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Yankees aim for sweep of Rays

Jul 9, 2008 - 12:00 PM Tampa Bay (55-34) at NY Yankees (48-42) 1:05 p.m. EDT

BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- The New York Yankees will turn to Sidney Ponson on Wednesday in search of a two-game series sweep of the surprising Tampa Bay Rays.

While the Yankees have been mired in mediocrity for much of the season - ranking fifth in team batting average and eighth in team ERA in the American League - the Rays have begun to assert themselves as the class of the AL East.

Tampa Bay has relied on a pitching staff that ranks third in the AL and a team defense that sits second in the league - a far cry from the 2007 squad that ranked last in both categories.

But the Yankees were the team that put pitching on display in the series opener as Andy Pettitte tossed eight scoreless innings while yielding four hits and not walking a batter. New York also played flawless defense while the Rays made one error en route to the 5-0 setback.

Ponson (5-1, 4.19) will attempt to match Pettitte's effort on Wednesday. The portly righthander did not fare well in his last start, yielding seven runs and nine hits in five innings in a no decision against the Texas Rangers.

He pitched against the Rays earlier this season when he was a member of the Rangers and was handed his lone loss, surrendering five runs and 12 hits in five frames.

Tampa Bay will counter with righthander Edwin Jackson (5-6, 4.08), who has been sharp of late. The 24-year-old allowed one run and four hits in eight innings to earn a win against the Royals on Friday and has a 2.57 ERA over his last three starts.