The New York Yankees are seeking to avoid their first 0-3 start since 1998, although that season turned out just fine.
The Tampa Bay Rays, meanwhile, have started with three wins just once in franchise history.
The Rays have won five straight at home against the Yankees for the
first time heading into Sunday's finale of this opening series.
New York has gotten poor starts from CC Sabathia and newcomer Hiroki
Kuroda to drop two high-scoring games, 7-6 on Friday and 8-6 on
Saturday. The Yankees have lost their first two for the first time in
three years, and last went 0-3 in 1998 when they went 114-48 and won the
first of three straight World Series.
Sabathia allowed five runs over six innings while Kuroda had a rough Yankees debut, yielding six over 5 2-3.
"We're two games in right now. It hasn't really gone the way we would
have liked for it to. But, hey, that's the name of the game," New
York's Nick Swisher said. "We just got to keep battling, keep fighting,
stick together as a team because we're going to do a lot of special
things."
The Rays, whose only 3-0 start
came in 2002, have displayed plenty of firepower. Carlos Pena has six
RBIs in this series and Matt Joyce and Luke Scott came up with their
first three of the year Saturday.
"That's what we talked about. We needed or wanted to see some
significant power adjustment," manager Joe Maddon said. "Power is also
driving in runs. It's not just hitting home runs. These guys have done a
nice job."
The Rays' 15 runs have matched
St. Louis for the most by any team through two games. Scott and Evan
Longoria each have .667 on-base percentages, combining to go 7 for 12.
New York manager Joe Girardi has expressed a desire to give his
veterans some time off from the field. Derek Jeter was 2 for 5 as the
designated hitter Saturday and Girardi said Alex Rodriguez could DH or
even sit Sunday.
Phil Hughes will get
the ball for New York after he went 5-5 with a 5.79 ERA in an
injury-plagued 2011. He turned in a better spring, registering a 1.56
ERA over 17 1-3 innings as his velocity has been improved.
"I just came in and wanted to throw the ball well," Hughes told the
Yankees' official website. "I didn't want to think any further into it; I
just wanted to make some tough decisions for these guys. I felt like I
threw the ball well enough to be here, and that's really all I wanted to
do."
The right-hander is 3-3 with a
4.21 ERA in six career starts against the Rays. Scott has given him the
most trouble among the Tampa Bay hitters, going 8 for 15 with three
doubles.
The Rays, meanwhile, are hoping
that right-handed Sunday starter Jeremy Hellickson will fare better
than his 9.00 ERA over 20 innings in spring training this year. He went
13-10 with a 2.95 ERA while finishing third on team with 189 innings to
earn 2011 AL rookie of the year honors.
Hellickson is 1-1 with a 4.07 ERA in four career starts against the
Yankees. Robinson Cano is 5 for 11 with two homers against him.
