead the way on a day when Tampa Bay tagged New York pitching with five homers.

Can this become a habit, please?

Steven Geltz and Jhan Marinez, a right-handed reliever promoted from Triple-A Durham on Saturday, received light work in earning two strikeouts with no hits in two innings between them. This was a good way to cap a so-so 3-3 road trip before jetting home for eight games.

Overall, we’ve seen stretches when the starters and relievers do quality work to complement hot bats. It happened Sunday. A 7-2 win over the White Sox on April 16 is another example that comes to mind. So is a 3-0 win over the Stinkin’ Saux last Tuesday.

Still, the Rays are too inconsistent, and their 8-10 shows it.

We’ve seen the pattern. It just doesn’t manifest itself enough.

Your bullpen stats:

Player	W	L	ERA▲	G	GS	SV	SVO	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	AVG	WHIP
Marinez	0	0	0.00	1	0	0	0	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000	0.00
Colome	1	1	1.23	6	0	3	3	7.1	5	1	1	0	2	8	.192	0.95
Romero	0	0	1.23	6	0	0	0	7.1	1	2	1	0	2	7	.043	0.41
Cedeno	1	0	1.69	6	0	0	2	5.1	5	1	1	0	2	5	.238	1.31
Ramirez	4	1	1.69	7	1	0	0	16.0	12	3	3	2	1	13	.211	0.81
Farquhar	0	0	3.38	6	0	0	0	5.1	7	2	2	2	2	5	.304	1.69
Geltz	0	0	5.06	6	0	0	0	5.1	3	3	3	2	2	3	.158	0.94
Eveland	0	0	5.40	6	0	0	0	5.0	7	3	3	0	3	5	.318	2.00
Webb	0	0	5.40	5	0	0	0	5.0	6	3	3	1	1	3	.333	1.40