Ichiro's clutch hit leads Yanks' to victory

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Yankees	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	2	4	9	0
Rays	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	3	7	0

R

H

E

Yankees

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

1

2

4

9

0

Rays

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

1

3

7

0

R

H

E

Yankees

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

1

2

4

9

0

Rays

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

1

3

7

0

Phil Hughes pitches against the Rays on Tuesday. (Associated Press Photo)

The Yankees were able to take the middle game of their three-game set by a score of 4-3 after Ichiro Suzuki came up clutch in the eighth inning with a two-run single.

Phil Hughes started for the Yankees and he gave them a quality start. Hughes allowed two runs on six hits in seven innings of work. He struck out six and walked two batters. Hughes had a shaky first inning, but escaped the jam with only allowing one run. He finished his outing with 109 pitches thrown, in which 78 of them were for strikes.

The Yankees scored their first run in the fourth inning on a Vernon Wells RBI single to right field to tie the game at one. The Yankees would be down again in the eighth inning, but Brett Gardner would tie the game at two with his run scoring groundout.

With the score tied at two and two outs in the ninth, Ichiro Suzuki came through with a two-run single off of Fernando Rodney to give them a 4-2 lead.

Mariano Rivera would shut the door in the ninth, but allowed a solo home run to Evan Longoria to cut their lead to one. With his save, Mariano Rivera now has six on the season and 614 in his career.

The Yankees and Rays will conclude their three-game set tomorrow.

Game 21: Yankees at Rays

Game 21: Yankees at Rays
April 23rd, 2013, 7:10 pm ET, Tropicana Field

TV: My 9 Radio: WCBS 880

Weather: Dome

The Yankees and Rays will continue their three game set tonight as the Yankees look to even the series after losing the opener last night.

Click Here for the Probable Pitchers for this series.

Here are the lineups:

Yankees (10-8)
Brett Gardner, CF
Eduardo Nunez, SS
Robinson Cano, 2B
Vernon Wells, LF
Ben Francisco, DH
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Chris Stewart, C
Ichiro Suzuki, RF
Jayson Nix, 3B

Pitching: Phil Hughes RHP (0-2, 6.43 ERA this season)
(Phil Hughes against the Rays: Click Here)

Rays (9-10)
Desmond Jennings, CF
Ryan Roberts, 2B
Ben Zobrist, RF
Evan Longoria, 3B
Matt Joyce, LF
Yunel Escobar, SS
James Loney, 1B
Jose Molina, C
Kelly Johnson, DH

Pitching: David Price LHP (0-1, 6.26 ERA this season)
(David Price against the Yankees: Click Here)

Enjoy the game!

Sabathia struggles early in opener against Rays

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Yankees	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	1
Rays	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	x	5	7	1

R

H

E

Yankees

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

2

1

Rays

4

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

x

5

7

1

R

H

E

Yankees

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

2

1

Rays

4

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

x

5

7

1

C.C. Sabathia pitches against the Rays on Monday. (Getty Images)

The Yankees were unable to defeat the Rays on Monday as they were defeated 5-1. C.C. Sabathia struggled in the first inning for the second time in as many starts. After his shaky first inning, he would rehab and pitch seven strong innings.

Sabathia allowed five runs on seven hits in seven innings of work. He struck out eight and walked two. He finished his outing with 104 pitches, in which 68 of them were for strikes.

The Yankee offense continued to struggle against left-handers this season as they scored only one run in the game, which came off of a Robinson Cano solo shot.

The Yankees look to even the series tomorrow as they will play the middle game of their four game set.

Game 20: Yankees at Rays

Game 20: Yankees at Rays
April 22nd, 2013, 7:10 pm ET, Tropicana Field

TV:  YES Network Radio: WCBS 880

Weather: Dome

The Yankees and Rays will meet for the first time tonight as they begin a three game set at Tropicana Field.

Click Here for the Probable Pitchers for this series.

Here are the lineups:

Yankees (10-7)
Brett Gardner, CF
Ben Francisco, DH
Robinson Cano, 2B
Vernon Wells, LF
Francisco Cervelli, C
Brennan Boesch, RF
Eduardo Nunez, SS
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Jayson Nix, C

Pitching: C.C. Sabathia LHP (3-1, 2.57 ERA this season)
(C.C. Sabathia against the Rays: Click Here)

Rays (8-10)
Desmond Jennings, CF
Ryan Roberts, 2B
Ben Zobrist, RF
Evan Longoria, 3B
Sean Rodriguez, 1B
Yunel Escobar, SS
Shelley Duncan, DH
Jose Lobaton, C
Sam Fuld, LF

Pitching: Matt Moore LHP (3-0, 1.00 ERA this season)
(Matt Moore against the Yankees: Click Here)

Enjoy the game!

Probable Pitchers: Yankees at Rays: April 22nd-24th

The Yankees will begin a three game series with the Rays on Monday, which marks the first time that these two teams will face off this season.

Here are the Probable Pitchers for this series:

Game 1: Monday, April 22nd, 7:10 pm ET, Tropicana Field

Yankees:
C.C. Sabathia LHP (3-1, 2.57 ERA this season)
(C.C. Sabathia against the Rays: Click Here)

Rays:
Matt Moore LHP (3-0, 1.00 ERA this season)
(Matt Moore against the Yankees: Click Here)

Game 2: Tuesday, April 23rd, 7:10 pm ET, Tropicana Field

Yankees: 
Phil Hughes RHP (0-2, 6.43 ERA this season)
(Phil Hughes against the Rays: Click Here)

Rays:
David Price LHP (0-1, 6.26 ERA this season)
(David Price against the Yankees: Click Here)

Game 3: Wednesday, April 24th, 7:10 pm ET, Tropicana Field

Yankees: 
Andy Pettitte LHP (3-0, 2.01 ERA this season)
(Andy Pettitte against the Rays: Click Here)

Rays:
Alex Cobb RHP (2-1, 2.53 ERA this season)
(Alex Cobb against the Yankees: Click Here)

Enjoy the series!