Anthony Volpe’s roller coaster night at the center of Yankees’ wild win over Rays

As they continue what they hope is just 10 days without Aaron Judge, the Yankees are going to have to find different ways to score without their MVP.

On Tuesday, that meant using their athleticism to force the issue on the bases and make the Rays look like … the Yankees.

The Yankees got active on the basepaths and in the process took advantage of the Rays’ sloppiness, turning it into a three-run rally that was just enough to make up for their own errors in a 7-5 win on a stiflingly hot night in The Bronx.

Anthony Volpe, whose error in the first inning led to a pair of unearned runs against Max Fried, rebounded to go 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs, and two RBIs, plus a key stolen base as part of the game-changing fourth inning.

But he committed another throwing error in the ninth inning — his MLB-leading 15th of the season — that put the tying run on base before Devin Williams picked him up with a strikeout of Jonathan Aranda.

With the Blue Jays getting swept in a doubleheader against the Orioles on Tuesday, the Yankees (58-49) picked up a game and a half in the division standings to pull back within four games of first place.

Cody Bellinger had provided a big swing for a three-run shot that tied the game in the third inning before the Yankees made things happen on the bases in the fourth.

Jasson Domínguez led off with a single, stole second and then tagged up to third on a fly ball to left field.

He came in to score on Volpe’s bloop single for the 4-3 lead.

After Austin Wells reached on a low liner to second base that José Caballero could not field cleanly, he and Volpe took off for a double steal with Trent Grisham at the plate.

But Rays catcher Nick Fortes’ throw to third sailed into left field, allowing Volpe to score.

One out later, Paul Goldschmidt roped an RBI single off lefty reliever Mason Montgomery to make it 6-3.

On a night when their beat-up bullpen was short, Fried delivered what the Yankees needed, going 6 ²/₃ innings while giving up four runs, though only two were earned.

After allowing a leadoff home run to Aranda in the third inning, Fried retired 14 straight before running out of gas in the seventh, with the Rays (54-54) pulling within 6-4.

The scuffling Jonathan Loáisiga relieved Fried and tossed 1 ¹/₃ scoreless innings, helped by a key double play started by Volpe in the top of the eighth after the first two batters had singled.

Volpe then provided some insurance in the bottom of the eighth, drilling his 15th home run of the year 452 feet off righty Kevin Kelly to make it 7-4.

That proved key as the Rays scratched a run across off Williams in the top of the ninth before Williams eventually locked down the save after Volpe’s throwing error extended the inning.

The night started off in all-too-familiar fashion, with an error costing the Yankees a pair of runs.

This was another from Volpe, as he ranged up the middle to field a ball but then made an errant flip beyond Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s reach at second to wipe out a potential double play.

Fried retired the next two batters, but then fell behind 3-0 to Jonny DeLuca before the Rays center fielder drilled a 3-1 pitch into the gap to score both runs.

Aranda led off the third inning with a home run on the first pitch Fried threw, putting the Rays ahead 3-0.

The Yankees started the night 0-for-7 with runners on base before Bellinger gave them life by crushing a three-run home run off righty Joe Boyle that tied the game in the bottom of the third.