YANKEES (57-38)
Brett Gardner CF
Derek Jeter SS
Mark Teixeira 1B
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Jorge Posada DH
Russell Martin C
Eduardo Nunez 3B
Chris Dickerson LF
LHP CC Sabathia (14-4, 2.64)
Sabathia vs. Rays
RAYS (51-45)
Ben Zobrist DH
Sean Rodriguez 2B
Evan Longoria 3B
B.J. Upton CF
Justin Ruggiano RF
Kelly Shoppach C
Casey Kotchman 1B
Elliot Johnson SS
Sam Fuld LF
RHP James Shields (8-8, 2.60)
Shields vs. Yankees
TIME/TV: 7:10 p.m., YES Network and MLB Network
WEATHER: On last day under the big, white dome.
UMPIRES: HP Alfonso Marquez, 1B Ed Hickox, 2B Ed Rapuano, 3B Dan Iassogna
LIMIT THE DAMAGE: The Yankees allowed eight hits last night. According to Elias, it was the most hits the Yankees had allowed in a shutout win in the past 13 years.
LIMIT THE LONG BALL: The Yankees now gone eight straight games without allowing a home run, matching their longest such streak since 1999 when they also went eight straight without a homer. The last time they went more than eight games without a home run was in 1984 when they went 11 in a row without allowing a home run.
LIMITED AT THE END: The Yankees bullpen has not allowed a run in the past five games, allowing just four hits and three walks with 19 strikeouts in 11.2 innings during that stretch.
UPDATE, 7:29 p.m.: So much for the homerless streak. That ended with Evan Longoria’s two-out shot in the first inning. It’s 1-0 Rays heading into the second.
UPDATE, 8:07 p.m.: Soriano pitching one inning for Tampa tonight. He threw 16 pitches and allowed two hits and one earned run. He walked none and struck out none.
UPDATE, 8:22 p.m.: Hey look, Gardner bunted. That’s a two-out bunt single in the fifth. It’s still 1-0 on that first-inning homer.
UPDATE, 8:26 p.m.: Jeter goes down swinging to end the inning. Shields and Sabathia locked in another terrific pitching matchup.
UPDATE, 8:36 p.m.: Sometimes you give up a triple to a fast guy at the bottom of the order. Walking Johnson was the real problem for Sabathia here in the fifth. I’m sitting next to Sweeny Murti who pointed out that Sam Fuld’s RBI triple went into the right-field corner with a runner at first base. It was basically the same situation as the flip play, and sure enough, it ended with Jeter running across the infield to be in the exact same spot he was in against the A’s.
UPDATE, 9:00 p.m.: After a two-out Nunez single, Girardi made the logical move and brought Granderson off the bench to pinch hit. He flied to left and it’s still a 2-0 Rays lead heading into the bottom of the seventh.
UPDATE, 9:22 p.m.: Don’tchaknow. Robinson Cano comes through with a two-out RBI double to right, scoring Jeter and pulling the Yankees within 2-1 in the eight. Shields is done, Gomes is in to face Swisher. This is the first sign of life from the Yankees offense. Shields was terrific.
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