5/12 - Yankees (21-18) @ Rays (27-11): Game 1

The Rays have now dropped two in a row, this one to the Yankees at home. In the bottom of the third, with B.J. Upton on second, Carlos Pena hit a single up the middle, knocking in Upton to take a 1-0 lead, and then Evan Longoria followed with a two-run blast to center field to extend the lead to 3-0. With the score 3-1, the Yankees viciously fought back in the sixth,  scoring seven runs on two homers. A three-run homer by Alex Rodriguez, and later in the inning, a grand slam by Melky Cabrera to take an 8-3 lead. Jason Giambi extended the Yankees lead in the top of the seventh with a solo shot. In the bottom of the eigth, the Rays scored once more with an RBI knock by Jonny Gomes to bring in Evan Longoria, but Alex Rodriguez did it again in the top of the ninth, with a two-run blast. Rays starting pitcher Chuck James started the game well, but was taken out in the sixth after giving up the three-run homer to Alex Rodriguez then getting two on. James was charged with six earned runs on ten hits pitching five and one-third innings.

Final Score:

Yankees: 11

Rays: 4

WP - Ian Kennedy (2-1) | LP - Chuck James (0-1) | SV -

HR:

Evan Longoria - Rays (10)

Alex Rodriguez - Yankees (10)

Alex Rodriguez - Yankees (11)

Jason Giambi - Yankees (7)

Melky Cabrera - Yankees (6)