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The Cleveland Indians came out of their early season offensive slump with a three-game sweep at Kansas City over the weekend. Now the Indians will take their suddenly hot bats west for a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners.

Last Series

After batting only .176 in their first five games, Cleveland (4-4) exploded for 32 runs and 40 hits in a three-game sweep of Kansas City. After scoring eight runs in the opener, the Indians totaled 11 and 13 runs, respectively, in the final two games of the series. It marked the first time in Cleveland history that the Indians scored at least eight runs in each of their first three road games.

After dropping a 4-0 decision to Oakland on Friday, Seattle (6-5) posted a pair of victories in their first home series of the season. Brendan Ryan and Justin Smoak both homered in the Mariners 5-3 win over the Athletics on Sunday.

Last Year Against Seattle

Cleveland was 5-4 against Seattle last season. The Indians swept a three-game series at Safeco Field in April by outscoring the Mariners 20-8. However, Seattle won four of the last five games. Cleveland has won 10 of their last 12 games at Safeco Field.

Starting Pitchers

Justin Masterson (0-1) suffered the loss last Wednesday in a 10-6 setback to the Chicago White Sox. He allowed five runs (three earned) and eight hits over five innings. Masterson is 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA in five career starts against the Mariners. 

In his Seattle debut last Wednesday, Kevin Millwood (0-0) limited Texas to only one run over six innings with seven strikeouts in a 4-3 Mariners win. He is 4-2 with a 3.86 ERA in six career starts against the Indians. Millwood pitched for Cleveland in 2005 when he played for current Seattle manager Eric Wedge and Mariners pitching coach Carl Willis.

Cleveland Offense

Cleveland has hit at least one home run in each of their eight games. The Indians 15 home runs are tied for the major league lead. Asdrubal Cabrera batted .429 (6-for-14) with two home runs and three RBIs at Safeco Field last season. 

Seattle Offense

Kyle Seager batted an impressive .706 (12-for-17) with five doubles and a home run in four games against Cleveland last season. He has three hits in four career at bats against Masterson. Ichiro Suzuki tallied four hits in the season opener against Oakland in Japan. But he entered Sunday’s game with a .194 average before recording two hits.  

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Howie Kendrick finished with three hits and three RBI, and C.J. Wilson limited New York to one run over six innings as Los Angeles of Anaheim won 7-1 Saturday at Yankee Stadium.

The Angels snapped a three-game losing streak while ending the Yankees‘ four-game winning streak.

After stranding two runners in the first inning, the Angels opened the scoring in the second inning. Vernon Wells singled to center field with one out. Chris Iannetta then hit a fly ball down the right field line that just cleared the wall to give the Angels a 2-0 lead.

Kendrick started the third inning with a leadoff single and came around to score on Albert Pujols’ RBI double.

Iannetta walked to lead off the fourth inning, and Erick Aybar singled with one out. Kendrick then followed with a home run to left field to give the Angels a 6-0 lead.

After allowing a single to the first two Yankee hitters of the game, Wilson did not allow another hit until one out in the bottom of the fourth. The Yankees’ lone run scored on Robinson Cano’s one-out single in the fifth. However, Wilson retired Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira to limit the damage.

David Phelps’ middle relief work was one of the few bright spots for the Yankees. Phelps entered the game after Kendrick’s home run and only allowed one run on one hit with four strikeouts over 5.1 innings. His only blemish was a Wells solo home run in the top of the fifth.

Wilson (2-0) earned the win after only allowing one run on six hits over six innings. Three Angels relievers held the Yankees hitless over the final three innings.

Phil Hughes (0-2) started for New York and only lasted 3.1 innings. He struck out six, but allowed six runs on eight hits.

The final game of the series will be Sunday. Jerome Williams (0-0) of Los Angeles of Anaheim will face New York’s Ivan Nova (1-0).

Notes: Vernon Wells’ home run in the fifth inning was the 250th of his career… Robinson Cano tallied his first RBI of the season with a fifth-inning run-scoring single.    

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Ruth, Gehrig, Mantle and Jeter are some of the greatest names in New York Yankees‘ history. However, Beniquez, James and Moses are the names of some of the forgotten Yankees. This series will focus on the less remembered players to wear pinstripes over the last four decades (1970s-2000s). Today’s letter of the day is “C.”

