NY Yankees (20-19) at Tampa Bay (24-17) live streaming links, match review, lineups May 17, 2011 THE STORY: The New York Yankees are reeling. They have lost six straight games, the longest slide since April of 2007 when they were beaten seven straight. The Tampa Bay Rays will try to add to that when they send red-hot James Shields to the mound against the visiting Yankees in the finale of the two-game series. Ivan Nova goes for New York, which has dropped to 7-8 on the road and is 3-10 in its last 13 games. Yankees set-up man Rafael Soriano is also out indefinitely with a stiff right elbow. The Rays, despite an 11-12 home record, have a three-game lead in the American League East.
TV: 6:40 p.m. ET
Shields has been one of the top pitchers in league. He has gone at least seven innings and allowed two or less runs in seven of eight starts, winning four straight decisions. Shields has struggled against the Yankees in his career, going 3-8 with a 4.91 ERA in 91 2/3 innings. Robinson Cano (16-for-41) and Nick Swisher (5-for-23) have both homered three times and knocked in eight against Shields. He has handled Curtis Granderson (3-for-31). Nova had three solid starts in a row before he gave up eight runs (four earned) in three innings against Kansas City last Thursday. Nova is 0-0 with a 6.97 ERA against the Rays in 10 1/3 innings, but current Rays are batting .188 (6-for-32) against him.
ABOUT THE RAYS (24-17): After scoring six runs combined the previous three games, the Tampa Bay offense got going again Monday night with a season-high three home runs. The Rays pushed their total to 41 homers, in the top half of the league despite losing Carlos Pena and Carl Crawford to free agency. Production is coming throughout the lineup. B.J. Upton has 12 RBIs in eight games, Matt Joyce has seven in seven games and Casey Kotchman is batting .377 his last 18 games. Lead-off hitter Sam Fuld has also picked it up after a brief slump, with six RBIs in six games.
ABOUT THE YANKEES (20-19): The Yankees have given up 4-1 and 5-1 leads, respectively, the last two nights and the bullpen only allowed two of the runs. New York’s bats went cold, with just one hit the last four innings Monday. Alex Rodriguez was 0-for-4 as the designated hitter. Jorge Posada, 0-for-24 against lefthanded pitchers, was not in the starting lineup for the third straight day but is expected to play Tuesday. Granderson continues to lead the Yankees offense. The lefthanded hitter belted his seventh home run against a lefthanded pitcher Monday and has 14 overall.
FINAL PITCH: The Rays expect to get lefthanded reliever J.P. Howell back later in the week after one more rehab appearance. Howell had surgery on his left shoulder a year ago and missed the 2010 season. Howell had a 2.22 ERA in 2008 and 2.84 in 2009.
TV: 6:40 p.m. ET
Preview: Yankees at RaysPITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH James Shields (4-1, 2.08) vs. Yankees RH Ivan Nova (3-3, 4.70).
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5-Day Forecast
GAME: New York Yankees (20-19) at Tampa Bay Rays (24-17)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 17 - 6:40 PM EST
WHERE: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
ABOUT THE RAYS (24-17): After scoring six runs combined the previous three games, the Tampa Bay offense got going again Monday night with a season-high three home runs. The Rays pushed their total to 41 homers, in the top half of the league despite losing Carlos Pena and Carl Crawford to free agency. Production is coming throughout the lineup. B.J. Upton has 12 RBIs in eight games, Matt Joyce has seven in seven games and Casey Kotchman is batting .377 his last 18 games. Lead-off hitter Sam Fuld has also picked it up after a brief slump, with six RBIs in six games.
ABOUT THE YANKEES (20-19): The Yankees have given up 4-1 and 5-1 leads, respectively, the last two nights and the bullpen only allowed two of the runs. New York’s bats went cold, with just one hit the last four innings Monday. Alex Rodriguez was 0-for-4 as the designated hitter. Jorge Posada, 0-for-24 against lefthanded pitchers, was not in the starting lineup for the third straight day but is expected to play Tuesday. Granderson continues to lead the Yankees offense. The lefthanded hitter belted his seventh home run against a lefthanded pitcher Monday and has 14 overall.
FINAL PITCH: The Rays expect to get lefthanded reliever J.P. Howell back later in the week after one more rehab appearance. Howell had surgery on his left shoulder a year ago and missed the 2010 season. Howell had a 2.22 ERA in 2008 and 2.84 in 2009.
