ST. PETERSBURG -- Even Yandy Díaz is surprised at what he's been able to accomplish over the first six weeks of the season.

Díaz came into 2019 with just one career home run in 299 plate appearances with Cleveland. On Saturday, the Rays third baseman connected on two home runs and delivered a career-high four RBIs to lead Tampa Bay past the Yankees, 7-2, at Tropicana Field.

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"I've even surprised myself," Díaz said after the game. "I always had the strength, but I've surprised myself with the home runs that I've hit."

Avisaíl García got the Rays on the board early with a solo home run off Yankees starter CC Sabathia in the second inning, but it was Díaz who delivered most of the offense for Tampa Bay.

Díaz launched his eighth home run of the season in the third inning to give the Rays a 2-0 lead. That home run had an exit velocity of 114.3 mph, which tied Brandon Lowe (April 12) for the hardest-hit homer by a Rays player since Statcast began tracking in 2015.

Díaz delivered the big blow in the eighth inning with a three-run home run off Nestor Cortes Jr. to give the Rays a 7-2 lead. It was the first multi-homer game of Díaz's career.

"I think this is another guy that you have to credit the front office for kind of recognizing some things that he did well, and it was probably his time and opportunity to go play," said Rays manager Kevin Cash. "We're fortunate that we acquired him and now he's making the most of that."

With just the one home run in his career, Díaz made it a point to try and hit the ball in the air more, which he believed would allow him to hit for more power. Díaz says the biggest adjustment has been with his hands and getting out in front of the ball.

So far, the adjustments have worked for the 27-year-old Díaz, who leads the team with nine home runs and is tied with Lowe for the team lead with 22 RBIs.

Díaz's ability to hit the ball hard was one of the reasons why the Rays traded away young first baseman Jake Bauers to get the right-handed-hitting Díaz, who appeared to be blocked by the Indians' depth on the infield. This season, Díaz entered Saturday with a barrel rate of 11.4 percent, compared to 4.4 percent last season.

"I've always hit the ball hard," Díaz said. "But I haven't been characterized as a home run hitter. This year things have worked out well."

Díaz's big night helped the Rays snap a two-game losing streak and extend their lead over the Yankees atop the division to 1 1/2 games. The Rays have been alone in first place in the AL East since March 31.

"We needed a win," Cash said. "Yesterday was probably the low point of the season. Ultimately we lost, we lost a tough ballgame, and then also knowing that we were scrambling to find some catchers, and then we lost one of the best pitchers in baseball of the early part of the season. It was good to see the guys bounce back."

Even with the recent injuries to Tyler Glasnow, Mike Zunino and Michael Perez, the Rays feel confident about the team they have in the clubhouse. And performances like the one Díaz provided on Saturday are a reminder that the Rays still have enough depth to be able to overcome some of the losses to key players.

"The mentality for all of us is that we're the best team in the Major Leagues," Díaz said. "Every day we go out and work and try to win ... and that's what we've been able to do so far this season."