Tampa Bay @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 9, 2011 ) Tampa Bay 4, NY Yankees 5

THE STORY: Will there be a Derek Jeter hangover effect for the New York Yankees? That could easily be the case after Jeter barged into the history books with a stirring 5-for-5 performance Saturday that included a home run for his 3,000th career hit and a single to drive in the game-winning run in the eighth inning. Fortunately for the Yankees, they have ace CC Sabathia lined up to pitch Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays in the series finale before taking a three-day break for the All-Star Game. Depending on how Boston fares, New York could wind up in first place in the American League East by the end of the day Sunday.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, SunSports (Tampa Bay), YES (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH James Shields (8-6, 2.47 ERA) vs. Yankees LH CC Sabathia (12-4, 2.90).

Shields had a brilliant three-game stretch last month, throwing a pair of shutouts and allowing one run in three consecutive complete games. He has lost his last two starts, however, even though he has allowed five runs and struck out 15 in 13 innings. Shields has never had much luck against the Yankees, going 3-9 with a 4.83 ERA in 16 career starts. Alex Rodriguez took him deep twice in a 6-2 home loss to New York on May 17. Robinson Cano is 17-for-44 with three homers against Shields. Sabathia was not picked for the All-Star Game and is pitching like he has a point to prove. He will attempt to become the first 13-game winner in the majors and is seeking to win his sixth consecutive start. The burly lefthander is coming off back-to-back superb outings, not allowing a run and rolling up 24 strikeouts in wins over Cleveland and Milwaukee. He is 8-5 with a 3.24 ERA in 20 career starts against the Rays. Evan Longoria (6-for-19, 2 HRs) and B.J. Upton (9-for-30, 2 HRs) have given him problems.

ABOUT THE YANKEES (52-35): Jeter’s jaw-dropping performance Saturday boosted his batting average to .270 - its highest point since May 12. The home run he belted for career hit No. 3,000 was his first at Yankee Stadium since July 22, 2010. His production comes at a good time for New York, which learned Saturday that third baseman Alex Rodriguez has a slight meniscus tear in his right knee. Rodriguez has to decide whether to try to play through the injury or have surgery, which will sideline him for a month. He has not homered in 85 at-bats. Curtis Granderson drove in his 63rd run Saturday. His career high is 74 in 2007.

ABOUT THE RAYS (49-40): B.J. Upton hit his second two-run homer of the series Saturday, giving him three blasts and seven RBIs in his last four games. He has 15 homers this season, three shy of last year’s total and within nine of his career high of 24 set in 2007. Ben Zobrist is 9-for-15 with three RBIs during a current four-game hitting streak. Designated hitter Johnny Damon returned to the lineup after missing the series opener with a swollen hand. He tripled and scored the tying run in the eighth to set up Jeter’s late heroics. Tampa Bay’s pitching staff ranks second in the majors in hits allowed (693).

FINAL PITCH: Yankees closer Mariano Rivera pitched a perfect ninth Saturday for his 22nd save. He has been sidelined with triceps tendinitis since blowing a save July 3 against the Mets.