Game 120: Yankees looking to snap skid

New York dropped the opener of the three-game weekend series, last night 5-0.

Rays starter Alex Cobb threw 7 1-3 shutout innings for the win over Brandon McCarthy. The Yankees were able to manage seven hits, but were predictably 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

The Yankees sit eight games behind Baltimore in the AL East and 4 1/2 games back of Seattle for the second Wild Card position. At 61-59, New York needs some sort of spark it if wants to get Derek Jeter to the playoffs in his final season, but that seems unlikely at this point.

 Things have gotten so bleak for the Yankees, as the Rays, who were once 18 games under .500, now sit just one game back of New York with a 61-61 mark.

Today's lineup against Tampa Bay:

LF Brett Gardner
DH Derek Jeter
CF Jacoby Ellsbury
1B Mark Teixeira
RF Carlos Beltran
3B Chase Headley
2B Martin Prado
C Francisco Cervelli
SS Brendan Ryan

Pitching Matchup Preview:

The Yankees send boy wonder Shane Greene to the hill to go against Tampa Bay's Drew Smyly. Greene has been of the biggest surprises in the American League this season. The 25-year-old has a 3-1 record this season to go with a 2.89 ERA.

He's allowed 32 hits, 12 earned runs in 37 2-3 innings, while walking 13 and striking out 29 with a 1.21 WHIP.

In his last outing, Greene threw eight shutout innings to earn the victory against the Detroit Tigers. Smyly enters with a 7-10 record and a 3.73 ERA. He blanked Texas over 7 2-3 innings on Monday in his second start since being dealt as part of the David Price trade. Smyly has allowed 121 hits in 118 1-3 to go along with 36 walks, 104 strikeouts and a 1.33 WHIP.