Ron Coomer (2002)

Infielder Ron Coomer spent a season in New York after signing as a free agent on Jan. 28, 2002. He had previously played for Minnesota (1995-2000) and the Cubs (2001).

In Coomer’s only season, he batted .264 with 3 home runs, and 17 RBI. He started 45 games that season, including 26 at third base. In his first Yankees game against Tampa Bay on April 6, Coomer homered in his first at-bat off of Devil Rays starter Wilson Alvarez. Later in the season, he recorded a pair of three-hit games against Oakland (4/30) and Boston (5/26).

Coomer became a free agent after the season and was signed by the Dodgers on Jan. 30, 2003.

Greg Cadaret (1989-1992)

I’ll cheat a little on this one. Even though pitcher Greg Cadaret was traded to New York midway through the 1989 season, the majority of his time in the Bronx came in the 1990s.

As Oakland was en route to their second consecutive A.L. pennant in 1989, the Athletics reacquired outfielder Rickey Henderson from the Yankees for Cadaret, pitcher Eric Plunk and outfielder Luis Polonia on June 21.

Cadaret appeared in 188 games, including 35 starts, in his four seasons in New York and was 22-23 with seven saves. His best season was in 1991 when he finished 8-6 with a 3.62 ERA and 105 strikeouts.

One of his best performances with the Yankees was 7.2 innings of scoreless relief on only three hits and five strikeouts in a 6-5, 11-inning win, over Toronto on Aug. 20, 1990. He also struck out a career-high nine over eight innings in a 12-6 victory against Detroit on Aug. 11, 1991.

After the 1992 season, Cincinnati signed Cadaret. He later played for Kansas City, Toronto, Detroit, Anaheim and Texas before retiring after the 1998 season.     

Bert Campaneris (1983)

On Sept. 8, 1965, he played all nine positions in a game for the Kansas City Athletics. He was later the catalyst for the Oakland offense during their championship run from 1972 to 1974. But infielder Bert Campaneris closed out his 19-year career in 1983 with the Yankees.

After playing in the Mexican League in 1982, Campaneris arrived in the Bronx for Billy Martin’s Yankees. Even though he only totaled 143 at bats, Campaneris batted a career high .322 to go along with 11 RBI. In his second game with the Yankees on May 6, Campaneris went 4-for-5 in an 8-4 win at Minnesota. He also recorded a three-hit game in an 8-6 win over Texas on July 17.

Campaneris, a six-time All-Star, retired after the 1983 season. He compiled a career .259 batting average with 2,249 hits, 313 doubles, 86 triples and 649 stolen bases.

Danny Cater (1970-71)

Danny Cater not only made contributions to the Yankees on the field, but he was also involved in one of the most lopsided trades of the decade.

On Dec. 5, 1969, Cater and Ossie Chavarria were traded from Oakland to New York for pitcher Al Downing and catcher/outfielder Frank Fernandez. Cater batted .301 with six home runs, and 76 RBI for a Yankees’ squad that finished second in the A.L. East in 1970. His numbers dropped in 1971, but Cater still batted a respectable .276 with four home runs and 50 RBI.

Cater’s best game with the Yankees was a five-hit performance with three RBI in a 14-10, 11-inning win at Boston. He also finished with three four-hit games in 1971.

On March 22, 1972, Cater and a player to be named later were traded to Boston for pitcher Sparky Lyle. Cater only totaled 46 RBI over his final three seasons (two with Boston; one with St. Louis). Meanwhile, Lyle went 57-40 with 141 saves.      

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Baseball players are not supposed to still be playing when they are 43 years old. Some players like Phil Niekro and Julio Franco were still productive well into their 40s. But the majority of players are retired before they turn 40 and thinking about possibly continuing their career as a coach or manager.

More than any other player, Nolan Ryan debunked the myth that 40-somethings are on the downside of their career. On the night of June 11, 1990, he pitched like a star rookie in the body of a 43-year-old pitcher.

Entering the game with a 25-33 record, Texas sent Ryan to the mound at first place and defending World Series champion Oakland. The Rangers gave Ryan all the support he would need in the first inning. In the top of the first, Franco, who would still be playing well into his 40s, tallied a two-run home run off of Athletics starter Scott Sanderson. After catcher John Russell added a solo shot in the second, Franco hit another two-run home run off of Sanderson in the fifth to increase the Rangers lead to 5-0.

Ryan did the rest by shutting down a potent Oakland offense.

