SB Nation New York - Yankees Vs. Rays: New York Falls 2-1 In Finalehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48977/ny-fave.png2011-07-22T09:56:46-04:00http://newyork.sbnation.com/rss/stream/20460362011-07-22T09:56:46-04:002011-07-22T09:56:46-04:00Sabathia Complete Game Not Enough
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<p>St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) – <span>James Shields</span> dominated through 7 2/3 innings to lead the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Tampa Bay Rays</a> to a 2-1 victory over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">New York Yankees</a> and earn a split of a four-game series.</p>
<p>Shields (9-8) allowed just one run on six hits and a walk while striking out six.</p>
<p><span>Evan Longoria</span> went 2-for-2 with a home run and two walks for the Rays, who have still lost six of their last nine.</p>
<p><span>Kyle Farnsworth</span> hurled a scoreless ninth for his 19th save of the year.</p>
<p><span>CC Sabathia</span> (14-5) celebrated his 31st birthday with his third complete game of the year, but it was in a losing effort. He allowed the two Rays runs on five hits and four walks. He also struck out eight.</p>
<p>“That’s baseball. It’s unfortunate that we only got one run, but you’re going to lose some games like that during the season,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.</p>
<p><span>Robinson Cano</span> had two hits, including a run-scoring double, for the Yankees, winners in four of their last five entering Thursday’s contest.</p>
<p>Longoria hammered a hanging slider into the left-field bleachers in the first to give the Rays an early 1-0 lead.</p>
<p>Tampa Bay extended its lead in the fifth after <span>Elliot Johnson</span> worked a two-out walk and came around to score on <span>Sam Fuld</span>’s triple into the right-field corner. Fuld was stranded at third, however, as <span>Ben Zobrist</span> struck out to end the frame.</p>
<p>After stranding a man on second in the first inning, New York did not put another man in scoring position until <span>Derek Jeter</span> pulled a one-out double into the left-center gap in the eighth. Shields then got <span>Mark Teixeira</span> to pop out to the left side of the infield, but Cano followed with a double down the first-base line, knocking Shields of the mound.</p>
<p><span>Brandon Gomes</span> took the bump next and needed just one pitch to induce a <span>Nick Swisher</span> flyout to center field, keeping it a 2-1 game.</p>
<p>“How about [Gomes]? The kid comes in there and throws a first-pitch split and gets us out of there,” said Rays manager Joe Maddon. “He (Swisher) was just a little bit out in front because he was thinking fastball there.”</p>
<p>Farnsworth allowed a one-out single to <span>Russell Martin</span>, putting the tying run on the bases. But fanned <span>Eduardo Nunez</span> on a high fastball and <span>Curtis Granderson</span> on a slider in the dirt to end the game.</p>
<p>New York pitchers had not allowed a home run in eight straight games before Longoria’s homer in the first…Yankees center fielder Granderson did not start the contest after getting hit in the back with a pitch on Wednesday, but he pinch-hit for left fielder <span>Chris Dickerson</span> in the seventh inning and remained in the game at center…New York fell to 27-20 on the road this year…Tampa Bay improved to 4-5 against New York this season.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-yankees/2011/7/22/2288379/sabathia-complete-game-not-enoughJeff Freier2011-07-21T14:33:04-04:002011-07-21T14:33:04-04:00Sabathia Goes For League-Leading 15th Win
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<p>(Sports Network) – <span>CC Sabathia</span> goes after his major league-leading 15th win of the season this evening when the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">New York Yankees</a> close out a four-game series with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Tampa Bay Rays</a>.</p>
<p>Sabathia, who turns 31 today, has been terrific for the Yankees of late, winning his last seven and 11 of his previous 12 starts. The left-hander’s latest masterpiece came on Saturday in Toronto, as he allowed a run and three hits over eight innings to run his record to 14-4, while lowering his earned run average to 2.64.</p>
<p>“The fastball command got better,” said Sabathia, who retired 14 of the final 16 hitters he faced. “I had runners on early because I didn’t have it, but I threw everything off that. We stuck with it, and it ended up being a good start.”</p>
<p>The run allowed was his first in four starts and just his second in his last five outings.</p>
<p>“The last three months,” first baseman <span>Mark Teixeira</span> said, “there hasn’t been a guy better in baseball.”</p>
<p>Tampa knows first hand just how dominant Sabathia has been lately, as he struck out nine in a four-hit shutout over the Rays in the final game before the All-Star break. He is 9-5 lifetime against Tampa with a 3.04 <span class="caps">ERA</span> in 21 starts.</p>
