Tampa Bay Rays Rally In The Sixth, Hand The New York Yankees Their Sixth Straight Loss

The first place Rays host the second place Yankees in a two game series at the Trop.

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Update

Rays Win 6-5, Drop Yankees To Three Games Back

Rays win! After a rally sparked by Sam Fuld's third career homerun, the Yankees were handed their sixth straight loss as the Rays held on to their 6-5 lead before a crowd of over 25,000 this Monday night. This was the first meeting for the division rivals this season.

David Price struggled early, but the top ranked bullpen pitched to expectation. After Juan Cruz handled the sixth with one hit and one strikeout, Joel Peralta had no problem pitching the seventh and eighth innings for the Rays. He held off six batters allowing no hits and no base runners. Closer Kyle Farnsworth then shut down the ninth on eight pitches including one strikeout.

Bullpen Notes

Juan Cruz was credited with his second win of the season for stopping the Yankees offense in the sixth. His one hit allowed was the only base runner allowed by the Rays bullpen.
Joel Peralta earned his fifth hold of the season and Kyle Farnsworth his eighth save in nine chances. Peralta and Farnsworth have emerged as the Rays' high leverage pitchers and both were underrated signings this off season. Peralta pitched a 2.02 ERA, 0.80 WHIP for the Nationals last season but slipped under the radar and signed with the Rays early for $900K. Farnsworth had struggled the last few seasons, but developed a cutter that impressed management enough to pay him closer money at the tune of $3.25 mil. Baseball on a budget continues to impress.

Game Notes

Johnny Damon, Sam Fuld and B.J. Upton homered off A.J. Burnett. He had allowed six this season. Surprisingly, Joyce did not have a homerun - but he did have an RBI on a well placed grounder to right. Fuld continued to be super against AL East rivals. Could he be returning to his Legendary ways?
The sixth inning featured six hits as all nine batters came to the plate and New York needed 41 pitches to get through the frame.
Curtis Granderson performed well today, hitting a three run homer off David Price in the fifth after working a ten pitch count. Both men are lefty.
This was the first home game the Rays posted more than five runs in 2011. Only the 1908 Brooklyn Superbas had a lower scoring start. Their sixth run wasn't scored at home until the 27th home game. This was the Rays' 23rd.
The Rays look to hand the Yanks their seventh loss in a row tomorrow as James "Big Game" Shields faces off against rookie Ivan Nova. New York has not lost seven games in a row since 2007.

May 16 11:13p by Daniel Russell

Update

Rays Post Five Runs In The Sixth, Lead 6-5 In The Seventh

Things started slow for the Rays. They posted one run in the first five innings, a Johnny Damon line drive over the right field wall. In the mean time, David Price lasted five innings allowing six hits and five earned runs. He had five strikeouts on the night and allowed one home run.

In the second, Price was not able to pitch out of a bases loaded jam, and a ground ball bounced past the diving Ried Brignac to center. Fuld got to the ball, but couldn't scoop it up and two runners scored (error to Fuld?). In the fifth, Yankee catcher Russell Martin singled, Derek Jeter walked, and Curtis Granderson worked an eight pitch count and hit a 97 mph fastball from Price to the right field scoreboard. Price finished the inning then took his seat.

The Sixth

Juan Cruz handled the top of inning allowing one single with one strikeout and no real threat.

A.J. Burnett then returned to the mound, and at this point he had given up four hits and only one run. The Rays catcher John Jaso came to the plate and doubled on a liner to right field. The Legend Sam Fuld then stepped up to the plate and crushed a 3-1 cutter into right like he was Curtis Granderson. The rally was underway with Fuld's second home run of the year, his first at Tropicana field.

After two outs, Evan Longoria songled on a ground ball to Jeter, then moved to second on a wild pitch. Matt Joyce stepped up and hit a ground ball just between Robinson Cano and Mark Teixiera. Granderson fired home and Longoria slid under the tag to make it 5-4.

Another wild pitch moved Joyce to second, after Burnett had tried to pick him off three times, but it wouldn't make a difference as B.J. Upton homered deep to center field and give the Rays the lead 6-5.

Somebody named Luis Ayala replaced Burnett. Then Casey Kotchman singled, Ried Brignac struck out, and every Rays batter made it to the plate.

