CC's 250th Is a Laugher, Yanks Sweep Rays

When this homestand began,  I said the Yankees needed to win at least 4 out of the 7 against the Tampa Bay Rays and the Houston Astros. I did not expect them to sweep the 1st 3 against the Rays, although I'm glad they did! I can't stand those guys!

And now, there is a rumor going around that the Rays have applied to Major League Baseball to split their schedule between that gray elephant in St. Petersburg (early in the season), and the Olympic Stadium in Montreal (for most of the season). A kind of extended Spring Training, except the games will count.

In other words, Rays owner Stuart Sternberg wants to have it both ways. He wants to give up on Tampa Bay, without giving up on Tampa Bay. He wants to keep Tampa Bay's baseball fans, but he doesn't want to play in Tampa Bay's current stadium, or pay for a new one there.

Here's an idea: Just move the Rays. Play all the home games in Montreal. The Rays are the only team that could play in the Olympic Stadium in Montreal, and have it be a less ridiculous home venue. With the possible exception of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

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As for yesterday's game: CC Sabathia started for the Yankees, making his 5th attempt at his 250th career victory. He did what he had to do, going 6 innings, allowing 1 run on 3 hits and 2 walks, striking out 7. All he had to do was watch the Yankees bring some runs home.

And did they ever, chasing Rays starter Blake Snell in the 1st inning. DJ LeMahieu led off the Yankee side of the game by hitting a weak grounder back to the mound, and Snell couldn't handle it. It was generously scored as a hit. For Snell, Damien Thorn wasn't this much of an omen.

LeMahieu stole 2nd. That may have rattled Snell further, because he walked Luke Voit. And Gary Sanchez hit a home run. 3-0 Yankees.

Snell was really rattled now. He walked new Yankee Edwin Encarnacion. Aaron Hicks grounded to short, but the Rays couldn't complete the double play. Then Snell walked Gleyber Torres. Then he walked Cameron Maybin to load the bases.

Rays manager Kevin Cash had seen enough. He pulled Snell for Colin Poche. Poche must have already been nervous, because he hit Gio Urshela with a pitch, forcing home a run. He got Brett Gardner to pop up. Now, the Yankees had batted around. LeMahieu came up again, and singled home Maybin and Torres. Poche finally ended the inning by striking Voit out. It was 6-0 Yankees.

Things remained quiet until the bottom of the 7th. With 1 out, LeMahieu started things again, drawing a walk off Rays reliever Adam Kolarek. Voit did the same. We can put the Cliche Alert about walks aside: The Rays had already been "killed." Sanchez doubled LeMahieu home.

Cash brought Oliver Drake in to pitch. As they said on Seinfeld, Got to love The Drake. Encarnacion dumped a hit into shallow center, deep enough to score Voit. Hicks drew a walk. Torres hit an opposite-field home run. Drake struck Maybin out, but Urshela and Gardner both reached on infield singles, and Cash brought Chaz Roe in to relieve. He retired LeMahieu to end it.

But that's 2 innings in which the Yankees batted around and scored 6 runs. This was what we expected to do with Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton in the lineup. Except we're still waiting for Judge to come back, and, being that he's just now back himself, and that this was the dreaded day game after a night game, Stanton was given the day off.

This game was already a laugher. It was out of hand. (How out of hand was it?) It was so out of hand, Aaron Boone trusted Jonathan Holder to pitch the 7th inning, and Luis Cessa the 8th and the 9th. The Rays got runners on via an error and a walk in the 7th, but that's all they got off Holder. Cessa pitched 2 perfect innings.

Yankees 12, Rays 1. WP: Sabathia (4-4). No save. LP: Snell (4-6).

The win makes CC 1 of 14 pitchers with at least the following: 250 career wins and 3,000 career strikeouts. Of the 1st 13, 12 are already in the Baseball Hall of Fame. The one who isn't is Roger Clemens, and until someone can give non-ridiculous evidence as to why he shouldn't be in, he should be.

The win also moves the Yankees to 3 1/2 games ahead of the Rays in the American League Eastern Division, 4 in the loss column. The Boston Red Sox are 6 1/2 back, 8 in the loss column.

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Now, a 4-game series with the Astros. Before the homestand, I said a split would be acceptable if we also got 2 out of 3 against the Rays. But now, I'm thinking it's time to send a message, with at least 3 out of 4. Here are the projected pitching matchups -- and, as it's rained on and off again today, and might again tomorrow, these times and matchups are all weather permitting:

* Tonight, 7:05: Chad Green vs. Framber Valdez. In other words, the Yankees are hoping Green will give them 2 innings without much fuss, and then will depend on the bullpen for the last 7. Valdez is a 25-year-old Dominican lefthander with a 7-3 career record. Put all that together, and this is no easy win.

* Tomorrow, the meterological 1st day of Summer: 7:05: James Paxton vs. Brad Peacock.

* Saturday, 7:15: Masahiro Tanaka vs. Wade Miley.

* Sunday, Old-Timers' Day, ceremonies start 11:30, the major league game starts at 2:05: J.A. Happ vs. Justin Verlander. Maybe we can coax David Cone or Ron Guidry out of retirement. Not Whitey Ford: He's 90 years old.

Then it's 3 games at home to Toronto, before flying out for the 2 games against the Red Sox in London, followed by the Citi Series games against the Mets at Citi Field.