<p>The Yankees got a magnificent effort from <span>Freddy Garcia</span> on Wednesday, as he tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings in New York’s 4-0 triumph.</p>
<p>Garcia (8-7) scattered eight hits and struck out seven without a walk, while <span>Curtis Granderson</span> slugged a two-run home run in the win, the Yankees’ fourth in five games.</p>
<p><span>David Price</span> (9-8) went 7 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five as the Rays lost for the sixth time in their last eight games.</p>
<p>“These shutouts are really tough to watch sometimes,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “It’s similar to the beginning of the season when we had that very difficult start. We’re just not swinging the bats well in this ballpark. It’s so difficult to understand.”</p>
<p>The Rays will rely on an impressive hurler of their own tonight in righty <span>James Shields</span>, who is 8-8 on the year with a 2.60 <span class="caps">ERA</span>. Shields was roughed up in his first start after the break, as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Boston Red Sox</a> reached him for six runs and six hits in six innings.</p>
<p>Shields was a hard-luck loser to Sabathia and the Yanks in that July 10 outing. He allowed just an unearned run in eight innings of that one, dropping him to 3-10 all-time versus the Bronx Bombers to go along with a 4.47 <span class="caps">ERA</span>.</p>
<p>“I’m looking forward to it,” Shields said. “I’m sure CC is ready to rock over there, and we’re going to go at it.”</p>
<p>The Yankees have won five of eight against Tampa Bay this season.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-yankees/2011/7/21/2287086/sabathia-goes-for-league-leading-15th-winJeff Freier2011-07-21T09:42:24-04:002011-07-21T09:42:24-04:00Yankees 4, Rays 0: Freddie Garcia Solid, Helps Blank Tampa Bay
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<p>St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - <span>Curtis Granderson</span>'s two-run homer in the first inning was all the offense the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/new-york-yankees">New York Yankees</a> needed in a 4-0 victory over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/tampa-bay-rays">Tampa Bay Rays</a> in the third game of a four-game series.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/215/freddy-garcia">Freddy Garcia</a> (8-7) scattered eight hits through 6 2/3 innings and struck out seven without a walk for the win, New York's fourth in five games.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/31830/david-price">David Price</a> (9-8) went 7 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Rays</a> lost for the sixth time in their last eight games.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/598/derek-jeter">Derek Jeter</a>, facing Price for the first time since homering for his 3,000th hit off the lefty, led off the game with a single up the middle. Granderson then hammered a ball over the right field wall to give the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">Yankees</a> a quick 2-0 advantage.</p>
<p>The Rays had runners in scoring position in the first, third, fourth, fifth and seventh innings, but could not get the big hit they needed, going 0-for-6 in those chances and stranding nine men on base.</p>
<p>Their best chance to score came in the fifth.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/601/johnny-damon">Johnny Damon</a> singled with one out and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/640/casey-kotchman">Casey Kotchman</a> doubled into the left field corner to put runners on second and third with two outs for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/31733/evan-longoria">Evan Longoria</a>, who crushed a ball deep into center field.</p>
<p>Granderson lost a ball in the Tropicana Field roof Tuesday night that resulted in the game-winning runs to score in a 3-2 loss, but he made up for it Wednesday.</p>
<p>He turned and ran full speed, tracking the ball the whole way and snatching it a step before slamming into the wall. He held on to the ball as he fell to the ground for the final out of the inning.</p>
<p>"To be able to go back on that ball showed tremendous range," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He plays shallower than most, and it works for him."</p>
<p>The Yankees tacked on two more runs in the ninth after <span>Dane De La Rosa</span>, who was making his major league debut, gave up back-to-back one-out walks to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/24/nick-swisher">Nick Swisher</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/885/russell-martin">Russell Martin</a> before being replaced by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/33566/cesar-ramos">Cesar Ramos</a>.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/31256/chris-dickerson">Chris Dickerson</a> moved the runners up on a swinging bunt in front of the mound and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/33625/eduardo-nunez">Eduardo Nunez</a>, after working a full count, muscled an inside fastball into shallow right-center field for a two-run single.</p>
