Odorizzi seeks revenge in clash with Yankees
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}(SportsNetwork.com) - Jake Odorizzi tries to avenge his only loss of the season on Tuesday when the Tampa Bay Rays continue a three-game series with the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.
Odorizzi has been tremendous for the Rays in the early going, posting a 2-1 mark with a 1.65 ERA in four starts. He's pitched into the seventh inning and allowed one run or less in three of those outings with the lone exception coming against the Yanks two starts ago when he gave up three runs in six innings.
The hard-throwing right-hander did not get a decision on Thursday against Boston, but pitched well, yielding just a run and three hits in 6 2/3 innings of his team's 2-1 win.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Odorizzi is 2-2 in six games (5 starts) versus the Yankees with a 4.66 ERA.
New York will turn to righty Chase Whitley on Tuesday, as he gets a spot start to give Masahiro Tanaka an extra day of rest. Whitley had been 2-0 with a 2.12 ERA in three starts for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre.
Whitley appeared in 24 games (12 starts) for the Yanks last season and went 4-3 with a 5.23 ERA.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Tanaka is expected to start Wednesday's finale.
New York moved into sole possession of first place in the American League East on Monday, as Brian McCann's solo home run snapped a tie game in the sixth inning and helped the Yankees to a 4-1 victory.
McCann and Brett Gardner each went 2-for-4 with an RBI in the Yankees' sixth triumph in seven tries, which halted a streak of five straight wins the Rays brought into Monday's opener of this set between early AL East leaders.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Stephen Drew chipped in an RBI double, while four New York relievers combined to hold the Rays scoreless over the final 3 1/3 frames. Justin Wilson (1-0) picked up the win with a scoreless inning of work, with Andrew Miller pitching the ninth to nail down his eighth save in as many chances.
"I'll put our guys up against anybody," McCann said. "The stuff that's coming out of the bullpen is incredible."
Tampa Bay managed just six hits on the night, with Evan Longoria finishing 2- for-4 and Asdrubal Cabrera driving in the team's lone run.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}New York's Alex Rodriguez was 0-for-3 with a walk and remains one home run shy of matching Willie Mays for fourth place on the all-time list.
The Yankees swept a three-game set from the Rays earlier this season.