• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Rays pose tough challenge for Yankees

Apr 14, 2008 - 2:04 PM NY Yankees (6-7) at Tampa Bay (6-6) 7:10 pm EDT

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) - After splitting a four-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays at home just over a week ago, the New York Yankees realize a trip to Tropicana Field will not be an early vacation.

The Yankees hope to snap a two-game slide on Monday when they open a two-game set against the Rays.

At the end of its season-opening seven-game homestand, New York was outscored, 19-7, in the first two games of its four-game series with Tampa Bay. The Yankees responded with strong efforts from starters Chien-Ming Wang and Mike Mussina to split the series.

However, they will hope for a reversal of fortune in the pitching matchup that kicked off that series in which the Rays pounded them, 13-4, on April 4.

Ian Kennedy (0-1, 13.50 ERA), who surrendered six runs and four hits with four walks in just 2 1/3 innings in that matchup, will get the call once again. The righthander came on in relief in his last outing, allowing two runs and two hits over three frames, but did not factor into the 4-0 loss to Kansas City on Wednesday.

New York was unable to take advantage of eight walks issued by Boston pitching in Sunday's 8-5 setback vs. the Red Sox. The Yankees have dropped two straight series.

Despite picking up the win in that opener, the Rays would like to see a slightly better performance from Andy Sonnanstine (1-1, 6.00). The righthander - who allowed four runs in six innings in Tampa Bay's win over New York - surrendered four runs and seven hits over six frames in a 7-1 home loss to Seattle on Wednesday.

The Rays used a six-run fifth inning on Sunday to down Baltimore, 6-2, giving rookie Jeff Niemann a win in his major-league debut. Tampa Bay has won three of its last four contests.