E-Boland and the Bombers

Pregame chatter

Yankees (20-21) at Tampa Bay Rays (23-17), 4:10 p.m.

Starters: Ian Kennedy (0-2, 8.37) for the Yankees and Scott Kazmir (1-1, 2.70) for the Rays.

Hello, It's Me: Kennedy gets a second chance to make a better impression. He was demoted to the minors on May 4 after recording a horrible 8.37 earned run average in seven starts. The alternative would have been more Kei Igawa. But Kennedy did pitch 7 1/3 shutout innings for Scranton-Wilkes Barre on May 6 (including one hit and eight strikeouts).

Ray of hope: Kazmir makes his third start following a one-month stint on the disabled list. He allowed just three hits with six strikeouts in six shutout innings against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Saturday. Kazmir agreed to a four-year contract worth $28.5 million on Wednesday.

Be back after the Yankees bat in the top of the first inning.

Top of 1st: Kazmir gets a 1-2-3 inning. With the lineup the Yankees have out there, it will be interesting to see what offense they can produce.

Bottom of 1st: Akinori Iwamura leads off with a home run to right. Bad start for Kennedy. Rays 1, Yankees 0.

Top of 2nd: First Yankees baserunner ........ Morgan Ensberg, who walked with two outs. Robinson Cano, fresh off a 4-for-4 night, struck out looking to end the inning.

Bottom of 2nd: 1-2-3 inning for Kennedy, including a strikeout of Eric Hinske.

Top of 3rd: Kazmir is cruising - and looking very good. Another 1-2-3 inning. He picked up his second strikeout of the game, getting Molina.

Bottom of 3rd: Shawn Riggans singles to center to start. Kennedy hits Ben Zobrist. After a good bottom of the second, Kennedy is in trouble. Iwamura walks to load the bases. Even more trouble. Carl Crawford flies out to left, scoring Riggans. B.J. Upton grounds out, runners move up. Kennedy strikes out the dangerous Pena. For a bases loaded situation and no outs, not a bad job by Kennedy. Rays 2, Yankees 0.

Top of 4th: Melky Cabrera gets the Yankees' first hit of the day, a single to left. Jeter grounds out to Evan Longoria, with Melky going to second. Melky was lucky he did not get picked off earlier in the at-bat. Giambi hits a high popup to Riggans in foul territory. Duncan flies out to left.

Bottom of 4th: Two quick outs for Kennedy before Hinske hit a double to right. Hinske, not known for his running, just beat the throw by Duncan. The throw was a little off line. Riggans followed with a two-run home run to deep left. A flat slider straight down the middle of the plate. Rays 4, Yankees 0.

Top of 5th: Ensberg walks to lead. Cano grounds into a fielder's choice. Credit Ensberg for pausing, which got him safely to second and into scoring position. Alberto Gonzalez walks. Molina flew out to center, Ensberg tagged up and made it to third, despite a strong throw by Upton. Damon hits a looper to second and that ends the inning.

Bottom of 5th: Iwamura starts with a double to right. Crawford hits a fly to center and Iwamura tags and goes to third. Upton hits another flyball to center, deep enough to score Iwamura. Rays 5, Yankees 0.

Top of 6th: Jeter gets a one-out single to center, the 2,400th of his career. That's the second hit off Kazmir. Giambi strikes out looking. Giambi hasn't had a good history against Kazmir and it's showing today. Duncan singles to left. Ensberg flies to centerfield as Kazmir passes the 100-pitch count.

Bottom of 6th: Kennedy's out, LaTroy Hawkins is in. Hawkins struck out the side in order. Impressive! Line on Kennedy: five innings, five hits, five earned runs, three strikeouts and one walk, 78 pitches.

Top of 7th: Kazmir is gone. Good start, though. Cano greets reliever Gary Glover with a single. Bobby Abreu, pinch-hitting for Gonalez, fouls out. Molina singles to right, past a diving Pena. Runners at first and second. Damon flies out to left. It's up to Melky to get the Yankees on the scoreboard. Line-drive single to centerfield, scoring Cano. Jeter singles to score Molina. Melky goes to third. That's all for Glover. Lefty Trever Miller is in to face Giambi. Giambi hits a flyball to centerfield. Rays 5, Yankees 2. Line on Kazmir: six innings, three hits, no runs, three strikeouts, three walks.

Bottom of 7th: Jose Veras is in. I thought Hawkins looked real good last inning. Why not have him go out there for another inning? But another good inning for the bullpen. Veras sets the Rays down in order.

Top of 8th: Hideki Matsui bats for Duncan, and Dan Wheeler is in for the Rays. Matsui strikes out. Ensberg strikes out. Cano flies out to left. The bats go quiet again.

Bottom of 8th: Another reliever, this time Edwar Ramirez. The bullpen remains perfect, as Ramirez gets a 1-2-3 inning. Nine up, nine down for the bullpen.

Top of 9th: Troy Percival is in to close it out for the Rays. Abreu strikes out looking. Molina strikes out swinging. All fastballs against Molina, the last one at 91. Damon flies out to left. FINAL: Rays 5, Yankees 2.