The New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays squared off in the first of a critical three-game series in the Bronx tonight. The Yankees' lead in the AL East was 4.5 games before the game. After tonight, the lead is 3.5 games as the Yankees were defeated by a score of 4-2.New York Yankees@YankeesFINAL: Rays 4, Yankees 2.26348FINAL: Rays 4, Yankees 2."FINAL: Rays 4, Yankees 2." -@YankeesMany fans took to Twitter to react to the concerning New York Yankees loss. Aaron Hicks and Ronald Guzman have struggled as of late.AT@YankeeWRLD@Yankees Get hicks and Guzman off the fucking team771@Yankees Get hicks and Guzman off the fucking teamFans are calling for the firing of manager Aaron Boone after tonight's dismal performance.ᗪ爪丨ㄒ尺ㄚ@MightyD88@Yankees Fire Boone! He had Derek Jeter in the building and didn't use him.1@Yankees Fire Boone! He had Derek Jeter in the building and didn't use him.One fan wants outfielder Aaron Hicks to never play a game again after tonight's performance in the outfield. Hicks misplayed two flyballs that resulted in three runs scored by the Tampa Bay Rays. He would later be pulled from the game.ralph maffei@RalphMaffei@AaronBoone Hicks should never play another inning for the Yankees--he is an insult to us fans who pay good money to watch the Yankees play decent baseball !!@AaronBoone Hicks should never play another inning for the Yankees--he is an insult to us fans who pay good money to watch the Yankees play decent baseball !!The picture below may very well describe the Yankees in the second half of their season. An epic collapse.Kamrin🇮🇹@KP_905_@Yankees Describe the Yankees 2nd half in one picture:1192@Yankees Describe the Yankees 2nd half in one picture: https://t.co/hwkuWQZEmj09/09/2022: Tampa Bay Rays vs. New York Yankees Game HighlightsThe Tampa Bay Rays got on the scoreboard early thanks to an RBI double from outfielder Randy Arozarena. This was his 35th double of the season.Bally Sports Sun: Rays@BallyRays𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹... 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁A pair of doubles to start the first gives the @RaysBaseball an early 1-0 lead Watch bspts.cc/tampa-bay-rays…#MLB | #RaysUp5712💥𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹... 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁💥A pair of doubles to start the first gives the @RaysBaseball an early 1-0 lead 🔥Watch ➡️ bspts.cc/tampa-bay-rays…#MLB | #RaysUp https://t.co/FKYQ1DYsfT"Well ... that was fast. A pair of doubles to start the first gives the @RaysBaseball an early 1-0 lead" - Bally Sports Sun: RaysThen, in the fourth inning, the Rays extended their lead with a two-run double off the bat of shortstop Wander Franco. This was his 14th double of the season.Bally Sports Sun: Rays@BallyRaysWander Franco is making them boo in the Bronx 3-0 for the @RaysBaseball!Watch bspts.cc/tampa-bay-rays…#MLB | #RaysUp363Wander Franco is making them boo in the Bronx 👀3-0 for the @RaysBaseball!Watch ➡️ bspts.cc/tampa-bay-rays…#MLB | #RaysUp https://t.co/4MGmuC8DMd"Wander Franco is making them boo in the Bronx. 3-0 for the @RaysBaseball" - Bally Sports Sun: RaysRandy Arozerena continued his stellar performance with his second RBI double of the game to make it 4-0 Rays.Talkin' Yanks@TalkinYanksHicks allows another balls to drop and the Rays take a 4-0 lead.64457Hicks allows another balls to drop and the Rays take a 4-0 lead. https://t.co/ReRF8Do333"Hicks allows another balls to drop and the Rays take a 4-0 lead." - Talkin' YanksThe Yankees' first run came from none other than AL MVP favorite Aaron Judge, who hit an RBI single in the 7th inning.It seems as if Aaron Judge is the only player that is producing in the entire lineup.Somewhat beloved math rock band Minus the Jer@jerskleinObviously the Yankees downfall has been ongoing for months, but it is wild that the lineup right now is Aaron Judge and 8 other guys you’d maybe be okay with batting 9th every so oftenObviously the Yankees downfall has been ongoing for months, but it is wild that the lineup right now is Aaron Judge and 8 other guys you’d maybe be okay with batting 9th every so oftenTalkin' Yanks@TalkinYanksOswald Peraza scores after replay on this Aaron Judge single59040Oswald Peraza scores after replay on this Aaron Judge single https://t.co/QH43Q9o7Dj"Oswald Peraza scores after a replay on this Aaron Judge single" - Talkin' YanksIn the ninth inning, New York Yankees catcher Kyle Higashioka blasted a solo home run to cut the lead to two runs.This would end the scoring for the game, though, as the New York Yankees lost to the Rays by a score of 4-2. The Yankees record now sits at 83-56. The two teams will face off again tomorrow afternoon with the first pitch scheduled for 1:05 PM EDT.For more news and updates, go to the Sportskeeda Baseball page.