In the bottom of the third, Walt Weiss was the first Athletic to reach base after drawing a walk. He stole second with one out, but Ryan retired the next two hitters to end the inning. His most impressive inning was the bottom of the fifth when he only needed 12 pitches to strike out Felix Jose, Dave Henderson and Jamie Quirk.

Ryan recorded his fourth consecutive strikeout and his ninth of the game by fanning Walt Weiss to lead off the bottom of the sixth. Mike Gallego followed with a one-out walk; however, Ryan induced Ricky Henderson to line out to left center field. Willie Randolph followed with a deep fly ball down the right field line, but it was caught by Ruben Sierra. 

The 33,436 fans in attendance at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum were buzzing. How could a 43-year old pitcher make one of the best hitting teams in the league look so bad?

Ryan kept things rolling by striking out four straight hitters in the seventh and eighth innings. After Weiss was retired on a foul pop up to third baseman Steve Buchele, Ryan was only three outs away from his mind-boggling sixth career no-hitter.

Ken Phelps pinch-hit for Gallego to lead off the bottom of the ninth and became Ryan’s 14th strikeout victim. Ricky Henderson, who was Ryan’s 5,000th strikeout victim in 1989, followed with a weak ground out that shortstop Jeff Huson collected and fired over to first base in time to retire the speedy leadoff hitter.

Randolph was the last hope for the Athletics, and he jumped ahead in the count, 2-0. On Ryan’s next offering, Randolph lifted a fly ball into the vast foul territory in right field. The ball settled in Sierra’s glove for the final out, and a celebration ensued around Ryan.

At age 43, Ryan became the oldest pitcher in major league history to throw a no-hitter. He was also the first pitcher to toss a no-hitter for three teams. Ryan’s first four no-hitters came as a member of the California Angels, and he also pitched a no-hitter for Houston in 1981.

This would be one of seven no-hitters in 1990, however, it would not be Ryan’s last. His seventh and final game with no hits would come one year later in a 3-0 win over Toronto at Arlington Stadium.

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After only scoring one run in the series opener on Monday, New York had no problem scoring against Detroit pitching in the final three games.

The Yankees used a nine-run sixth inning Thursday afternoon to break open a close game en route to an 11-5 win over the Tigers at Yankee Stadium.

New York took three of four from the Tigers and improved to a season-high 29 games over .500. Detroit pitching allowed 27 runs in the four-game series.

Miguel Cabrera continued his assault on Yankee pitching in the top of the first. With a runner at first and two outs, Cabrera homered off Yankees starter Phil Hughes to give the Tigers an early lead. It was his fourth home run of the four-game series and his 31st of the season.

After being held hitless over the first three innings, the Yankees got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Teixeira and Cano singled. Swisher followed with a run-scoring single to center field on a 3-0 pitch. After Posada flied out to deep left, Granderson delivered an RBI single to tie the game at two.

With the game tied at two in the bottom of the sixth, the Yankees used an offensive explosion to run away with the game. Mark Teixeira led off with a walk and scored on Robinson Cano’s RBI double to left-center. After Nick Swisher walked, Jorge Posada swung at a 3-0 pitch and delivered a run-scoring single to score Cano from second to give the Yankees a 4-2 advantage.

Daniel Schlereth relieved Tigers starter Rick Porcello and walked Curtis Granderson, the only batter he faced. With the bases loaded and still no outs, Austin Kearns greeted new pitcher Robbie Weinhardt with a two-run double to deep center field. After one out, Brett Gardner walked, but ball four eluded Tigers catcher Alex Avila, allowing Granderson to score from third.

Derek Jeter continued the sixth inning scoring spree with a two-run triple to center field. Cano, batting for the second time in the inning, capped off the nine-run inning with his 24th home run of the season to give New York an 11-2 lead. Cano finished the game 3-for-5 with three RBI.

After New York’s nine-run sixth inning, Detroit answered with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh off of reliever Sergio Mitre. Jhonny Peralta hit a solo home run with one out and Austin Jackson added an RBI single up the middle with two outs to cut the Yankees lead to 11-4. The Tigers added another run in the top of the eighth on Brennan Boesch’s RBI single.

Despite allowing a home run to Cabrera in the first, Hughes (15-5) became the fourth American League pitcher to win 15 games this season. He allowed two runs on four hits with six strikeouts over six innings. Hughes won his second consecutive start for the first time since winning five straight from May 28 to June 19. Mitre allowed three runs on six hits in three innings of relief but was credited with his first save of the season.

