Clarke Schmidt, three relievers shut down Rays; Anthony Rizzo gets both RBIs in victory

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It hasn’t quite been the equivalent of scaling Everest for Clarke Schmidt in his still-young career as a starter, but navigating a third time through an opponent’s batting order has proved to be a significant obstacle.

It wasn’t Friday night. Not much was.

Pitch-efficient throughout and allowing little hard contact, Schmidt lasted 6 2⁄3 innings to match a career high in the Yankees’ 2-0 victory over the Rays at Tropicana Field.

“It’s uncharted territory, finally, to be able to get there tonight,” Schmidt said of pitching into the seventh. “Obviously, it’s a big talking point. I try to block out the noise and not worry about it, but I know what I’m capable of doing. I know I’m very well capable of controlling my pitching count and going deeper into games, and this is a big step in the right direction.”

Schmidt didn’t make it completely through the Rays’ order a third time but was terrific overall, allowing five hits and two walks. The righthander, at times frustrated behind the scenes about not being given the opportunity to go deeper in games, struck out six in improving to 4-1 with a 2.95 ERA.

“I thought he was really good. Slider/sweeper, whatever, was really good. The cutter. He had a little bit of everything going tonight,” Aaron Boone said. “Really, really sharp performance.”

The Yankees (26-14) received more stellar work from their bullpen, which shut down the Rays (19-20) in the final 2 1⁄3 innings.

With two outs in the seventh and Isaac Paredes on first, Schmidt was replaced by righty Nick Burdi, activated earlier in the day from the injured list. With Richie Palacios at the plate, Jose Trevino, who earlier in the game threw out a runner at third, threw out Paredes trying to steal second. Luke Weaver then struck out two of three in the eighth.

Clay Holmes, as he’s done a few times in what has been an outstanding start to his season, added some theater in the ninth as his command abandoned him. Holmes allowed a none-out walk to Yandy Diaz and a one-out walk to Josh Lowe, bringing Paredes to the plate as the winning run. Holmes struck him out looking at a sinker, but pinch hitter Austin Shenton laced a single to left to load the bases. Holmes allowed the visiting dugout to exhale by striking out Jonny DeLuca swinging at a slider for his 12th save in 13 chances.

Holmes hasn’t allowed an earned run in 17 appearances.

“The sinker, the movement was there, but wasn’t quite commanding it like I have been,” said Holmes, who threw 34 pitches, only 18 of them strikes. “So I tried to make a little bit of adjustment, threw a few more sliders. Had to make some important pitches with the slider tonight.”

The Yankees entered the night with the lowest bullpen ERA in the majors (2.25), including a 0.61 ERA in their previous 10 games.

Anthony Rizzo drove in both runs with a two-out RBI single in the fourth and his seventh homer in the ninth. He is 19-for-59 (.322) in his last 16 games.

Rays righthander Taj Bradley, making his season debut after opening the year with a right pectoral strain, was nearly as good as Schmidt, allowing one run and four hits in six innings. He walked two and struck out seven.

Schmidt, though, ruled the night, taking another step, he hopes, toward earning Boone’s confidence as he tries to go deeper into games.

“I know I’m going to go out there and earn his trust,” Schmidt said. “It’s just a matter of continuing to go out there and show that I can do it. Eventually, I’ll leave him with no other choice.”

Notes & quotes: Top position prospect Jasson Dominguez, in the homestretch of his rehab from Tommy John surgery, has been working out regularly at the minor-league complex since the start of the season and, according to Boone earlier this week, is likely to be sent out on a rehab assignment within the next two weeks. Dominguez has been throwing and hitting — much of the latter has taken place indoors — and on Saturday, he’ll begin throwing to bases, among the final hurdles to be cleared in the rehab process. Word from those inside the complex is that Dominguez, 21, has looked good in his work, especially the last couple of weeks . . . Gerrit Cole (right elbow inflammation) is with the team and is slated to throw the third bullpen session of his rehab on Saturday at Tropicana Field. He will stay behind to do additional work at the minor-league complex when the Yankees head to Minneapolis after this series, though Boone said he still could rejoin the team there at some point.

By Erik Boland

erik.boland@newsday.comeboland11

Erik Boland started in Newsday's sports department in 2002. He covered high school and college sports, then shifted to the Jets beat. He has covered the Yankees since 2009.