<p>"These shutouts are really tough to watch sometimes," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "It's similiar to the beginning of the season when we had that very difficult start. We're just not swinging the bats well in this ballpark. It's so difficult to understand."</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-yankees/2011/7/21/2286509/yankees-4-rays-0-freddie-garcia-solid-helps-blank-tampa-bayJared Smith2011-07-20T15:32:09-04:002011-07-20T15:32:09-04:00Freddy Garcia Takes On David Price
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<p>(Sports Network) – There doesn’t figure to be the same amount of fanfare tonight as there was the last time David Price faced the New York Yankees when the Tampa Bay Rays continue a four-game set against their American League East rivals at Tropicana Field.</p>
<p>Price, who is 3-1 lifetime versus the Yankees, became the answer to a trivia question Yankees fans will ask for years on July 9 when he served up Derek Jeter’s 3,000th hit. He allowed four runs and seven hits in five innings that day, but did not factor in the decision of his team’s 5-4 loss.</p>
<p>After skipping the All-Star Game, the 25-year-old lefty picked up a win in his first start out of the break against Boston, yielding three runs and five hits – three home runs – in six innings to run his record to 9-7 on the year to go along with a 3.73 earned run average. He also struck out seven and walked a batter.</p>
<p>“Solo home runs don’t beat you,” Price said. “Luckily, our offense had a ton of runs. It’s big for us.”</p>
<p>Price has completed at least six innings in eight of his last 10 starts, and he’s gone 20 outings in a row without registering more walks than strikeouts.</p>
<p>After a heartbreaking loss in Monday’s opener, the Rays turned the tables and rallied for a win on Tuesday, as Jeremy Hellickson threw seven strong innings and Tampa Bay took advantage of a couple of defensive miscues by the Yankees in the seventh inning to eke out a 3-2 win.</p>
<p>Hellickson (9-7) allowed two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out seven as the Rays snapped their three-game losing streak.</p>
<p>“I wasn’t very effective there the first few innings, threw a lot of pitches,” Hellickson said. “I ended up really good.”</p>
<p>Joel Peralta pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn his first save of the year.</p>
<p>Bartolo Colon (6-6) went 6 1/3 innings, allowing three runs — two earned — on five hits and two walks. He also struck out a season-high nine batters as New York saw its three-game win streak come to an end.</p>
<p>Tonight, the Yankees turn to righty Freddy Garcia, who was awful in his first start after the break. Garcia absorbed the loss in Toronto on Friday, surrendering six runs (five earned) and seven hits in five innings. He also walked four batters and fell to 7-7 on the year with a 3.43 <span class="caps">ERA</span>.</p>
<p>Garcia has had success against the Rays over the course of his career, posting an 8-2 mark with a 3.56 <span class="caps">ERA</span> in 15 starts.</p>
<p>The Yankees have won four of seven against Tampa Bay this season.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/2011/7/20/2285308/freddy-garcia-takes-on-david-priceJeff Freier2011-07-20T09:21:16-04:002011-07-20T09:21:16-04:00Rays 3, Yankees 2: Granderson, Logan Falter In Loss To Rays
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<p><font><font size="2">St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - Jeremy Hellickson threw seven strong innings and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Tampa Bay Rays</a> took advantage of a couple of defensive miscues from New York in the seventh inning to edge the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">Yankees</a>, 3-2, in the second portion of a four-game series.</font></font></p>
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<p>Hellickson (9-7) allowed two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out seven as the Rays snapped their three-game losing streak.</p>
<p>"I wasn't very effective there the first few innings, threw a lot of pitches," Hellickson said. "I ended up really good."</p>
<p>Joel Peralta pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn his first save of the year.</p>
<p>Bartolo Colon (6-6) went 6 1/3 innings, allowing three runs -- two earned -- on five hits and two walks. He also struck out a season-high nine batters as New York saw its three-game win streak come to an end.</p>
<p>Trailing by a score of 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh, Robinson Chirinos and <span>Sean Rodriguez</span> hit back-to-back singles to knock Colon off the mound.</p>
<p>Boone Logan entered next and got pinch-hitter Justin Ruggiano to launch a towering fly ball into center field, but <span>Curtis Granderson</span> lost it in the roof of Tropicana Field and it fell to the ground, loading the bases. Pinch-hitter Elliot Johnson came up next and hit a chopper to the mound that Logan deflected into the air, allowing everyone to move up a bag safely and scoring Chirinos.</p>
