Tampa Bay Rays Vs. New York Yankees 8/1/10: Mitch's Free Pick MLB Baseball 

New York Yankees (66-37) at Tampa Bay Rays (64-39)

MLB Baseball: Sunday August 1, 2010 1:40 PM EST

SP: TBR: J. Shields (9-9, 4.79) NYY: C.C. Sabathia (13-4, 3.15)

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The New York Yankees look to extend their AL East lead at Tampa Bay

The New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays finish off their series in Tampa.

The Tampa Bay Rays looked to have the Yankees beat on Saturday and they were poised to be in the lead in the American League East, but it didn't work out that way for them as they let it all get away from them and ended up taking the loss. Matt Garza allowed five hits and four earned runs while striking out nine in seven innings of work to not factor in the decision but it was Rafael Soriano who came in to pitch the ninth and gave up the game winner and took his first loss of the year. Mathew Joyce hit his fifth home run of the year as John Jaso had three hits and Carl Crawford had two pace the offense in the losing effort. The loss leaves the Rays two games back in the American League East but they are five and a half games clear in the AL Wild Card race. For Sunday's game Tampa Bay starts James Shields who has rebounded from a massive losing streak and has won his last two starts. For the season Shields has allowed 154 hits and 72 earned runs while striking out 122 in 135 and a third innings of work.

The New York Yankees continue to show why they are the defending Wold Series Champions and why they have the best record in baseball as they came up with another big hit in another big game. Javier Vazquez allowed eight hits and four earned runs while striking out three to get a no decision as Dave Robertson ended up being the winner for the second time this season and Mariano Rivera got his 22nd save. Robinson Cano was the hero as he blasted a ninth inning home run to provide the difference maker. Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher also hit homers as the Yankees made all six hits work for them. The win gives New York a two game lead in the East and means they will at worst leave Tampa Bay with the lead in the AL East. For game three against the Rays The Yankees start C.C. Sabathia who took a very rare loss last time out. For the season Sabathia has allowed 136 hits and 53 runs while striking out 124 in 151 and a third innings.

Tampa Bay is 7-0 in their last seven games following a loss, 5-1 in their last six home games against a team with a winning road record, 3-9 in Shields' last 12 starts, and 10-2 in their last 12 home games against a left-handed starter. New York is 11-3 in their last 14 road games, 7-3 in their last 10 road games against a right-handed starter, 4-1 in Sabathia's last five road starts, and 56-24 in their last 80 against the AL East. Tampa Bay is 0-5 in Shields' last five starts against New York.

The Yankees showed the world why they are the team to beat as they got the hits when they needed them and once they got there, it was all Mariano Rivera. Shields is not having a good year and this looks like a bad spot for him.

Mitch's Pick: New York Yankees