Kazmir Shuts Down Powerful Yankees

RAYS 6

YANKEES 2

When a team is supposed to face a struggling pitcher whose ERA is 6.69, they are supposed to win the game. When this same team is countering with their ace, they are most definitely are supposed to win the game.

Well, that is why the play the game, n'est pas?

The New York Yankees, winners of 10 of their last 11 games, were dominated by struggling Scott Kazmir through seven innings, in which he gave up only five hits and one run, while striking out four. Only Hideki Matsui and A-Rod could do any damage on the Rays young lefty. Mastui had two hits and two RBI, while A-Rod had two hits. That was really it for the Yankees all night long.

As for C.C. Sabathia, he really struggled. Sabathia gave up six runs, five earned, in 5 and 2/3 innings. He just didn't have it last night; in this fashion,so has the season gone for C.C.. There are days that Sabathia looks dominant, yet there are others in which he looks completely lost on the hill. Not exactly what one wants from a pitcher that is being paid $161 million.

The Rays got to Sabathia in the third inning. B.J. Upton lined a single to right to start the inning. Then Carl Crawford tripled to right field to drive in the speedy Upton to make it 2-0. Next, Evan Longoria reached on a terrible throwing error by A-Rod to drive in Crawford, making it 3-0.

Finally, in the fifth, Longoria blasted his 20th homer of the year down the left field line to give the Rays a 4-1 lead.

The Yankees now fall to 61-39 and remain ahead of Boston for first in the AL East. Box Score.