The Hobbling Rays @ The Historic Yankees 7/7-7/10

[Tobywan]

Probables

Niemann VS Colon

Hellickson VS Garcia

Price VS Burnett

Shields VS Sabathia

The Rays coming off a series loss to the Twins even with the surge of runs in the finale, the All-Star pitching looked anything but in the first two games of the set.

The Yankees reestablishing and trying to keep hold of their dominance in the AL East are coming off a series loss to the Indians, but won the previous 7 series when they didn’t take kindly to getting swept by the Sawx.

Yanks have extra motivation with their Captain just a hint shy of undoubtedly securing his place in the Hall of Fame. There is an extremely good chance it will come in this 4 game set. Jeter got help accomplishing a milestone once before from a Ray’s pitcher. In Sept. of ‘09 Niemann gave up hit number 2,721 which tied him with Lou Gehrig for the most by a Yankee. I am hoping they can hold him off long enough so I can see it on live TV during the weekend as I have to work tonight and will have to watch it on the DVR.

Will the Rays be able to bind up the wounds and battle in the Bronx to keep themselves in the race or will the Yankees widen the gap between them?

Jeff Niemann is 2-0 with a 3.60 ERA since coming off the DL. He allowed just one run on Saturday against the Cardinals with 5ks.

Bartolo Colon makes his second start since coming off the DL Colon had 6 shutout innings on Saturday with a win against the Mets. He is 6-3 with a 2.88 ERA.

Take note..

The Rays, RSox and Yanks went into Wed. with the three best records in the AL and three of the six best records in the Majors. They also held the Majors' three best road records. It marked the first time since the current division format began in 1994 that three teams from one division had the AL's three best records on that date.

[Tobywan]

Got home in time to see the 9th inning of tonight's game.

One down 2 to go on the Jeter Meter.

Wade Davis was placed on the 15 day DL with a strained right forearm, Brandon Gomes was recalled from Durham.


Farnsworth in to pitch the 9th.

Swisher out on strikes.
Posada walks, Pena in to PR, he moves up to second on indifference.
Martin flies out to center.
Gardner swings at strike three but the pitch gets away, Gardner reaches, Pena to third.
That brings up Jeter.

[Tobywan]

Jeter send s chopper to third, Rodriguez gets it makes the throw and gets Jeter! Rays win 5-1!!!!
Jeter sits at 2,998.

[Tobywan]

Jeter will have to sit a little longer, the game tonight has been called due to rain, hasn't been announced if they will play 2 tomorrow or Sunday or if it will be made up at a later date.

[Tobywan]

Game will be made up on Sept. 22nd.

[Tobywan]

The Rays decided to skip over Hellboy in order to keep Price and Shields on their schedules.
A small piece of irony, Hellickson grew up a Yankee fan gave his Yorkie the name of Jeter in 2005.



Today’s match ups
Price wasn’t very sharp in his last outing against the Twins, allowing 4 runs on 5 hits in 6 innings.
The last time he pitched against the Yanks in May Jeter went 0-2.

Burnett let up 4 runs, 4 hits and 4 walks in 7 innings in his last start against the Indians, including a 3 run homer to Austin Kearns.

An MRI found a tear of the meniscus in ARod’s right knee that might need surgery.
Damon is suffering from a contusion on his left hand but is scheduled to be in th eline up today.


Line ups

Rays

Damon DH
Zobrist RF
Longoria 3B
Kotchman 1B
Upton CF
Joyce LF
Rodriguez 2B
Jaso C
Brignac SS

Yankees

Jeter SS
Granderson CF
Teixeira 1B
Cano 2B
Martin C
Posada DH
Jones RF
Nunez 3B
Gardner LF

[Tobywan]

Damon grounds out to first.
Zobrist down swinging .
Longoria Ks.


Time to start the Jeter meter.

[Tobywan]

Jeter with a full count fouling off pitches.

[Tobywan]

Jeter with 2,999!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


A dribbler that went between Brignac and Longo.

[Tobywan]

Granderson flies out to short.
Teixeira grounds into a 6-4-3 DP.

[Tobywan]

Kotchman grounds to second.
Upton down swinging.
Joyce hits one high and deep, 2nd tier homer.
Rays strike first, 1-0.

[Tobywan]

SRod out swinging.

[Tobywan]

Cano HBP.
Martin Ks.
Posada grounds out to third. Cano up to second.
Jones walks.
Nunez grounds out to second.

[Tobywan]

Jaso out looking.
Brignac Ks.
Damon grounds to first.

[zodious]

OOOO... I think Gardner was safe there.....