Yankees (75-64) vs. Rays (84-53)
Darrell Rasner (5-9, 5.08) vs. Scott Kazmir (10-6, 3.13)
The Yankees are a win away from sweeping the Rays. Tampa's ace Scott Kasmir stands in the way of that goal as the Yankees send Darrell Rasner to the mound.
Rasner held the Blue Jays to two runs over six innings and and threw only 67 pitches.Rasner allowed two hits and a walk in the seventh. He allowed four earned runs to pick in a no-decision. It marked just the third time in his past 10 starts that Rasner pitched at least six innings. Rasner has not faced Tampa Bay this season.
Kazmir notched his 10th win of the season against Baltimore on Friday night, tossing 5 1/3 innings of shutout baseball. He scattered three hits and three walks while striking out six.. He will be making his 23rd start of the season on Thursday, his third against New York.
Joseph Staszewski is back for all of tonight's action.
RAYS 7, YANKEES 5
Top of the Ninth: Pudge doubles to lead off the inning and scores on a Ransom double. Jeter hits a three-run homer into the seats in right with two outs. A-Rod follows with a towering homer, No. 550 of his career. RAYS 7, YANKEES 5
Bottom of the Eighth: Iwamura, who tripled, scored on a sac fly to center by Upton. Britton gets Navarro to pop out with the bases loaded to end the inning. RAYS 7, YANKEES 0.
Top of the Eighth: Chad Bradford replaces Kasmir. Yanks get only a two-out single from Nady.
Bottom of the Seventh: Britton is brought in after a two-out double by Navarro. Gardner throws out Navarro trying to score on a hit by Bartlett to end the inning.
Top of the Seventh: Yanks get just a single from Ransom, his second of the game.
Bottom of the Sixth: The Rays get just a lead-off walk by Upton.
Top of the Sixth: Yanks go in order
Bottom of the Fifth: Rays get just a lead-off single from Navarro.
Top of the Fifth: A-Rod flies out with runners on first and third with two outs.
Bottom of the Fourth: Aceves gives up a homer to right to Aybar. RAYS 6, YANKEES 0
Top of the Fourth: Yankees go 1-2-3.
Bottom of the Third: Aceves works out of a first and second and no out jam.
Top of the Third: Yankees get just a two-out walk from A-Rod.
Bottom of the Second: Gross doubles home Hinske, who led off the inning with a single. Barlett's sac fly scores Navaro and Iwamora singles to bring home Gross. Rasner walks Pena to load the bases with one out. Rasner is pulled and Aceves is brought it. Aybar smacks a two-run, two out single. RAYS 5, YANKEES 0
Top of the Second: Yanks get just a two-out walk from Ransom.
Bottom of the First: Pena works a two-out walk and Floyd singles, but that is all the Rays can manage.
Top of the First: Yankees manage two-out walks from A-Rod and Nady