The Tampa Bay Rays will welcome the New York Yankees into the Trop once again, this time for a three game set. As with the last series, the Rays will try to hold their ground in the AL East, and the Yankees will attempt to stay relevant. The Evil Empire has gotten relatively hot, winning …
Continue reading “The New What Next: Rays vs. Yankees, Yet Another Series Preview”
The Rays couldn’t close the door on the woeful Yankees Sunday, thanks to a ninth inning Alfonso Soriano walk-off RBI ground-ball up the middle, off Jake McGee. Tampa Bay starts the day a half game back of the Boston Red Sox, with another battle for first looming tonight in the makeup game of the rainout in the previous series.
The last time Chris Archer tossed a complete game shutout (the 5-0 shutout of the Astros just prior to the All-Star Break), he called the outing the best of his career. Keep in mind, up to that point Archer had never gone more than seven innings in a game. Well kids, backed with an electric fastball and a sharp slider, Archer not only tossed another complete game shutout, he did so by giving up only two hits. I’d reckon that yesterday’s outing may have superseded his first complete game shutout.
Think back to the middle of June. The Rays were a part of an ultra-competitive AL East which found the Red Sox, Orioles, and Yankees in first, second, and third. Sitting in last place, most knew that Tampa Bay would eventually move up in the standings. Fast forward to last night, the Rays were finally able to claim sole possession of first place following a 10-6 win over CC Sabathia and the New York Yankees.
The Rays will attempt to bury the Yankees — consequently relegating them to their rightful place at the bottom of the AL East — in a three-game set in the Bronx, starting Friday. Tampa Bay is coming off a franchise tying eighth consecutive series victory, following the aborted game four in Boston, Thursday.
