MONDAY GAME NOTES

The Rays astonishingly pulled off yet another extra inning loss yesterday afternoon as they attempted to repeat their classic 15 inning duel that they had with Boston several years ago. Alas, Boston would twice as many runs as they did during that game and took a 2-0 victory after 13 innings. The loss marked another series loss for the Rays, who haven't won a series since they played Oakland in late August.

Let's look at the Rays record because that seems like a fun thing to do. They are currently 69-73, and have lost 11 extra inning games in a row, making them 2-13 in that regard. Meanwhile, the faint life monitor for the wild chase is becoming almost non-existent as they sit six games out. They're actually now in danger of finishing in last place in the division for the first time since 2007. They're also in danger of having back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since the 2006 and 2007 seasons.

Anyway, today the Rays welcome the New York Yankees into town for  a three game set. The Yankees have been over taken by the Blue Jays for first in the division, but New York still possesses a three game lead over Texas for the first wild card spot, and with three weeks remaining int he regular season, look primed for the postseason.

Today's Starting Pitchers:

Every one was expecting Erasmo Ramirez to have the highest winning percentage among the team's starters, right? Unfortunately, Ramirez is going through his worst stretch of the season since April 19th. He's failed to make it past the fifth inning during his past three starts, the only time he has done so this season. All three starts have been almost identical as has given up six hits during each outing and has also allowed 3-4 runs in each.

Scouting Report:

Sabathia made his return to a major league mound after a three week absence on Wednesday and had a decent showing as he went just over four innings, and struck out five, walked three, and gave up a run on four hits resulting in a no-decision against Baltimore. Sabathia had missed time due to an inflammation of his right knee.

He has struggled for most of the season and hasn't had a decent year since 2012. So, it's nice to think the Yankees are saddled with his contract for at least another year.

His arsenal:

His splits:

September 14th in Team History:

• They are 6-9 all-time on this date
• Three former Rays players celebrate their birthdays today as Delmon Young (1985), George Lombard (1975), and Chad Bradford (1974) were born on this date.
• 2007 - Felix Hernandez and James Sheilds engaged in a solid pitching duel where both pitchers went close to eight innings, with Shields going a full eight. Tampa Bay managed to tie the game in the eighth after Jorge Velandia doubled home a run, chasing Hernandez from the game. Unfortunately for the Devil Rays, Seattle would walkoff an inning later after Gary Glover allowed three straight singles, that'd be followed by a sac-fly from Jose Guillen that won the game.

Shields' Start [] Velandia's Double [] Hernandez's Outing [] Guillen's Walkoff

• 2008 - Top prospect and phenom pitcher, David Price makes his highly anticipated major league debut coming out in relief of Edwin Jackson in the third inning of a game against the Yankees. Price would go five plus innings and only allow two runs, walking none and striking out four. A solid debut for 2012 Cy Young award winner.

• 2010 - Trailing 6-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth, the Rays rallied for seven runs, with Willy Aybar providing the big blast, a three run shot that gave Tampa Bay a 7-6 lead. Unfortunately, the Yankees immediately tied it the following inning, and then in the the top of the tenth, Jorge Posada greeted Dan Wheeler by depositing a ball over the center field wall and New York would win the game, 8-7.

• 2011 - They released three pitchers; Jay Buente, Mike Eckstrom, and Rob Delaney. A seemingly innocuous move, however it cleared space on the 40-man roster and allowed them to recall a certain red-headed first baseman from Durham, Dan Johnson, who did something important two weeks later...

• 2011 - Also in 2011, Matt Moore made his major league debut, going just over an inning and allowed two runs (courtesy of Matt Wieters). Moore did strikeout two batters for his part though.

• 2013 - A small army of pitchers (thanks to a rain delay) combine to shutout the Twins on only four hits, striking out 10, and walking four. The Rays took a decisive victory, 7-0.

• 2014 - The Rays took a 5-1 lead into the bottom of the eighth against Toronto, after Chris Archer delivered an excellent performance on the mound. Grant Balfour relieved him and almost immediately gave up a three run homer to Adam Lind to cut the lead to a run. The next inning, Jake McGee had a rare blown save as allowed a two out, solo homer to John Mayberry that tied the game at five. Thankfully, the Rays struck back in the tenth after Wil Myers led off with a walk, and then was followed by a Logan Forsythe single, and another walk to Yunel Escobar. Sean Rodriguez would lift a sac-fly and the Rays would go on to win, 6-5.