Tight Tussle in Tampa

The Yankees dropped a 4-3 decision to the Tampa Rays in the rubber match of a three game set at Tropicana Field Wednesday night. Phil Hughes allowed the go-ahead blast in the seventh inning with the Bombers clinging to a 3-2 lead. Dan Johnson’s two run shot lifted the Rays into first place in the AL East, handing New York the series loss in a crucial playoff-like series. Johnson highlighted the Rays’ offense with two long balls and all four Tampa RBIs.
The Yankee bats came up empty in clutch situations after the visitors belted three hits in the top of the first. Rays’ starter, James Shields scattered eight hits and fanned eight Bombers to earn the win. The Tampa hurler escaped first inning trouble to put up zeros against the Yankee offense the remainder of his solid outing. Shields pitched 6 1/3 innings and allowed one run before handing the game over to his bullpen. The Rays didn’t score against Hughes until the bottom of the fifth. He was perfect until Tampa third baseman, Evan Longoria, lifted a single to center. Longoria scored on Johnson’s full count homerun.
Derek Jeter was hit by a pitch in the seventh inning. The umpires awarded the Yankee captain a free base, but the decision stirred up controversy in the Tampa dugout. The result caused the ejection of Rays’ manager, Joe Maddon. Bombers’ centerfielder, Curtis Granderson, clubbed a two-run bomb off reliever, Chad Qualls following the ejection. Granderson’s 18th homerun of the year gave the Yankees a one-run lead. Matt Joyce worked the count against Hughes in the bottom of the seventh before notching a two-out base hit. Johnson drilled his second homerun to drive in Joyce and end Hughes’ night. The former Oakland prospect has four multi-homer games in his career. He has five homers since being called up last month.
Tampa’s Grant Balfour pitched out of trouble after relieving a Randy Choate in the eighth. Balfour retired Marcus Thames, Austin Kearns and Colin Curtis, leaving two runners stranded for the Yankees. Joba Chamberlain faced four batters and was effective in retiring the Rays in the bottom of the eighth frame. All-star first baseman, Mark Teixeira drew a two-out walk in the ninth off Tampa’s Rafael Soriano. Alex Rodriguez couldn’t muster a hit off the closer to keep the inning alive. Soriano fanned Arod for the game’s final out and picked up his 43rd save of the season for the first place Rays. Tampa has won four of their last six games, and faces the Yankees four more times beginning Monday.

Parting Points: The 2005 Heisman has been vacated. Thoughts?

Is this what it takes to be in first place?
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