Almonte, Yanks' down Rays

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Rays	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	9	0
Yankees	1	0	1	2	0	1	0	1	x	6	11	0

R

H

E

Rays

0

0

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

2

9

0

Yankees

1

0

1

2

0

1

0

1

x

6

11

0

R

H

E

Rays

0

0

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

2

9

0

Yankees

1

0

1

2

0

1

0

1

x

6

11

0

David Phelps pitches against the Rays on June 21st. (Getty Images)

The Yankees were able to defeat the Rays on Friday by a final score of 6-2 as Zoilo Almonte dazzled Yankee fans in his first major league start. Almonte collected three hits and blasted his first career home run. David Phelps was very strong tonight and he picked up his fifth win of the season.

Phelps allowed two runs on eight hits in five and two thirds innings of work. He struck out four and walked one. He concluded his outing with 102 pitches thrown, in which 61 of them were for strikes.

Many Yankee hitters drove in runs tonight, but the story has been Zoilo Almonte. Although he only drove in one run, he collected three hits and after his home run, he received a curtain call.

Mariano Rivera worked the ninth inning in a non-save opportunity and shut the door on the Rays to pick up the must needed victory.

The Yankees and Rays will play the third game of their four-game set tomorrow afternoon.

Yankees acquire Brent Lillibridge from Cubs

The Yankees have announced that they have acquire utility infielder Brent Lillibridge from the Cubs for a player to be named later or cash.

Lillibridge will report to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and has not been placed on the 40-man roster.

It is unclear if and when Lillibridge will even make it to the big league team.

Game 73: Rays at Yankees

Game 73: Rays at Yankees

June 21st, 2013, 7:05 pm ET, Yankee Stadium

TV: My 9 Radio: WCBS 880

Weather: Clear, 82 Degrees, Wind: SSW at 11 MPH

The Yankees and Rays will play the second game of their four-game set tonight.

Click Here for the Probable Pitchers for this series.

Here are the lineups:

Rays (38-35)
Matt Joyce, LF
Desmond Jennings, CF
Ben Zobrist, 2B
Evan Longoria, 3B
James Loney, 1B
Will Myers, RF
Luke Scott, DH
Jose Molina, C
Yunel Escobar, SS

Pitching: Roberto Hernandez RHP (4-7, 5.02 ERA this season)
(Roberto Hernandez against the Yankees: Click Here)

Yankees (39-33)
Brett Gardner, CF
Ichiro Suzuki, RF
Robinson Cano, 2B
Travis Hafner, DH
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Zoilo Almonte, LF
Jayson Nix, SS
David Adams, 3B
Austin Romine, C

Pitching: David Phelps RHP (4-4, 4.08 ERA this season)
(David Phelps against the Rays: Click Here)

Enjoy the game!

Yanks' blown out in opener against Rays

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Rays	0	1	2	0	0	1	1	3	0	8	14	0
Yankees	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	3	6	1

R

H

E

Rays

0

1

2

0

0

1

1

3

0

8

14

0

Yankees

0

0

0

0

0

3

0

0

0

3

6

1

R

H

E

Rays

0

1

2

0

0

1

1

3

0

8

14

0

Yankees

0

0

0

0

0

3

0

0

0

3

6

1

Andy Pettitte pitches against the Rays on June 20th. (Getty Images)

The Yankees struggles continued tonight as they were defeated 8-3 by the Rays in the opener of their four-game set. The Yankee offense struggled again tonight. Andy Pettitte started and he suffered his fifth loss of the season.

Andy Pettitte allowed five runs on nine hits in six and two thirds innings of work. He struck out six and walked only one batter. He finished his outing with 96 pitches, in which 66 of them were for strikes.

The Yankee offense had one big inning tonight, in which they scored three runs in the sixth inning. The Yankees scored one run on a wild pitch, then Robinson Cano hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Brett Gardner. One batter later, Travis Hafner drove in Jayson Nix with a groundout to shortstop.

The Yankees look to get back on track tomorrow when they resume their four-game set with the Rays.

Game 72: Rays at Yankees

Game 72: Rays at Yankees

June 20th, 2013, 7:05 pm ET, Yankee Stadium

TV: YES Network Radio: WCBS 880

Weather: 

The Yankees and Rays will play the first game of their four-game set tonight.

Click Here for the Probable Pitchers for this series.

Here are the lineups:

Rays (37-35)
Desmond Jennings, CF
Sean Rodriguez, LF
Ben Zobrist, 2B
Evan Longoria, 3B
Will Myers, RF
Jose Molina, DH
Yunel Escobar, SS
Jose Lobaton, C
James Loney, 1B

Pitching: Matt Moore LHP (8-3, 4.12 ERA this season)
(Matt Moore against the Yankees: Click Here)

Yankees (39-32)
Brett Gardner, CF
Jayson Nix, 2B
Robinson Cano, 2B
Travis Hafner, DH
Vernon Wells, LF
Ichiro Suzuki, RF
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Chris Stewart, C
Reid Brignac, SS

Pitching: Andy Pettitte LHP (5-4, 3.95 ERA this season)
(Andy Pettitte against the Rays: Click Here)

Enjoy the game!