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Roger Mooney

Roger Mooney covers the Tampa Bay Rays for The Tampa Tribune, TBO.com and News Channel 8. He has covered the Rays since their first season in 1998, including 11 years for the Bradenton Herald. Roger has also covered Florida, South Florida and Florida State football, the Bucs and the Lightning.

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Yankees can pitch, too

Posted Jul 16, 2010 by Roger Mooney

Updated Jul 16, 2010 at 10:30 AM

ROGER MOONEY
NEW YORK Forget the Bombers, the Rays are going to see some pretty good pitching during this three-game series that begins tonight at Yankee Stadium and starts the second half of the season.

Up first is tonight’s starter CC Sabathia, who is trying to become the American League’s first 13-game winner. The Yankee lefty is 12-3 overall with a 3.09 ERA. He’s 8-0 with a 1.81 ERA in his last eight starts.

On Sunday, the Rays face lefty Andy Pettitte, who is 11-2 with a 2.70 ERA.

Throw in Phil Hughs and the Yankees are the third team in major league history to have three pitchers with at least 11 wins by the All-Star Break.

The Rays will catch a break Saturday against right-hander A.J. Burnett, who has been good and bad this season with a 7-7 record and a 4.75 ERA.

The Yankees rotation leads the American League with 47 victories. Their 3.68 ERA is second only to the Rays’ 3.59.

The Rays start James Shields tonight in the one matchup that clearly favors the Yankees. Shields, 7-9 this season, is 1-7 with a 6.00 ERA lifetime against the Yankees.

Jeff Niemann (7-2, 2.77) faces Burnett on Saturday.

Sunday features the can’t-miss matchup of David Price (12-4 with a league-leading 2.42 ERA), who started the All-Star Game for the American League, against Pettitte – the up-and-coming lefty against the one of the best lefties of his generation.

At 56-32, the Yankees have the best record in baseball. The Rays (54-34)  begin the series with the second-best record in baseball, two games behind the Yankees in the American League East.

It will be an emotional weekend for the Yankees.

The organization will pay tribute to owner George Steinbrenner, who passed away Tuesday, before tonight’s game.

Before Saturday’s game, they will honor former public address announcer Bob Sheppard, who passed away last Sunday.

Saturday is also Old Timer’s Day, always an emotional day in the Bronx.

I like it. It will wake us up in a hurry,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said about opening the second half at Yankee Stadium. “I like it. I like the idea of diving head first right into it.”