B.J. Upton became the first Ray to hit
for the cycle, and he scored three times and drove in a career-best six runs
to lead Tampa Bay in a 13-4 rout of the Yankees in the opener of a three-game
set from Tropicana Field.
Evan Longoria and Ben Zobrist drove in two runs apiece for the Rays, who have
won five of six overall. Fernando Perez and Reid Brignac knocked in a run
each, while Gabe Kapler scored three times and had an RBI.
Overshadowed by the offense onslaught was David Price (10-7), who got the win
after going seven innings and giving up a run on two hits with five punchouts
to two walks.
Juan Miranda hit his first career home run -- a two-run shot which served as
the only extra-base hit for the Yankees, who lost their second straight game
but still have the best record in the American League locked up. Melky Cabrera
and Ramiro Pena had an RBI each in the setback.
CC Sabathia (19-8), who came in unbeaten in 11 starts and hadn't lost since
July 28, failed in his effort to reach the 20-win plateau for the first time
in his career. The big lefty lasted just 2 2/3 innings and was roughed up for
nine runs -- five earned -- on eight hits in arguably his worst outing of the
season.
The Rays got to Sabathia in the first inning. After Jason Bartlett's leadoff
single and stolen base, Carl Crawford made it first and third as his grounder
to first wasn't fielded cleanly by Mark Teixeira. Longoria walked to load up
the bags, but Zobrist and Willy Aybar were retired. Kapler then drew a walk
and Upton's triple to right-center made it 4-0.
Cabrera's RBI single in the second closed it to 4-1. Zobrist's RBI base hit in
the home portion increased the Rays' lead back to four runs.
Upton had a one-out double in the third and Dioner Navarro followed with a
walk. Perez then offered a RBI, broken-bat, bloop single to center and
Bartlett was hit by a pitch to load the bases. One out later, Longoria had a
two-run single and Zobrist added an RBI base hit, which made it 9-1 and chased
Sabathia in favor of Jonathan Albaladejo, who got out of the inning.
Kapler opened the fourth with a single and crossed home as Upton followed
with a homer to right-center field, as the home team assumed a 10-run lead.
Upton's RBI single in the fifth completed his cycle and made it 12-1.
Miranda had a two-run homer in the eighth, but Brignac had an RBI double in
the home half. Pena then had an RBI single in the ninth to account for the
final margin.
Game Notes
Upton finished 5-for-5...The Rays hadn't had a cycle in the franchise's 1,938
games. It was the eighth cycle in the majors this season, which ties an all-
time high (1933)...The Yankees have hit 242 homers as a team this season,
which ties a franchise best set in 2004...It was Price's first career decision
against the Yankees...New York has won 10 of its 16 matchups with the Rays
this season, including four of the seven games contested at the Trop.
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