Porcello (5-11) held the Yankees hitless over the first 3.1 innings before falling apart in the sixth. He allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits with two strikeouts and three walks over five innings.

New York will open a three-game series against Seattle on Friday at Yankee Stadium. Felix Hernandez (8-10, 2.62), who has two complete game victories over the Yankees this season, will start for the Mariners. A.J. Burnett (9-10, 4.66) will take the mound for the Yankees. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. ET.

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Mark Teixeira was 3-for-4 with two RBI, and seven New York pitchers led the Yankees to a 9-5 win over Detroit Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium.

With the win, New York remained in a first place tie in the AL East with Tampa Bay. Detroit dropped to 2-5 against the Yankees this season.

New York used a pair of home runs to open the scoring in the bottom of the first inning. With a runner on first and one out, Teixeira homered over the left field wall, his 27th of the season. He entered the at-bat a career 1-for-15 against Tigers starter Jeremy Bonderman.

Robinson Cano, who was only batting .200 (5-25) in his career against Bonderman, followed Teixeira with a solo home run. It was the fifth time this season the Yankees hit back-to-back home runs.  

Detroit answered with Miguel Cabrera’s home run to lead off the top of the second. He added another solo home run in the top of the fourth to cut the Yankees lead to 3-2.

New York put some distance between themselves and Detroit with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. With a runner at first and one out, Ramiro Pena tripled to right center to score Austin Kearns from first base. Brett Gardner followed with a run-scoring double to left center to score Pena. The final run of the inning scored when Tigers second baseman Ramon Santiago’s wild throw home eluded catcher Alex Avila, allowing Gardner to score from third.

Detroit immediately answered in the top of the fifth. After Avila walked with one out, Don Kelly smacked a two-run home run over the right field wall to trim the Yankees lead to 6-4. However, Curtis Granderson responded with a solo home run in the bottom half of the inning. Granderson did not play against the Tigers earlier this season due to an injury, but he is 5-for-10 against his former team in the first three games of this series.

New York added their final two runs in the bottom of the seventh. With the bases loaded and two outs, Kearns hit a ground rule double to deep left center field to plate two runs. Detroit loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the eighth but only managed one run on Brandon Inge’s sacrifice fly RBI.

Dustin Moseley (3-2) earned the win after allowing four runs on five hits with two strikeouts and two walks in five innings. Joba Chamberlain, Boone Logan, Kerry Wood, Chad Gaudin, David Robertson and Mariano Rivera allowed one run over the final four innings to preserve the win.

Bonderman (6-9) lost his third consecutive start after allowing seven runs (six earned) on six hits with three strikeouts and three walks in five innings. He dropped to 3-9 in 13 regular season starts against the Yankees.    

Detroit and New York will conclude their four-game series on Thursday afternoon. Rick Porcello (5-10, 5.53) will start for the Tigers, while Phil Hughes (14-5, 3.94) will counter for the Yankees. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. ET.

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After coming back from a five-run deficit to defeat Texas on Wednesday, New York nearly blew a late lead on Thursday. CC Sabathia pitched 8.2 innings and New York survived a ninth inning rally to defeat Kansas City, 4-3, Thursday night at Kauffman Stadium.

New York played in their fourth consecutive one-run game, going 2-2 during the stretch. Kansas City lost for the eighth time in their last 10 games.

Trailing 4-1 entering the bottom of the ninth, Kansas City refused to go away quietly. After recording the second out of the inning with two runners on base, David Robertson relieved Sabathia. Willie Bloomquist greeted Robertson with a two-run single to right center to cut the deficit to one. Former Yankee Wilson Betemit’s infield single advanced the tying run to second base; however, Jason Kendall struck out to end the game.

Sabathia (15-5) tied Tampa Bay’s David Price for the American League lead in victories. He allowed three runs on 10 hits over 8.2 innings with three strikeouts and two walks. Despite allowing two hits in the ninth inning, Robertson earned his first save of the season.

Bruce Chen (7-6), who had won his last three starts, suffered the loss after allowing three runs on eight hits over five innings with two strikeouts and two walks. He dropped to 1-5 in his career against the Yankees.   

