Tuesday, 4 a.m.
Perhaps they aren’t nervous at all. After all, the New York Yankees have so much money tied into so much talent, because they are comfortable there at the top of the AL East.
On the other hand, how can they not notice how fast the Tampa Bay Rays are coming up behind them.
The Rays won again Monday, and it was lopsided again. It was 7-1 this time. After four straight of these bashings — they’ve scored at least seven runs in all of them — the Rays now find themselves at 40-32, only 2 1/2 games behind the Yankees. The Rays have now won 19 of their last 25 games.
They had pitching Monday. Ryan Pepiot struck out a season high 11 batters in upping his record to 4-6. He gave up just four hits in his eight innings of work. Forrest Whitleyfinished up with a perfect ninth inning.
They had hitting, too. Jake Mangum had three hits (and drove in three runs). Brandon Lowe, Jonathan Aranda, Junior Caminero and Christopher Morel all had two hits.
Both Josh Lowe and Brandon Lowe each homered.
The Rays play Baltimore again tonight at Steinbrenner Field at 7:35 pm. Zack Littell will start for the Rays against Dean Kremer.