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New York Yankees Game Recap: Yankees Drop Final Game Of Series To Rays

By Dan Dechenaux

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After back to back thrilling victories over Tampa Bay, the New York Yankees dropped the final game of their series with the Rays 8-1 Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium.

James Loney plated two runs for the Rays in the top of the first with a ground single. The Yankees threatened to get Ivan Nova the runs back right away. A Chase Headley double off of Tampa starting pitcher Erasmo Ramirez was followed by walks to Mark Teixeira and Brian McCann to load the bases. Garrett Jones then smashed a hot grounder  that first baseman Loney corralled with a sliding stop to end the inning. [related category]

In the second, Kevin Kiermaier tripled off of Nova. Brett Gardner struggled with the line shot that was hit right at him. Gardner started in and then quickly headed back. He leaped, but was unable to haul in the drive. Curt Casali muscled a sacrifice fly to increase Tampa´s lead to 3-0.

After a Casali double in the fifth, Tampa attempted a sacrifice bunt. Nova grabbed the ball quickly, and then whirled around in an attempt to throw Casali out at third base. But he threw wide of Headley and Casali came home to make it 4-0.

The Yankees mounted a rally in the sixth. Alex Rodriguez got it started with his 16th home run of the season. There was no doubt about it as the ball sailed far back into the bullpen.Teixeira followed with a towering fly ball to right, and it appeared that the Yankees had back to back homers. But  Steven Souza made the catch against the wall.

Tampa broke the game open in the eighth. Jose Pirela, who had entered the game as a pinch hitter for Stephen Drew, bobbled a grounder, retrieved it, and then threw wide of first. This was all the catalyst the Rays would need to pad their lead to 8-1.

Nova struggled at times with his control. Numerous pitches bounced in front of home plate. With the loss, his record goes to 1-2. The Yankees next host a three game series against Oakland beginning Tuesday.

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