The New York Yankees blew a 2-0 lead Monday night, losing 4-3 to the Tampa Bay Rays in the series opener of the three-game series at Tropicana Field. The normally sure-gloved Mark Teixeira committed a fielding error on an Elliot Johnson grounder to first base with two outs in the seventh inning, scoring Brooks Conrad from second to give the Rays the winning run.
Freddy Garcia gave up solo home runs in the fourth and the sixth innings to B.J. Upton and Carlos Pena, respectively. Garcia left the mound after Pena's blast with the score 2-2 having pitched 5 1/3 innings. His five hits allowed and four strikeouts look reasonable on paper, but the two homers would prove to be costly.
With two outs in the seventh inning, Conrad hit a double off David Robertson (0-3) to score Sean Rodriguez. On the next at-bat, Teixeira misjudged Johnson's grounder as it appeared to nick first base running down the foul line. The ball may have touched Teixeira's glove before dribbling into foul territory. The error was his first of the season.
Robertson finally got the third out of the inning on a Desmond Jennings foul out to the catcher. Robertson earned the loss after giving up one hit and an unearned run.
Teixeira's mistake marred what was otherwise a fine night at the plate. He went 2-for-3 with a walk, and put the Yankees on the board in the first inning with a double to score Derek Jeter. He ran in another run off a Robinson Cano single later in the inning, giving the Yankees a 2-0 lead.
Matt Moore (5-5) gave up three runs, all earned, off nine hits and three walks in seven innings, striking out three. A Curtis Granderson sac fly in the top of the seventh scored Chris Stewart, and briefly gave the Yankees a 3-2 lead.
Fernando Rodney earned his 23rd save of the season throwing one strikeout and allowing no men on in the ninth.
Game 2 of the series will begin at 7:10 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Ivan Nova (9-2, 4.03 ERA) will take on the Rays' James Shields (7-5, 4.04) on the mound.
--See Pinstripe Alley for more discussion and analysis of the Yankees.