AL East Winning Yankees @ WC Seeking Rays 9/26-9/28

[Tobywan]

Probables

Noesi VS Shields
Colon VS Hellickson
TBD VS Price

The last series of the regular season is a must win situation for the Rays, the Yanks are already sitting pretty on top of the division.
The Yanks might be a little tired and stretched after not only a double header yesterday but a 14 inning marathon in game 2. The Sox managed to take that game, keeping them one game ahead of the Rays. If the Rays want life in October they have to go through the mighty Yanks.

Tonight’s Match-ups

Hector Noesi is set to make only his second start, his first was against the BoSox in June. He went 6 innings and allowed 2 runs on 3 hits but came away with a no-decision.

James Shields will be pitching one of the biggest games of the season for the Rays. Last Wed. in NY he gave up 4 earned runs in 7 1/3rd for his 12th loss. He is 8-5 with a 2.38 ERA in 16 starts at Tropicana Field this season.


Line-ups

Yankees

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

Rays

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

[Tobywan]

Johnny Damon with an RBI single in the 3rd for his 2,721st hit that ties Lou Gehrig.

Then he gets caught in a run down .

[Tobywan]

Say it ain't so Joe.....one out away from a CG and Maddon pulls Shields!

[Tobywan]

Farnsworth closes it out! Rays win 5-2! Sox down 6-3 in the 9th and are trying to rally.

[Tobywan]

Tonight’s Match-ups

Bartolo Colon hasn’t recorded a win since July 30th, he has allowed 11 runs in 7 innings split between 2 outings, one of those against the Rays.

Jeremy Hellickson gave up 2 runs in 7innings but took a no-decision against the Yankees on Wednesday. A dominant outing would certainly help his bid for AL ROY.


Worth Noting

Entering Monday, Rays starters had posted an AL-best 3.51 ERA, and only one AL team in the last 20 years has posted a lower ERA by its starters: last year's Oakland A's, who finished with a 3.47 ERA. The Rays have now used a starting pitcher under age 30 for 762 straight games, a ML record.


****
About 15 minutes ago Casey Kotchman was taken out of the Rays clubhouse on a stretcher after he complained of tightness in his chest, he was taken to the hospital as a precaution and tests. Pray that he is alright.

[love_that_reefer]

I hope Kotchman is OK and can help tomorrow! Awful timing

[Tobywan]

[Line-ups

Yankees

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

Rays

Revised due to having to replace Kotchman.

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

[Tobywan]

I hope Kotchman is OK and can help tomorrow! Awful timing

There's never a good time, but I just hope it's something like anxiety and not his heart or arteries or anything.

[Tobywan]

Nunez flies out to center.
Granderson flies out to center.
Cano grounds out to first.

[Tobywan]

Jennings Ks looking.
Upton ..broke a bat got a bit close to ARod....he walks.
Longoria ...BJ is picked off before the first pitch to Evan....grounds to short, crappy throw by Nunez, Longo reaches.
Joyce pops out to third.

[Tobywan]

Rodriguez Ks looking.
Teixiera soft dribbler to third (in the shift), throw not in time.
Swisher pops out to right.
Posada grounds out to first.

[Tobywan]

Damon singles to right......passing Lou Gehrig....standing ovation. 2,722.

[Tobywan]

Zobrist launches one high and deep, Swisher back to the wall..........GONE! (20 HR, # 90 & 91 rbi's)

Rays strike first 2-0.


Rodriguez lines a single up the middle.
Shoppach ...pickoff move gets away from Teix, SRod to second. Shop pops out to right.
Brignac flies out to center, SRod tags and heads to third.
DJ grounds out to third.

On to the 3rd, Rays lead 2-0.

[Tobywan]

Martin hits one high and deep to left center....Desmond to the wall, looking up.....in the stands..2-1.
Gardner walks.

Mound huddle.

Nunez flies out to center.
Grandy ....Gardner takes off for second...throw a little off...Brignac makes the tag on his foot but then bobbles the ball. Grandy pops out to second.
Cano is intentionally walked. (How good of a friggin' hitter are you when you are walked to face ARod??)
ARod walks. Bases loaded.
Teix flies out to right.

[Tobywan]

BJ jumps on the first pitch sending it down the left field line for a double.
Longo walks.
Matty J pops out to short.
JD pops out to second.
Zo strikes out looking.