The New York Yankees continued to struggle on Monday, opening a 10-game road trip with a loss to the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 in St. Petersburg.
CC Sabathia started for the Yankees against Tampa's James Shields, who pitched eight innings and struck out five while only allowing three runs. The Yankee ace allowed three runs and eight hits, including a solo home run to BJ Upton and an RBI groundout to Evan Longoria.
The Yankees were up 10-games in the division following the All Star break, but have squandered that lead to only one game after the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 4-0. The Rays sit behind the Orioles at 2 ½ games back.
Baltimore continues its series with Toronto on Tuesday and if they win and the Yankees lose, there will be a tie atop the AL East.
The Rays have played very well against the Yankees this season, winning eight of 13 games so far, including 10 of the last 11 that have been played in Tampa.
"When we're playing better teams, I think we play our better baseball," Maddon said to the Associated Press. "Everybody talks about the difficulty of the schedule the remaining part of the season, I kind of like it. Actually, I think it's going to bring out the best of us."
The game was tied in the eighth inning when David Robertson gave up an RBI single to Chris Giminez to put the Rays up 4-3. Giminez drove in two runs on the day.
The Yankees fought back in the ninth, putting one man on base, but are still winless on the season in games they are trailing in the final inning.
Eduardo Nunez pinch ran for Eric Chavez after he got on base on a throwing error by Elliot Johnson. Nunez stole second and was moved to third on a groundout by Raul Ibanez, but was stranded when Curtis Granderson struck out to end the game.
The game also marked the return of third baseman Alex Rodriguez after a six week absence. He has been out of action since the end of July, when Seattle Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandex hit Rodriguez on the hand in the eighth inning of a game and broke his left hand.
Rodriguez played in two minor league games for rehabilitation and was 1 for 4 in his return to the major league club. He singled in the fourth inning and scored a run, but struck out against Tampa closer Fernando Rodney in the ninth inning. Rodney now has 41 saves on the season.
The Yankee offense has been shorthanded due to injuries to first baseman Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson and they might be missing another star on Tuesday night, after second baseman Robinson Cano appeared to get injured in the eighth inning.
Cano was reaching for a ground ball by Giminez and said he felt a pain in his left hip. "I was trying to reach for ball. It's a little tight," Cano said, according to the Associated Press.
Another injury would be the last thing the Yankees need, considering they play the next 15 straight games against division opponents, including four against Baltimore on the road.
On Tuesday night the Yankees will start Freddy Garcia, who is 7-5 with a 4.90 ERA and has pitched well recently, with the team winning four of his last five starts. Right-handed pitcher Alex Cobb (8-8, 4.39 ERA) will start for Tampa. In his career he is 0-1 in two starts against the Yankees.
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