<p>"What are you going to do? You lose a lot of balls in this stadium," Logan said. "It just started from there. Sometimes games end up being like this."</p>
<p>Johnny Damon then hit a blooper into shallow center field. Granderson made a sliding catch on the ball, but Rodriguez hustled home as Granderson's throw sailed past <span>Russell Martin</span> at the plate to give the Rays a 3-2 lead.</p>
<p>Mark Teixeira hit a two-out, broken-bat double down the right-field line in the third and <span>Robinson Cano</span> followed by hammering a home run over the left- center field wall, giving the Yankees a 2-0 lead.</p>
<p>The Rays made it a one-run game in the fifth after <span>Sam Fuld</span> tripled over the head of Granderson in left-center field and came home on <span>Reid Brignac</span>'s base hit to right.</p>
<p>New York had a chance to put the game away in the top of the seventh, but failed to convert on the opportunity. <span>Brett Gardner</span> hit a two-out single and stole second during an Eduardo Nunez at-bat. Nunez eventually worked a walk and a double-steal by the baserunners put men on second and third. But <span>Derek Jeter</span> hit a weak grounder to first to end the inning, spoiling the Yankees' chance.</p>
<p>Game Notes</p>
<p>New York placed pitcher <span>Sergio Mitre</span> on the 15-day disabled list and recalled pitcher <span>Steve Garrison</span> from Double-A Trenton Tuesday...Before Cano's homer in the third inning, New York had not hit a home run in four straight games, tying a season-high homerless drought...Gardner's two stolen bases in the seventh inning increased his career-best streak to 15 straight without being caught...Tampa Bay improved to 3-4 against New York this season...Tampa Bay's <span>Ben Zobrist</span> exited in the seventh inning after fouling a ball off his right calf in the sixth. He's day-to-day.</p>
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https://newyork.sbnation.com/2011/7/20/2284623/rays-3-yankees-2-granderson-logan-falter-in-loss-to-raysRyan Jones2011-07-19T14:48:27-04:002011-07-19T14:48:27-04:00Colon Tries For Seventh Win
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<p>(Sports Network) – Bartolo Colon tries to bounce back from one of the worst outings of his career this evening when the New York Yankees continue their four-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.</p>
<p>After a four-game winning streak, Colon lost for the second straight time on Thursday in Toronto, as he allowed eight runs (three earned) and six hits with two walks in just two-thirds of an inning to fall to 6-5, while raising his earned run average to 3.47.</p>
<p>“I think it’s important for him, because his last two nights, the starts have not been his best, and as I said, the start in Toronto, we didn’t help him,” Girardi said. “We created a lot of that mess for him. Who knows what he would’ve done, but I still think it’s important.”</p>
<p>Tampa battered Colon two starts ago to the tune of five runs and 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings. The former AL Cy Young Award winner, though, is 9-3 lifetime against the Rays with a 3.84 <span class="caps">ERA</span> in 19 starts.</p>
<p>Getting the call for Tampa this evening will be young Jeremy Hellickson, who stopped a four-game losing streak his last time out. Hellickson hasn’t pitched since July 3 when he beat the St. Louis Cardinals, holding them to three runs and six hits in 7 1/3 innings to improve to 8-7 to go along with a 3.21 <span class="caps">ERA</span>.</p>
<p>This will be Hellickson’s first start against the Yanks.</p>
<p>After suffering a heartbreaking 1-0 loss in 16 innings to the Boston Red Sox on Sunday, the Rays again lost in disappointing fashion in Monday’s opener, as Russell Martin’s bases-loaded walk in the top of the ninth brought in the game-winning run in New York’s 5-4 victory.</p>
<p>David Robertson (3-0) earned the win by pitching a scoreless eighth inning for New York.</p>
<p>A.J. Burnett started the game and lasted 5 1/3 innings, allowing four runs — three earned — on eight hits and six walks in the Yankees’ third straight win.</p>
<p>Mariano Rivera pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn his 24th save of the year.</p>
<p>Alexander Torres (0-1) took the loss when he allowed the deciding run to cross the plate in the ninth.</p>
<p>Alex Cobb started for the Rays in place of the injured Wade Davis, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list on July 7 with a right forearm strain, and allowed two runs — one earned — in six innings.</p>
<p>However, Tampa took its fifth loss in six games.</p>
<p>“Going into tonight, fighting through seven or eight innings with these guys, tough loss at the end…you’ve got to stop the momentum in the wrong direction,” Cobb said.</p>
<p>The Yankees have won four of six against Tampa Bay this season, including two of three at home before the All-Star break.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/2011/7/19/2283356/colon-tries-for-seventh-winJeff Freier2011-07-19T08:58:50-04:002011-07-19T08:58:50-04:00Yankees 5, Rays 4: Russell Martin's Late-Inning Walk Helps New York Beat Tampa Bay
