Yankees Lose Second Straight Against Rays

nydailynews.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

August 24th, 2013

New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays Post Game Recap

Final Score: Yankees 2 Rays 4

The New York Yankees suffered their second straight loss in Tampa Bay against the Rays, as they have already lost the three-game weekend series. The loss moves the Yankees to (68-61), which is seven games behind the AL East leading Red Sox, and 4.5 games behind the two Wild Card spots.



As what can be expected in almost every start he makes, David Price was very good and earned his eighth win of the season. The Yankees weren’t able to get to Price until the fifth inning when they loaded the bases against the tough lefty. Austin Romine would work a walk for the first run of the game, as Alex Rodriguez was able to jog home. The second and final run off of Price and the Rays would come from an RBI ground-out by Ichiro Suzuki, which scored Vernon Wells. Price finished going six innings allowing just the two runs on five hits, and one walk, while striking out five.

Yankees Starter C.C. Sabathia put together one of his better starts of late but was unable to hold the lead given to him, and he got his 11th loss of the season. Things were going smoothly for Sabathia until the sixth inning, as the Rays would piece together a little rally started with a Ben Zobrist double that scored two runners and tied the game. Evan Longoria was the next better up, and he singled home Zobrist to give the Rays the lead.

Preston Claiborne came in relief of Sabathia, but Longoria would get the best of him too, as Longoria hit a solo-home run in the eighth inning, which was his 27th of the year, and was a nice insurance run for the Rays bullpen.

The Rays bullpen was extremely solid for the final three innings of the game, as Jake McGee pitched a scoreless seventh inning to earn his 22nd hold of the season, and was followed by Joel Peralta in the eighth, who earned his 32nd hold. Rays Closer Fernando Rodney closed out the Yankees with ease, pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 30th save of the season.

The Yankees will try to avoid the sweep on Sunday afternoon, as Ivan Nova (7-4, 3.17) will be facing Alex Cobb (8-2, 2.85).