by Eric Sachs

Tampa Bay came into todays game having dropped three straight to the Baltimore Orioles to start this six-game road trip. After getting his last start skipped due to shoulder pain David Price came out and was phenominal in leading the Rays to a 6-4 victory.

The scoring began in the second inning when Price gave up a leadoff single to Russell Martin and with two outs in the inning when Steve Pearce hit a bloop single into short centerfield allowing Martin to score giving the Yankees an early 1-0 lead.

The score would remain at 1-0 until the Top of the fifth inning when for the first time in fourteen innings the Rays were able to put together back-to-back hits starting with a Giminez double. A wild pitch and a walk to Pena set up a first and third situation for Elliot Johnson. Johnson singled to right scoring the tying run, Giminez, to make it a 1-1 game. Desmond Jennings then followed with a single to score Pena giving Tampa Bay a 2-1 lead. After loading the bases on awalk by Ben Zobrist the inning was capped off after Evan Longoria hit into a double play scoring Johnson giving the Rays a 3-1 lead.

New York wouldn't take long to answer as Curtis Granderson opened up the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run to cut the leas down to 3-2. The Yankees continued to threaten and a great play by Johnson at second base leaving a pair of runners stranded for the Yankees and keeping the score at 3-2.

In the top of the seventh the Rays tacked on to the lead yet again. Johnson reached on a fielders choice and after stealing scond base Ben zobrist delivered a single that allowed Johnson to score from second giving the Rays a 4-2 lead. That lead would quickly be extended in the top of the eigth inning as B.J Upton sent a ball deep over the fence for a solo home run making it a 5-2 game.

Price would go seven strong innings and the Rays turned to the bullpen to close it out. Joel Peralta came in for the eighth inning and gave up a towering two-run home run to Alex Rodriguez making it a 5-4 ball game. Fernando Rodney would then be called upon to get a five out save for the Rays.

Rodney was able to get the Rays out of the eighth inning and looked to close out the win in the ninth. Before Rodney could come on the Rays would tack on another run after a Jennings single and stolen base Longoria hit an RBI single to give the Rays some insurance and make it a 6-4 game. Rodney locked down his fourty-third save as the Rays snap their losing streak with a 6-4 win.

The Rays continue this crutial three game series up in the Bronx as James Shields (14-8, 3.71 ERA) will take on Ivan Nova (11-7, 4.92 ERA). The start time for that game is 4:05 and you can catch the pregame on 620 WDAE starting at 3:30 PM.