Game 55: Rays at Yankees

                               June 6th, 2012, 7:05, Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York

The Yankees took Game 1 of 3 yesterday after Andy Pettitte struck out 10 batters in the win. Ivan Nova takes the mound for the Yankees against the Rays, Alex Cobb.

Click here to view the probable pitchers for the series.

Here are the lineups:

Rays (31-24)
Desmond Jennings, LF
B.J. Upton, CF
Matt Joyce, RF
Ben Zobrist, 2B
Hideki Matsui, DH
Carlos Pena, 1B
Sean Rodriguez, SS
Jose Molina, C
Will Rhymes, 3B

Pitching: Alex Cobb RHP (2-1, 3.71 ERA this season)

Yankees (30-24)
Derek Jeter, SS
Curtis Granderson, CF
Alex Rodriguez, DH
Robinson Cano, 2B
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Raul Ibanez, LF
Nick Swisher, RF
Eric Chavez, 3B
Russell Martin, C

Pitching: Ivan Nova RHP (6-2, 5.60 ERA this season)

Enjoy the game!

Yanks' Blank Rays; Pettitte Dominates

Andy Pettitte stares into the signs given by Russell Martin in the 1st inning of Tuesday night's game. (Getty Images)

The Yankees took down the Rays Tuesday night after a dominating performance by Andy Pettitte. The Yankees are now 1/2 game back in the AL East standings. 

Andy Pettitte allowed 0 runs on 2 hits in 7 1/3 innings pitched. He struck out 10 batters and walked only 2. He threw 103 pitches and 70 of them were for strikes. Pettitte dominated the Rays hitters tonight after coming off of a shaky start against the Angels. 

The Yankees offense was able to back Pettitte up tonight. They scored 2 runs in the 1st inning off of a throwing error by the Rays shortstop, Elliot Johnson. The bases were loaded and Raul Ibanez hit a line drive up the middle into the shift, but Johnson bounced the ball and Carlos Pena couldn't handled it. 

Russell Martin is starting to swing a hot bat. He went 3-4 with a grand slam and 2 singles. Martin hit a grand slam to right field in the 4th inning off of James Shields. That padded the Yankees lead to 6-0. 

Nick Swisher would double in the 7th run in 5th inning. Swisher was 2-4 on the night. 

Ivan Nova will take the ball tomorrow in Game 2 of 3 against the Rays. 

Game 54: Rays at Yankees

                                June 5th, 2012, 7:05, Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York

The Yankees and Rays will start a 3 game set tonight in the Bronx. The Rays lead the AL East and the Yankees are 1.5 games back.

Click Here to see the probable pitchers for the series. 

Here are the lineups:

Rays (31-23)
Desmond Jennings, LF
B.J. Upton, CF
Ben Zobrist, 2B
Hideki Matsui, RF
Sean Rodriguez, 3B
Carlos Pena, 1B
Luke Scott, DH
Jose Molina, C
Eliot Johnson, SS

Pitching: James Shields RHP (6-3, 3.95 ERA this season)

Yankees (29-24)
Derek Jeter, SS
Curtis Granderson, CF
Alex Rodriguez, 3B
Robinson Cano, 2B
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Raul Ibanez, LF
Nick Swisher, RF
Eric Chavez, DH
Russell Martin, C

Pitching: Andy Pettitte LHP (2-2, 3.49 ERA this season)

Enjoy the game!

Probable Pitchers: Rays at Yankees

The Yankees and Rays will start a 3 game set in the Bronx on Tuesday.

Here are the probable pitchers:

Game 1: Tuesday, June 5th, 7:05 ET, Yankee Stadium

Rays: 
James Shields RHP (6-3, 3.95 ERA this season)

Yankees:
Andy Pettitte LHP (2-2, 3.49 ERA this season)

Game 2: Wednesday, June 6th, 7:05 ET, Yankee Stadium

Rays: 
Alex Cobb RHP (2-1, 3.71 ERA this season)

Yankees:
Ivan Nova RHP (6-2, 5.60 ERA this season)

Game 3: Thursday, June 7th, 7:05 ET, Yankee Stadium

Rays: 
David Price LHP (7-3, 2.44 ERA this season)

Yankees: 
C.C. Sabathia LHP (7-2, 3.68 ERA this season)

Their is bad weather in the forecast this week, but both these teams hope to get these games in.

Hughes Dominant in Finale Against Tigers

Phil Hughes celebrates with Russell Martin after pitching a complete game against the Detroit Tigers Sunday. (Getty Images)

Phil Hughes and the Yankees took the finale against the Tigers today after Hughes pitched a complete game gem.

Hughes allowed 1 run on 4 hits in his complete game. He struck out 8 and walked 3. Hughes finished with a career high of 123 pitches.

The Yankees offense was able to jump on Verlander quickly. Derek Jeter connected with his 3rd leadoff home run of the season and the 27th of his career. Verlander would allow 1 more run in that inning. He went on to walk Curtis Granderson and Alex Rodriguez. They would move up on a passed ball by the Tigers catcher, Omir Santos. Robinson Cano struck out swinging and then Mark Teixeira hit a sacrifice fly to score Granderson.

In the 3rd inning, Alex Rodriguez hit a towering home run to center field off of Justin Verlander. His home run was estimated to go 447 feet. The ball bounced high off of the brick wall in the stands where retired numbers are.

The Yankees would get 2 more runs in the 5th inning by a RBI triple by Robinson Cano to plate Alex Rodriguez. Robinson Cano would score on a throwing error while attempting to throw him out at 3rd. The ball skipped passed Miguel Cabrera and went into the camera area.

Phil Hughes gave up only 1 run in his outing and that was to Prince Fielder. Fielder hit a long drive to right field on a first pitch breaking ball.

The Yankees finished up their road trip with a 6-3 record. They will enjoy an off day tomorrow and then begin a 6 game home stand.