Yankees 5 - 1 Rays
Final/12
  for this game

Yankees expect to have Teixeira back for finale with Rays

Apr 20, 2014 - 10:47 AM (SportsNetwork.com) - The New York Yankees hope to have first baseman Mark Teixeira back in the lineup on Sunday when they close out a four-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.

Teixeira, who was limited to just 15 games last season because of a wrist injury, strained his hamstring in the fourth game of this season and was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

"We feel that he's ready to go," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "We'll talk about it tonight. I want to talk to him when he gets here, see how he's feeling, and then we'll go from there."

His return couldn't come at a better time for the Yankees, who have lost two in a row and were absolutely hammered on Saturday, as the Rays hit five homers, including two apiece by Wil Myers and Ryan Hanigan in a 16-1 rout.

Chris Archer (2-1) remained unbeaten against the Yanks and gave up three hits and one run. The right-hander went 3-0 with a 1.23 ERA in three starts against the Yankees last season.

Hanigan had six RBI and Myers and Evan Longoria each knocked in four runs for the Rays, who have won the last two games of this set by a combined score of 27-6.

"It's an awesome team win," Hanigan said. "Top to bottom. Good pitching. Good defense. We all swung the bats pretty well."

Longoria broke Carlos Pena's franchise home run record with a two-run shot in the third inning, his second of the season and 164th of his career, all with the Rays.

Yankees right-hander Ivan Nova (2-2) shook his arm after throwing a pitch in the fifth inning and was taken out.

Nova was charged with eight runs on eight hits and a walk and struck out four. He gave up Tampa Bay's first four home runs as his ERA ballooned 2.33 points to 8.27 in four starts.

"The good thing is (that Saturday's) game only counts as one," Girardi said. "Even though it was pretty lopsided and it was ugly, it only counts as one."

Getting the call for New York on Sunday will be Cuban lefty Vidal Nuno, who will be making a spot start due to a rainout earlier this week. Nuno has appeared in three relief outings this season and has surrendered seven runs in 4 1/3 innings.

The Yankees are hoping to get 75 pitches out of him on Sunday.

Tampa, meanwhile, will turn to Cesar Ramos, who will be making his second start since taking the place of the injured Matt Moore. Ramos suffered the loss against the Cincinnati Reds last Sunday and was hit hard, surrendering four runs in just two innings. He is 0-1 on the year with a 7.50 ERA.

"It definitely feels good (to get a second start)," said Ramos. "It was pretty bad, but I'm thankful for another opportunity, and I'd like to take advantage of it this time."

This will be Ramos' first start versus the Yankees, but he has pitched to a 7.62 ERA in 13 relief appearances against them.

Tampa was 12-7 against the Yanks last season, shutting them out four times.






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