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<p>St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/885/russell-martin">Russell Martin</a>'s bases-loaded walk in the top of the ninth brought in the game-winning run as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/new-york-yankees">New York Yankees</a> rallied to take a 5-4 victory over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/tampa-bay-rays">Tampa Bay Rays</a> to open a four-game series.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/35050/david-robertson">David Robertson</a> (3-0) earned the win by pitching a scoreless eighth inning for New York.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/1032/a-j-burnett">A.J. Burnett</a> started the game and lasted 5 1/3 innings, allowing four runs -- three earned -- on eight hits and six walks in the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">Yankees</a>' third straight win.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/628/mariano-rivera">Mariano Rivera</a> pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn his 24th save of the year.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/69254/alexander-torres">Alexander Torres</a> (0-1) took the loss when he allowed the deciding run to cross the plate in the ninth.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/129021/alex-cobb">Alex Cobb</a> started for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Rays</a> in place of the injured <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/31728/wade-davis">Wade Davis</a>, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list on July 7 with a right forearm strain, and allowed two runs -- one earned -- in six innings. However, Tampa took its fifth loss in six games. That includes a 1-0 defeat in 16 innings Sunday night to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/boston-red-sox">Red Sox</a>.</p>
<p>"Going into tonight, fighting through seven or eight innings with these guys, tough loss at the end...you've got to stop the momentum in the wrong direction," Cobb said.</p>
<p>Torres, who was recalled from Triple-A Durham prior to the game, started the ninth for Tampa Bay with the game tied at four.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/272/curtis-granderson">Curtis Granderson</a> led off with a single, stole second and moved to third on Robinson Cano's groundout to put the go-ahead run 90 feet away with two outs. Torres then gave three straight free passes to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/24/nick-swisher">Nick Swisher</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/958/andruw-jones">Andruw Jones</a> and <span>Russell Martin</span> to allow Granderson to cross the plate.</p>
<p>"It's just patience by our hitters, not trying to do it all at once," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "We got some walks that really helped us."</p>
<p>Granderson also got the Yankees' offense started in the first, when he reached on a bunt single with one out, stole second and moved to third when <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/31374/sean-rodriguez">Sean Rodriguez</a> bobbled a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/96/mark-teixeira">Mark Teixeira</a> grounder in shallow right field.</p>
<p>Cano then hit a grounder to short, but hustled down the line to foil the potential inning-ending double play, scoring Granderson and giving New York an early one-run advantage.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/601/johnny-damon">Johnny Damon</a> walked to lead off the bottom of the frame and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/672/ben-zobrist">Ben Zobrist</a> followed with a single before <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/31733/evan-longoria">Evan Longoria</a> laced a double into the left- center gap to bring them both home.</p>
<p>A <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/640/casey-kotchman">Casey Kotchman</a> single advanced Longoria to third and, after <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/590/b-j-upton">B.J. Upton</a> grounded into a double play, Rodriguez hit a high chopper to the right of the mound. Burnett turned and fielded the ball, but his throw to first was low and bounced past Teixeira, allowing Longoria to score and giving the Rays a 3-1 lead.</p>
<p>Tampa Bay's <span>Robinson Chirinos</span> made his first big league at-bat a memorable one when he led off the second by hammering the first pitch he saw into the right- center gap for a double.</p>
<p>Burnett settled in to strike out the next two batters, but then walked Zobrist and Longoria to load the bases. Kotchman followed with a grounder to short that <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/598/derek-jeter">Derek Jeter</a> stopped with a diving grab, but his throw to second for the force attempt was late and Chirinos scored. Upton's fly to the warning track in the left-field corner ended the inning.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/31806/brett-gardner">Brett Gardner</a> walked to lead off the fifth and moved to third with two outs, then scored when Teixeira legged out a single on a ball fielded in shallow right field by Rodriguez.</p>
