The Yankees (48-31) started a three game series with the Tampa Bay Rays (42-38) on Monday night and let the first game get away losing 4-3. A late error from the usually sure handed Mark Teixeira would be the difference in the game.

The Yankees jumped out to an early lead in the first inning. Derek Jeter led off with a double in the gap off of Tampa Bay starter Matt Moore. Mark Teixeira drove in Jeter with a double of his own and Robinson Cano singled in Teixeira later in the inning putting the Yankees up 2-0. Moore was able to get out of the inning getting Nick Swisher to ground into a double play.

The Rays got on the board in the fourth inning when B.J. Upton lifted a solo homer to left field; his sixth of the season.

Carlos Pena tied the game up 2-2 in the sixth inning with a solo home run off of Freddy Garcia knocking him out of the game. Garcia in his first start since April 28th went 5 1/3 gave up two runs on five hits and struck out four.

The Yankees were able to manufacture a run in the seventh inning. Chris Stewart walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch, got to third on a Derek Jeter sac-fly and scored on a Curtis Granderson sac-fly putting the Yankees up 3-2.

In the bottom of the seventh the Yankees fell apart. With two outs Brooks Conrad tied the game with an RBI double. The next hitter Elliot Johnson hit a routine ground ball down the first base line that went right under Mark Teixeira’s glove allowing Conrad to score what would be the winning run, Johnson went to third on the error.  It was the first error Teixeira had made in the past 91 games.  David Robertson was the losing pitcher (0-3).

The Yankees will play the Rays again Tuesday night. Ivan Nova (9-2 4.03) starts for the Yankees while James Shields goes (7-5 4.04) for the Rays. Pregame coverage begins at 6:30, first pitch at 7:10 right here on 104.5 The Team ESPN Radio.

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