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Rays continue playoff push with Yankees

Sep 27, 2011 - 2:48 PM (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Rays shoot for a fourth straight win this evening but more importantly try to grab sole possession of first place in the wild card standings when they continue a three-game series with the New York Yankees at Tropicana Field.

The Rays were nine games behind Boston back on September 2, but thanks to an epic collapse by the Red Sox now find themselves tied with them with two games to go. Boston ends its season against the lowly Baltimore Orioles, but has lost 20 of its last 27 games.

"There is no sympathy [for the Red Sox]," Tampa manager Joe Maddon said. "I've been through it. I've lived it. It's part of this game."

Tampa's improbable run continued on Monday, as James Shields tossed eight-plus innings and B.J. Upton had a two run double in the Rays' 5-2 win.

"It's definitely an exciting time for us," said catcher Kelly Shoppach, who homered in the win.

Shields (16-12) was one out from a complete game when Maddon pulled him for Kyle Farnsworth with a runner on first.

The 29-year-old righty snapped a personal two-game losing streak, giving up six hits and three walks with four strikeouts, and the Rays won despite having two runners thrown out at home plate on double plays in the first three innings.

Rays left fielder Desmond Jennings ran down a Derek Jeter fly ball and made a highlight-reel diving catch at the warning track for the first out of the fifth inning. Sliding toward the wall, Jennings kept control of the ball as it snow-coned toward the top of his glove.

"One of the best (catches) I've seen," said teammate Evan Longoria.

Robinson Cano hit a solo homer in the first inning and an RBI single in the third for the Yankees, who did the Rays a favor by beating Boston in the first two games of their weekend series before losing the nightcap of a day/night doubleheader on Sunday.

Hoping to keep the momentum rolling for the Rays tonight will be rookie Jeremy Hellickson, who is 13-10 with a 2.90 ERA. Hellickson did not get a decision against the Yankees on Wednesday, but pitched well, allowing two runs and two hits in seven innings of a 4-2 loss.

He leads major league rookies in ERA (2.90), innings pitched (183) and opponents' batting average (.208).

Hellickson has faced the Yanks five times (three starts) and is 2-1 against them with a 4.09 ERA.

New York, meanwhile, will turn to righty Bartolo Colon, who is winless in his last nine starts. Colon lasted just three innings against the Rays on Thursday, as he was pounded for seven runs (five earned) and seven hits, dropping him to 8-10 on the year, while raising his ERA to 4.02.

Colon is 9-5 lifetime versus the Rays with a 3.98 ERA in 21 starts.

The Rays are just 7-9 against them this season.