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Up next: Yankees

By KEVIN KELLY

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 7, 2001

7:15 p.m. tonight, 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, 7:15 p.m. Thursday

THE PAST WEEK: The Yankees finished a seven-game homestand 3-4 after losing to the Angels on Monday. Still, they have won 11 of their past 15.

SCOUTING REPORT: New York leads the AL East and must be drooling over the prospect of three games against the team with the worst record in the majors. Rays catchers will have their hands full. The Yankees lead the majors in stolen bases (125). Rookie Alfonso Soriano has 30. The starting rotation, which includes Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and Mike Mussina, is the most dominant in the league and led the majors with 897 strikeouts before Monday. You cannot forget the Yankees' offense. Derek Jeter, Paul O'Neill, Bernie Williams, Tino Martinez and David Justice could send plenty of balls ricocheting off the Tropicana Field catwalks.

ALL-TIME SERIES: New York won 17 of the first 18 games between the teams. The Rays are 12-31 overall.

TAMPA BAY CONNECTIONS: Yankees first baseman Tino Martinez is a Tampa native. ... Shortstop Derek Jeter lives in Tampa.... Bench coach Don Zimmer is a long-time Treasure Island resident. ... Yankees owner George Steinbrenner lives in Tampa where the team spends spring training.

WHO'S HOT: Beaned on Sunday and hitless on Monday, Jeter still shined in the Yankees' recent seven-game homestand. He batted .440 with 4 doubles, 2 home runs and 5 RBI.

WHO'S NOT: Infielder Luis Sojo struggled during the homestand and was 0 for 16 in five games.

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