<p>Cano came up next, but his plate appearance was delayed when a bank of lights went out as Tropicana Field was struck by lightning. The game was delayed for 17 minutes, and Cano grounded out to keep it a 4-2 game.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/104416/hector-noesi">Hector Noesi</a> replaced Burnett in the sixth after Damon hit a one-out single and Zobrist followed with a walk. Noesi loaded the bases with a walk, but Upton came up empty again, caught looking at a fastball on the low-and-outside corner.</p>
<p>Cano led off the eighth with a single on a sinking liner into center field and Swisher followed with a walk. After pinch-hitter Jones flied out to center, pitcher <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/33566/cesar-ramos">Cesar Ramos</a> was replaced by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/629/kyle-farnsworth">Kyle Farnsworth</a>.</p>
<p>Martin greeted him with a single to load the bases and Gardner slapped a single through the left side of the infield to plate Cano. Nunez followed with a grounder to short, Gardner broke up the force to allow Swisher to cross the plate for the tying run.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/2011/7/19/2282714/yankees-5-rays-4-russell-martins-late-inning-walk-helps-new-york-beatJared Smith2011-07-18T19:31:52-04:002011-07-18T19:31:52-04:00Yankees Vs. Rays: Bombers Open Four-Game Series In Tampa
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<p>(Sports Network) - <span>Alex Cobb</span> returns to the majors this evening when the <a href="https://www.draysbay.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tampa Bay Rays</a> open a four-game series with the <a href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Yankees</a> at Tropicana Field.</p>
<p>The 23-year-old, who will be starting in place of the injured <span>Wade Davis</span>, has already been with the Rays twice this season and has made five starts, going 2-0 with a 3.41 ERA.</p>
<p>His second stint in the majors was far smoother than his first, as he won two of his four starts and posted a 2.55 ERA. Still, he was sent back down to Triple-A on June 18 in order to make room for <span>Jeff Niemann</span>'s return to the rotation.</p>
<p>The Rays may need a big start from Cobb tonight, after the team used nine pitchers in a 1-0 loss to the <a href="https://www.overthemonster.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Boston Red Sox</a> in 16 innings on Sunday.</p>
<p>The AL East rivals totaled 29 runs in splitting the first two games of the series before combining for a whopping eight hits in Sunday's five-hour, 44- minute finale -- the longest game in Rays history.</p>
<p>"I don't know what to say," Rays center fielder <span>B.J. Upton</span> said. "I think both teams pitched well. They had some opportunities, we had some opportunities, we were just one big hit away.</p>
<p>"I'd probably say this is the toughest loss of the year. To know that we played as well as we did and our pitching kept us in it the whole game. We couldn't scratch a run. ... I think a lot of us in the clubhouse right now are pretty much not happy."</p>
<p><span>Dustin Pedroia</span> provided three of the Red Sox's five hits, none bigger than a single off <span>Adam Russell</span> (1-2) that plated <span>Josh Reddick</span> in the 16th.</p>
<p>Against a Boston club that amassed 47 runs over its previous six games, Niemann yielded a mere two hits and two walks while recording a career-high 10 strikeouts.</p>
<p>Tampa has dropped four of five and has fallen seven games back of the Red Sox in the division,</p>
<p>The Yankees, meanwhile, enter this series on a high note after winning the final two games of their four-game series with the <a href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Toronto Blue Jays</a> at Rogers Centre. On Sunday, <span>Curtis Granderson</span> had two hits, knocked in three runs and scored once to help lead the Yanks to a 7-2 win.</p>
<p><span>Brett Gardner</span> went 3-for-4 and crossed the plate three times as New York won for the fourth time in six games.</p>
<p><span>Phil Hughes</span> (1-2) went six innings, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out five for the win.</p>
<p>"He was great today. He had good command and good composure out there," Yankees catcher <span>Russell Martin</span> said of Hughes. "He just looked confident."</p>
<p>Getting the call for the Yankees tonight will be right-hander <span>A.J. Burnett</span>, who is 8-7 with a 4.15 ERA. Burnett pitched well in his final start before the break against Tampa, but did not get a decision, as he allowed three runs and three hits in 5 2/3 innings of his team's 5-4 win. He is 0-4 with a 7.83 ERA in his last five starts against them.</p>
<p>Burnett has faced the Rays 27 times and is 12-8 with a 3.41 ERA in that span.</p>
<p>The Yankees have won three of five against Tampa Bay this season, including two of three at home before the All-Star break.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/2011/7/18/2338072/yankees-vs-rays-bombers-open-four-game-series-in-tampaJeff Freier