Tune in at 1:10 PM ET as the Yankees take on the Rays. Matthias Koster will be liveblogging for your enjoyment.
NYY
Jeter
Swisher
Cano
ARod
Chavez
Ibanez
Martin
Suzuki
Dickerson
TB
Jennings
Upton
Zobrist
Longoria
Keppinger
Francisco
Robers
Gimenez
Johnson
Odds: Over/Under = 7 runs . TB -112 favourites
TB: 4-6 past 10. NYY 4-6 past 10.
TB trails NYY by 3.5 games in the AL East. TB is also 1.5 games back of a Wild Card spot. NYY are 2nd in the AL playoff structure and are looking to secure home field
ARod is fresh off the DL and is in the clean-up spot
1st pitch is around the corner. Looks like a decent crowd in St.Pete's. Change-up specialist James Shields is starting for TB
Here we go. Jeter is set to lead off, followed by Swisher, then Cano
Granderson is dealing with mild tendinitis in his right hamstring. Chris Dickerson is batting 9th and playing CF
Jeter stepping in. He remains a productive offensive contributor
1st pitch is a fouled off 93 MPH fastball
TB leads the season series 7-5.
Outside fastball hit the other way into RF. It's a slicing liner. Ben Francisco ranges over and makes a lunging grab near the RF warning track. Nice ranging catch for out #1. Swisher to bat
Strikeout on three pitches, the final a high change. Two down, Cano stepping in
1st pitch groundout to Roberts ends the inning. 1-2-3 for Shields. CC getting set to take the hill for NYY
@vinny He's a good 4th/5th guy and fits in well in the Tampa system
Jennings/Upton/Zobrist set to bat for TB
CC has about an 8.00 ERA in the 1st inning this season. The Rays know this and want to jump all over him. Let's see how this plays out
Jennings hits a low, out of the zone slider up over Jeter and into LF for a leadoff single
Jennings has speed and is a stolen base threat. Upton coming up, Maddon likes to bunt early
He doesn't this time and Upton hits a first pitch infield pop-up, caught by Cano. One down, Zobrist coming up
Zobrist has great bat control. This is an ideal hit and run situation
Nothing going on right now. 0-2 count. CC at 92 MPH with his fastball
Strikeout, swing and a miss on high heat. Two down, Longoria coming up
Liner hit directly to Jeter. Caught for the final out of the inning. Jennings stranded at 1st. Onto the 2nd
ARod set to lead off the 2nd. This will be his first AB in over a month, as he's returning from his hand injury
1st pitch swing, a blooper to SS, caught by Johnson for out #1.
This brings up Eric Chavez. Mark Teixeira is also out of today's lineup, with his calf strain.
Chavez walks. 1st base runner of the game for the Yanks. Ibanez coming up
And another walk from Shields. Fastball is being slightly over-throw.
Runners on 1st/2nd (average speed at best). Martin up
1st pitch groundball to Roberts. He throws to Johnson at SS for the forceout, Johnson can't transfer from glove to hand after a high throw, thus eliminating any chance at a DP
So a fielders choice. Runners now on 1st/3rd. Two outs, Ichrio up
Low change taken, count now full. Martin will run from 1st with 2 outs. Chavez is over at 3rd
Strikeout ends the inning!! Fastball in on Ichiro, swung on and missed.
We're back. 5/6/7 due for TB. Keppinger/Francisco/Roberts due
What a trio for 5/6/7. All three are essentially scrap heap players that no one else wanted. Yet TB makes them serviceable pieces
Keppinger hits a dying fly into CF. It drops in between the LF/CF, and it's a single
Keppinger on 1st. None out, Francisco up
Deep groundball to SS. Jeter's lack of range costs NY, as the ball gets past him into LF for another single
Rays on 1st/2nd, none out, Roberts coming up. I smell a bunt.
1-1 count, Roberts took the first pitch, pulled back a bunt on the 2nd pitch
2-2 count. Gimenez is out deck, to be followed by Johnson, then the top of the order