The Seventh

Joel Peralta then entered the game to face today's third base Eduardo Nunez, Derek Jeter and Curtis Granderson. Nunez worked a ten pitch count but eventually filed out to right, Derek Jeter then filed out on the first pitch he saw to right. Granderson did the same, and Matt Joyce gladly caught all three.

Somebody named Boone Logan is now in to pitch the seventh. Jaso, Fuld, and Zobrist are up.

9:05p by Daniel Russell

Update

Rays Vs. Yankees: Game 1 Lineup

Today's lineup, per MLB Gameday:

Sam Fuld LF
Ben Zobrist 2B
Johnny Damon DH
Evan Longoria 3B
Matt Joyce RF
B.J. Upton CF
Casey Kotchman 1B
Reid Brignac SS
John Jaso C

6:33p by Bradley Woodrum

Original Story

Division Match Up: Tampa Bay Rays Host The New York Yankees

It's a crazy week in the American League East. After hosting a three game series against the Orioles, the Rays have two more to play against the Yankees before traveling to Toronto for another two game series. This will be the first time the Rays have faced the Yankees this season, and both teams will have their baggage.

The Rays started the series against Baltimore on a high with Jeremy Hellickson's first complete game shut out, but ended on a low. Game two suffered a loss at the hands of Wade Davis, who has been sacrificing velocity to work on his command, and game three was started by a reliever for the second time after the struggling Jeff Niemann's back injury. Tampa may need to call another rookie in for support in the fifth starter slot, but that will not be an issue in the these four division games. Today the Rays return to the top of the order with David Price (3.12 ERA), followed by the workhorse James Shields (2.08 ERA).

The Yankees are not without their drama. After being swept by Boston, the Yanks have lost five in a row and nine of their last twelve. The bullpen is coming apart at the seams and the starting rotation consists of CC Sabathia, Freddy Garcia, A.J. Burnett, rookie Ivan Nova, and the 37 year old Bartolo Colon. The Rays will see pitchers three and four against their one and two. On the field has not been easier, the pinstripes have committed thirteen errors in their last ten games. Adding salt to the wounds, veteran catcher-turned-DH Jorge Posada was dropped to ninth in the order and on the same day pulled himself from the lineup for "back stiffness". He apologized to management and the Yankees have not cried foul, but the media has continued to have a field day.

Game 1: David Price (5-3) vs A.J. Burnett (4-2)

Game 2: James Shields (4-1) vs. Ivan Nova (3-3)

What To Watch For

David Price to strike batters out. Price has 30 K's in 28 innings at home this season and has allowed no earned runs in his two victories at home. Price is 3-1 with a 3.38 career ERA in eight games against the Yankees at home. In his last three starts against NY at home, Price is 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA. Today is set to be quite a pitching duel, as Burnett has a 1.64 ERA in nine games at the Trop. (h/t ESPN)
Sam Fuld to be super again. The Legend seems to perform well in big games against division rivals, much like Dan Johnson in the month of October, and Fuld needs to step up his speed and improve his on base percentage - lest he lose his leadoff spot and/or surrender his glove to Desmond Jennings.
Matt Joyce to hit the ball really far. Joyce had his first career homerun against a lefty yesterday, possibly giving him the everyday role in right field. He has suffered some tightness in his quad, but it's hard to believe Maddon would hold him back. Joyce currently leads the league in batting average at .368 and has hit .462 in the month of May.
The Rays to score more than five runs at home. They have only tallied five runs once this season, against the Minnesota Twins. Hopefully they can score six before they join the 1908 Brooklyn Superbas as the only two teams in history to score a mere five runs or less in 26 home games. Tomorrow will be home game 23.
Jorge Posada to warm the bench. The switch hitter has not garnered a hit against a lefty this season and is batting .165. Joe Girardi will not be matching him against David Price.
The Yankees trying to get through the sixth, seventh and eighth inning without the richest set-up man in baseball Rafael Soriano (15 hits, 11 walks in 15 innings). He ruled himself out from the two game series after an elbow injury last Tuesday. The Yanks will have to rely on Joba Chamberlain's 98 mph meatball and a guy named David Robinson with a 12.6 K/9. Do I sound bitter?