New York opened the scoring in the top of the second. With runners at first and second and two outs, Curtis Granderson’s run-scoring single scored Robinson Cano for the first run. It was only Granderson’s third RBI since July 31.

The Yankees added single runs in the third and fourth innings. In the top of the third, Derek Jeter and Nick Swisher started the inning with consecutive singles before Jeter scored on Mark Teixeira’s sacrifice fly RBI. Austin Kearns gave New York a 3-0 lead with his first home run as a Yankee in the top of the fourth.

Kansas City got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth. After two outs, Alex Gordon doubled to deep center. He came around to score on Mike Aviles RBI single. New York added their final run in the top of the seventh on Alex Rodriguez’s RBI groundout.

New York and Kansas City will resume their four-game series on Friday night. Dustin Moseley (2-1, 3.86) will start for the Yankees, while the Royals will counter with Kyle Davies (5-7, 5.21). First pitch is set for 8:10 p.m. ET.   

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Tampa Bay Rays pitcher James Shields is nicknamed “Big Game.” While Sunday’s series finale against the New York Yankees may not have been the biggest game of the year, Shields lived up to his nickname.

Shields tossed 7.1 scoreless innings to lead Tampa Bay past New York 3-0 at Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay shutout the Yankees for the first time since an 8-0 win on Sept. 23, 2006. New York was shutout for the fifth time this season.

Shields (10-9) entered the game 2-7 with a 5.45 ERA in 12 career starts against the Yankees. However, Shields limited the Yankees to only four hits with 11 strikeouts and only one walk. He struck out six consecutive batters at one point en route to his third consecutive victory. Rafael Soriano pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his 30th save.

CC Sabathia (13-5) suffered his second consecutive loss after winning nine of his previous 10 starts. He allowed three runs on eight hits in 6.2 innings with three strikeouts and three walks. Sabathia entered the game with a career 33-9 record in August, including 10-0 over the last two seasons. Kerry Wood, acquired from the Cleveland Indians on Saturday, pitched an inning with three strikeouts and two walks in his Yankees debut.

Tampa Bay scored their first run in the bottom of the second. Willy Aybar led off with a ground rule double and scored on a two-out single by Kelly Shoppach.

The Rays added to their lead in the bottom of the third. With runners at second and third and no outs, Carl Crawford’s infield single scored the first run. Evan Longoria then hit into a double play to score B.J. Upton from third to give the Rays a 3-0 lead.

New York’s best chance to score came in the top of the second. Nick Swisher and Jorge Posada tallied consecutive singles to put runners at first and third with one out. However, Shields struck out Curtis Granderson and induced newcomer Austin Kearns to pop out and end the scoring threat.

New York will return to Yankee Stadium to open a three-game series Monday night against Toronto. Brandon Morrow (7-6, 4.62) will start for the Blue Jays, while the Yankees will counter with A.J. Burnett (9-8, 4.52). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. ET.

Tampa Bay Rays’ pitcher James Shields is nicknamed “Big Game.” While Sunday’s series finale against the New York Yankees may not have been the biggest game of the year, Shields lived up to his nickname.

Shields tossed 7.1 scoreless innings to lead Tampa Bay past New York 3-0 at Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay shutout the Yankees for the first time since an 8-0 win on Sept. 23, 2006. New York was shutout for the fifth time this season.

Shields (10-9) entered the game 2-7 with a 5.45 ERA in 12 career starts against the Yankees. However, Shields limited the Yankees to only four hits with 11 strikeouts and only one walk. He struck out six consecutive batters at one point en route to his third consecutive victory. Rafael Soriano pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his 30th save.

CC Sabathia (13-5) suffered his second consecutive loss after winning nine of his previous 10 starts. He allowed three runs on eight hits in 6.2 innings with three strikeouts and three walks. Sabathia entered the game with a career 33-9 record in August, including 10-0 over the last two seasons. Kerry Wood, acquired from the Cleveland Indians on Saturday, pitched an inning with three strikeouts and two walks in his Yankees debut.

Tampa Bay scored their first run in the bottom of the second. Willy Aybar led off with a ground rule double and scored on a two-out single by Kelly Shoppach.

The Rays added to their lead in the bottom of the third. With runners at second and third and no outs, Carl Crawford’s infield single scored the first run. Evan Longoria then hit into a double play to score B.J. Upton from third to give the Rays a 3-0 lead.

