WHERE: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
WHEN: July 16 - July 18, 2010
TEAM COVERAGE: DRaysBay, Pinstripe Alley
The first series after the All-Star break is a doozy for Tampa Bay, as the Rays venture into the lions den and play a weekend series against the AL East leading New York Yankees. It also marks the opening of a nine-game road trip for the Rays.
Besides the obvious battle between AL East leaders, this series lies in the shadow of the passing of Yankee owner George Steinbrenner. Steinbrenner's legacy affects both the team he owned as well as the club of his adopted hometown.
But enough of that. While there will be a pause before the game and other token mentions of Mr. Steinbrenner, the entire series is a battle on the field and a titanic opening shot for the second half of the MLB season. The Rays are currently two games behind the Yanks in the standings, and a poor series could easily put them in a deep hole in the one of the most competitive divisions in Major League Baseball.
Rays Team Stats
Yankees Team Stats