New York @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 20, 2011 ) NY Yankees 4, Tampa Bay 0

THE STORY: CC Sabathia would love to give himself a splendid birthday gift Thursday. The 31-year-old Sabathia will vie for his eighth win in a row and 12th in 13 outings when the New York Yankees play the finale of their four-game set against the host Tampa Bay Rays. The Yankees posted their sixth win in nine outings Wednesday with a 4-0 triumph over the Rays. James Shields provides the opposition Thursday for Tampa Bay, which has lost two of three in this series and eight of its last 12 outings.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, YES (New York), SunSports (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH CC Sabathia (14-4, 2.64 ERA) vs. Rays RH James Shields (8-8, 2.60).

Sabathia has yielded only two runs and struck out 50 batters in his last five outings. He owns a 9-5 career mark against Tampa Bay - including a 1-0 complete-game shutout on July 10 when he permitted four hits and struck out nine. Sabathia followed that up with his last outing - another gem against the Toronto Blue Jays. He allowed one run on three hits and struck out eight in a 4-1 triumph Saturday. Shields has struggled mightily against the Yankees. The 29-year-old is 3-10 in his career against New York - including a pair of losses this season. Shields was on the wrong end July 10 as well as a 6-2 loss to the Yankees on May 17. Mired in a four-game losing skid, Shields yielded six runs on six hits in six innings in a 9-5 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Saturday.

ABOUT THE YANKEES (57-38): Curtis Granderson deposited a David Price first-inning offering into the seats in right field for his 26th homer of the season, and first since July 5. Granderson has struggled against Shields, going 3-for-37 in his career with 12 strikeouts. Brett Gardner extended his hitting streak to eight games with a single Wednesday. Gardner also successfully stole a base for the 16th straight time to up his season total to a major-league best 30. Derek Jeter went 1-for-4 with a leadoff single Wednesday to increase his career total to 3,009 hits. The captain trails Hall of Famer Wade Boggs by one hit for a share of 25th all-time.

ABOUT THE RAYS (51-45): Matt Joyce certainly had a night to forget Wednesday. The All-Star struck out in all four at-bats to take the "Golden Sombrero." He has never faced Sabathia in his career. Rays manager Joe Maddon plans to ease up a bit on righthander Joel Peralta, who leads the American League with 47 appearances this season. "(My arm is) a little bit tired," Peralta said. "(The coaching staff) already talked to me, and they are going to give me some rest - a couple days, at least." Righthander Dane De La Rosa made his major-league debut Wednesday. He allowed two runs and walked two in one inning. Righthander Wade Davis is expected to be activated from the disabled list prior to Friday's game against the Kansas City Royals. Davis has been sidelined with a forearm strain.

FINAL PITCH: New York third baseman Eric Chavez went 4-for-5 with four singles and two runs scored during his second rehab game with Class A Tampa. Chavez is working through foot, back and abdomen issues. Yankees righthander Rafael Soriano struggled in his first rehab appearance with Tampa. Soriano, who is plagued by a sore right elbow, permitted two runs in 1 1/3 innings.