Yankees and Rays Meet for 3 (4/25)

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays flat out embarrassed the Yankees last season, winning 11 of the team's 19 meetings. After splitting a pair at The Stadium, the Yankees looked horrid in losing three of four in Tampa in early May. That left the Yankees at 11-18 and searching for answers. Two rookies made less than stellar debuts in the series, but would become vital keys to another division crown.

Chien-Ming Wang started the finale of the four game set, and gave up 5 runs in 6 innings. He also looked indecisive in certain situations. No surprise for a rookie who does not count English as a first language. Robinson Cano appeared in games two through four, going 2-11 with 1 RBI and one very costly error.

The Yankees would lose one more game in Oakland before reeling off 10 straight west coast wins that would turn their season around. Tampa Bay would treat them no differently though.

The Devil Rays returned to The Stadium in June and took another three of four. The only game they lost was a wild affair that saw them blow a 10-2 lead; the Yankees winning 20-11.

One player who drove the Yankees nuts last season was Eduardo Perez. They won't have to deal with him until they play Cleveland this year, but last year he was a nemesis. That included two big home runs to help the Rays take two of three in Tampa in August. Perez had already homered off of Randy Johnson, when he came up against Mariano Rivera in the 9th inning of the second game (Yankees took the first behind Jaret Wright). Perez sent another one into the seats to send the game to extra innings where the Rays won in 11. The finale saw another blown lead as Robinson Cano's nonchalance on a throw to first started an eighth inning winning rally against Alan Embree and Tanyon Sturtze.

The AL East and wild card races were in full bloom as September rolled around and the Rays did damage to the Yankees post-season hopes again, taking two of three in the Bronx again. The first game came down to the 9th inning and Mariano Rivera. This game was tied, but after a single by Aubrey Huff and a stolen base by pinch-runner Joey Gaithright, Cano committed yet another error against the Rays, the go-ahead run scoring on the play. The Yankees won the second game, but the Rays beat Wang again in the rubber game of the series.

One final series took place in Tampa from September 13-15 - the Yankees finally responded. Jason Giambi hit his 30th home run and drove in 5 runs, and Hideki Matsui and Jorge Posada had 5 RBI each in a 17-3 romp. The next night, Wang finally beat the Rays as Cano and Derek Jeter drove in 2 each in a 6-5 win. Aaron Small didn't have his best stuff going for the three game sweep, but the Yankees rallied from a 5-1 deficit as Cano hit a grand slam and Alex Rodriguez belted his 42nd. Small would win his 8th game in an unbeaten season. The sweep would be part of a hot stretch where the Bombers took 11 of 12.

Pitching Match ups for the Series

Tuesday - Scott Kazmir vs. Mike Mussina
Wednesday - Seth McClung vs. Chien-Ming Wang
Thursday - Mark Hendrickson vs. Shawn Chacon


Hitters to look out for

Johnny Gomes, who was a rookie of the year candidate in 2005, is rolling in 2006. He's hitting .302 with 9 home runs 20 RBI. Gomes was expected to hit, but not the man occupying third base - Ty Wiggington. Wiggington, the former Met, has smacked 8 home runs and has driven in 20 runs as well.

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The Yankees need to immediately turn around one thing in their season - winning night games. With Sunday's victory the Yankees became the third team to win their first 8 day games. The only problem is that they are 1-7 at night.