Rays at Yankees
Tampa Bay snapped a three-game losing streak with a four-run rally in
the ninth inning Wednesday, riding a three-run homer from Matt Joyce to a
4-1 victory. David Robertson, who inherited the closer role for New
York after a season-ending injury to Mariano Rivera, had not allowed a
run in 13 previous appearances this season. With the loss, the Yankees -
who posted a 5-3 win in Tuesday’s series opener - fell 3 1/2 games
behind the Rays in the American League East race.
The Rays had won 12 of 13 prior to their recent skid, riding timely
hitting and a solid effort from their frontline starting pitchers,
including Thursday starter David Price and closer Fernando Rodney. The
Yankees, meanwhile, again boast one of the most productive lineups in
baseball but have struggled to get quality pitching, ranking near the
bottom of the American League in ERA, WHIP and quality starts, among
other categories. None of New York’s regular starters has an ERA lower
than 3.75.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Sun Sports (Tampa Bay), YES (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays LH David Price (5-1, ERA 2.35) vs. Yankees LH CC Sabathia (4-0, ERA 4.15)
Price has been virtually untouchable of late, giving up only three runs
over 23 1/3 innings in his last three starts with a 24:3
strikeout-to-walk ratio. He has already beaten the Yankees once this
season, holding them to two runs on five hits in 6 1/3 innings April 7
while walking four and striking out five. In 13 career starts against
New York, Price is 5-2 with a 3.96 ERA.
Sabathia has settled down after allowing 16 runs over his first four
starts, and has lasted eight innings in each of his last three trips to
the mound, limiting his last two foes to a total of four runs while
striking out 13 and walking two. He avoided a decision in an April 6
start at Tampa despite surrendering five runs in six innings. Sabathia
is 9-7 lifetime against the Rays with an ERA of 3.25.
WALK-OFFS
1. Sabathia has dominated Tampa Bay first baseman Carlos Peña (5-for-38,
21 strikeouts), and his biggest nemesis in the Rays lineup - third
baseman Evan Longoria (13-for-33, 5 homers, 10 walks) - is on the
disabled list.
2. Yankees outfielder Nick Swisher is 10-for-24 (.417) with a home run
against Price, but second baseman Robinson Cano (.206), center fielder
Curtis Granderson (.206) and third baseman Alex Rodriguez (.200) have
struggled to hit the left-hander.
3. The Rays have won six of Price’s last eight road starts overall and his last five against teams with winning records.