New York @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 3, 2012 ) NY Yankees 4, Tampa Bay 7

The New York Yankees were the best team in baseball in June but have had a tough start to July. The Tampa Bay Rays have ensured the Yankees of their first road series loss since May by taking the first two games of the current set. New York has dropped nine in a row overall at Tropicana Field and is hoping to avoid its first three-game sweep since the season-opening series in Tampa.

The Yankees went 20-7 in June to open up a gap in the American League East but have had their defense let them down in the first two games against the Rays. On Monday, it was Mark Teixeira’s first error of the season allowing the winning run to score in a 4-3 setback. Catcher Russell Martin had the rough night on Tuesday with a pair of miscues that kept rallies alive in a 7-4 setback. Tampa Bay has been opportunistic offensively and has relied on shut-down work from its bullpen through the first two games.

TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, YES (New York), SUN (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH David Phelps (1-3, 3.16 ERA) vs. Rays LH David Price (11-4, 2.92 ERA)

Phelps spent some time in the New York bullpen in April and May but is back in the rotation in place of the injured CC Sabathia. The 25-year old Phelps worked 3 1/3 innings of relief last week against the White Sox, allowing two runs on four hits. Phelps is 0-1 with a 2.08 ERA in two career major league starts, including a 4 2/3-inning effort against the Rays on May 9 in which he did not allow a run.

Price has won his last three starts and has allowed two earned runs or less in six of his last eight turns. The All-Star left-hander has had mixed results against the Yankees in the past, posting a 6-3 record with a 4.03 ERA. Price was knocked around for five runs and 11 hits in seven innings in a loss to New York on May 10, but is 2-0 with a 2.38 ERA in two other starts against the Yankees in 2012.

WALK-OFFS:

1. Sabathia (groin) threw off flat ground on Tuesday and is scheduled for a bullpen session this weekend.

2. B.J. Upton has recorded back-to-back multi-hit games for the first time since June 10-12. He was in a 4-for-44 slump in 12 games before the Yankees came to town.

3. Rays INF Sean Rodriguez was in a 17-for-100 slump before going 3-for-4 with a home run on Tuesday.