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Yanks, Posada seek to get on track in clash with Rays

May 16, 2011 - 2:45 PM (Sports Network) - With the Jorge Posada controversy seemingly behind them, the New York Yankees try to avoid a sixth straight loss this evening when they open a brief two-game set against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.

Posada apologized to manager Joe Girardi for asking out of the lineup on Saturday after being dropped to ninth in the batting order. The struggling Posada was not in the lineup on Sunday, but appeared as a pinch-hitter in New York's 7-5 loss to the Boston Red Sox.

"Joe's been on my side," Posada said before his team was swept on Sunday. "I think you've just got to understand, we're trying to do something here that's special, and it's about the team now. It's not about Jorge Posada. It's not about Joe Girardi. I let some people down."

Posada, who is hitting a mere .165, walked in the eighth inning, as New York fell for the ninth time in 12 tries. Curtis Granderson hit a two-run homer and scored twice, while Andruw Jones added a solo home run for the Yankees, who have dropped five of six to the Red Sox this season.

Freddy Garcia (2-3) allowed five runs -- four earned -- on six hits over 5 1/3 frames to take the loss.

"It seemed like Boston came in here and did exactly what we do to other teams -- keep at-bats alive, fouling off pitches, battling and getting big hits," Rodriguez said. "And we're not doing it."

Another loss tonight would give New York its longest skid since a seven-game slide April 20-27, 2007.

Hoping to get them back on track tonight will be right-hander A.J. Burnett, who was terrific his last time out, but did not get a decision. Burnett gave up just a solo home run and walked five over seven innings to the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday, but the bullpen imploded for him in a 4-3 loss.

"I felt all right," Burnett said. "I think the main thing is, I didn't let the walks bother me like I would have in the past. I don't want to walk guys or put guys on, but in the long run, who cares? I try to put it behind me and make the next pitch."

Burnett has faced the Rays 25 times and is 12-7 against them with a 3.15 ERA.

Tampa, meanwhile, comes into tonight's affair atop the American League East standings, two games in front of the Yankees, despite losing two of three to the Baltimore Orioles this past weekend.

The Rays dropped the series to the O's on Sunday, falling 9-3.

Andy Sonnanstine (0-1) was touched for four runs on eight hits in a five- inning start for Tampa Bay, which had won seven of eight before dropping the final two meetings of this three-game set.

Elliot Johnson and Matt Joyce hit solo home runs in defeat, as the Rays fell to just 10-12 at home this season. Tampa also hasn't scored more than five runs in any of its 22 home games this season, the worst such season-opening stretch for a team since the 1908 Brooklyn Superbas.

"It's no fun to not score runs at home," said manager Joe Maddon. "I have no idea why we cannot. We hit the ball so well on the road. To try to analyze it and think it all the way through, and come through with an accurate response, I really don't have that."

Hoping to get them untracked this evening, the Rays turn to left-hander David Price, who has won five of his last six starts. Price beat the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday, limiting them to a pair of runs and five hits in eight innings. He also struck out seven without walking a batter, as he improved to 5-3, while lowering his ERA to 3.12.

"I was able to throw it on both sides of the plate tonight," Price said. "Whenever I'm able to do that with the two-seam and the four-seam, I like my chances."

Price is 3-1 lifetime against the Yankees with a 3.38 ERA in eight games (seven starts).

With Price on the hill, Posada likely won't be in the starting lineup again tonight, as he is 0-for-24 against lefties this season. Not to mention he is only 1-for-18 with 10 strikeouts lifetime against Price.

Tampa took 10 of 18 from the Yankees last season.