New York’s best chance to score came in the top of the second. Nick Swisher and Jorge Posada tallied consecutive singles to put runners at first and third with one out. However, Shields struck out Curtis Granderson and induced newcomer Austin Kearns to pop out and end the scoring threat.

New York will return to Yankee Stadium to open a three-game series Monday night against Toronto. Brandon Morrow (7-6, 4.62) will start for the Blue Jays, while the Yankees will counter with A.J. Burnett (9-8, 4.52). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. ET.

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Tampa Bay entered their weekend series against New York with the opportunity to reclaim first place in the American League East. On Friday, one swing of the bat put the Rays closer to their goal.

Matt Joyce’s two out, two-run home run erased a 2-0 deficit en route to the Rays 3-2 win Friday at Tropicana Field.

Tampa Bay matched a season-high with their seventh straight win, and moved within one game of the first place Yankees. New York dropped to 4-5 this season against the Rays.    

John Jaso singled to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning. With runners at second and third and two outs, Joyce faced a 2-2 count from Yankees starter Phil Hughes. Joyce eventually won the battle with a three-run home run over the right field wall for a 3-2 Tampa Bay lead. It was his fourth home run in July after not homering over the first three months of the season.

New York opened the scoring in the top of the first. Derek Jeter led off with a single and scored on Nick Swisher’s two-run home run over the right field wall. However, Tampa Bay starter Wade Davis shut down the Yankees offense and did not allow another hit until Robinson Cano’s sixth inning single.

Davis (9-9) won his fourth consecutive start after going winless in his previous six. He limited New York to two runs on four hits over seven innings with six strikeouts and three walks. Rafael Soriano pitched a perfect ninth for his 29th save.

Hughes (12-4) made his first start against Tampa Bay since earning a victory in a 3-1 Yankees win on Sept. 27, 2007. He suffered the loss after allowing three runs on four hits over six innings with six strikeouts and two walks. Joyce’s home run was the first round-tripper Hughes has allowed on the road this season.            

New York and Tampa Bay will continue their weekend series on Saturday. Javier Vazquez (9-7, 4.54) will start for the Yankees, while the Rays will counter with Matt Garza (11-5, 4.06). It will be Garza’s first start since his no-hitter on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 7:10 ET.

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Entering Saturday’s game, Reid Brignac had totaled two home runs in 66 games this season. Brignac equaled his total on Saturday and drove in half of Tampa Bay’s runs in a 10-5 triumph over New York at Yankee Stadium.

Tampa Bay improved their major league best road record to 29-15. New York lost for only the third time this month.

With Tampa Bay leading 1-0 in the top of the second, A.J. Burnett retired the first two batters before hitting Jason Bartlett. Brignac followed with his first home run of the afternoon over the right field wall. He entered the at bat 0-for-7 in his career against Burnett.

In the top of the fifth with the Rays on top 5-2, Brignac struck again with a three-run home run off Yankees reliever Dustin Moseley. Brignac, who entered the game homerless since April 27, posted his first career multi-homer game.

Tampa Bay opened the scoring in the top of the first when Evan Longoria singled with two outs and scored on Carlos Pena’s RBI double.

New York cut into Tampa Bay’s 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second. With the bases loaded and one out, Brett Gardner delivered a two-run single. The Yankees entered the game batting .413 this season with the bases loaded. Pena got one run back in the top of the third on an RBI single to give the Rays a 4-2 lead.

New York added solo home runs by Mark Teixeira in the fifth and Jorge Posada in the sixth. In the ninth inning, Alex Rodriguez completed the Yankees scoring with an RBI ground rule double.

Pena added a solo home run for the Rays in the top of the eighth. He entered the game only hitting .201, but finished the afternoon with his first four-hit game since May 8, 2007.

Jeff Niemann (8-2) improved to 5-0 on the road this season. He allowed four runs on six hits over 6.1 innings while striking out six and walking four. Tampa Bay is 9-0 on the road in games started by Niemann.

Burnett (7-8) only pitched two innings and removed in the top of the third due to lacerations on his hand. He allowed four runs on four hits with one strikeout. Burnett had only allowed two runs in 13.2 innings over his last two starts.

A pair of left-handed all-star pitchers will take the mound in Sunday’s finale. David Price (12-4, 2.42), who started Tuesday’s All-Star Game for the American League, will start for Tampa Bay. New York will counter with Andy Pettitte (11-2, 2.70). First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. ET.

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