Stafford scored in his return after missing the previous four from miao1234's blog
ST. Saints #90 Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon talked all spring about the importance of winning early, and the Rays have responded by matching the best start in franchise history with a season-opening sweep of the New York Yankees. Jeremy Hellickson came within one out of a three-hitter on his birthday and the Rays beat the Yankees 3-0 Sunday to drop the defending AL East champions to 0-3 for the first time in 14 years. The Rays, who overcame a nine-game deficit in September to earn the AL wild card last season, didnt take a lead until the ninth inning of their seventh game a year ago. They took first-inning leads in all three games against the Yankees and swept the series with help from several players brought in this winter to bolster the offence and bullpen. "Its looking good," said Carlos Pena, Tampa Bays career home run leader who is back in a Rays uniform after spending 2011 with the Chicago Cubs. Pena and another off-season acquisition, Jeff Keppinger, homered for Tampa Bay, which also started with three consecutive wins in 2002. The Yankees are 0-3 for the first time since 1998, when they went on to win 114 games and the World Series. New York manager Joe Girardi isnt concerned. "At times, it seems magnified when its the beginning of the year," Girardi said. "Weve all been through three-game losing streaks. This is a resilient club. Well be fine." Celebrating his 25th birthday, Hellickson (1-0) limited the Yankees to doubles by Nick Swisher, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez. The 2011 AL Rookie of the Year walked four, struck out four and was one out from his third career complete game and second shutout when he was replaced by Fernando Rodney after 118 pitches. The Yankees went 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position against Hellickson and Rodney, an off-season addition to Tampa Bays bullpen who got the win in Fridays season opener and then earned saves in each of the next two games. New York was 5 for 25 with runners in scoring position for the series. "That was a good birthday present," Hellickson said. "Its always nice to get off to a good start against these guys in our division. We came out and played hard and got three good wins." Pena homered off starter Phil Hughes (0-1) in the third. Keppinger hit a solo shot off Boone Logan in the sixth, while Matt Joyce drove in Tampa Bays other run with a first-inning, broken-bat triple that skipped past sliding right fielder Raul Ibanez. Hellickson gave up a one-out double in the second to Swisher but escaped further damage when Ibanez grounded out and Brett Gardner popped up to left field. The right-hander worked through another tight spot in the fourth after walking Rodriguez and giving up a double to Teixeira, this time getting Swisher to pop up to third base and Ibanez to fly to centre field. Rodriguez doubled with two outs in the sixth. After walking Teixeira, Hellickson struck Swisher to escape the jam and then didnt allow another runner until walking Swisher with two outs in the ninth. "That was very impressive," Pena said of Hellicksons performance. "He was just so calm the whole time. Thats something that should never be overlooked. Hes just a kid out there, and just handled the spotlight, the pressure, whatever you want to call it, in such a way that is just amazing." Rodney retired Ibanez on an easy comebacker to end it. "Everything they did worked out perfectly," Rodriguez said. "Everything we did worked out imperfectly." Pena hit a grand slam off CC Sabathia and a game-winning single off Mariano Rivera in the opener. The slugger had another RBI single in Saturdays 8-6 victory and finished the series 6 for 12 with two homers and seven RBIs. Hughes allowed two runs and five hits, walked two and struck out five over 4 2-3 innings. Logan and three other relievers kept the Yankees in the game by holding the Rays to two hits the rest of the way. While no one is about to panic, Rodriguez said the Yankees will carry a sense of urgency into a series that begins Monday night in Baltimore. "You just want to win a game. Want to get this thing to 1-3 and get the train headed in the right direction," he said. "Guys are playing hard. Offensively, were hitting balls. Probably a dozen balls right on the nose that were caught," Rodriguez added. "Were hitting it right into the teeth of their secondary. Sometimes you just have to tip your cap and move on." NOTES: Rays DH Luke Scott left the game with a tight left hamstring and is day to day. ... Girardi said A-Rod will be the designated hitter Monday night at Baltimore, and that he might DH twice during the three-game series. ... LHP Andy Pettitte will pitch for Class-A Tampa on Monday in his second outing following a one-year retirement. ... Tampa Bay CF B.J. Upton, on the 15-day disabled list with lower back soreness, will begin a rehab assignment with Class-A Charlotte on Monday. The Rays hope to get him at least 30 at-bats before activating him. ... New York RHP Michael Pineda, out until at least May due to right shoulder tendinitis, threw at 60 feet on flat ground. ... Swisher, slowed by a pair of groin injuries during spring training, was the DH after playing defence the previous two days on the Tropicana Field artificial turf. Cameron Jordan Saints Jersey . Of all the names out there who could realistically be dealt by Wednesdays deadline, Ryan Kesler remains No. 1 on the most desired list. And while were not sure if theyre any closer to a deal, we now have a defined price. Curtis Lofton Saints Jersey . -- Michael Frazier II scored 14 points, highly touted freshman Chris Walker had two crowd-pleasing dunks in his debut and No.With just two days prior to the Olympic trade freeze, the Pittsburgh Penguins are visiting the Buffalo Sabres in what could be Ryan Millers final home game as a member of the team with which hes spent his entire 11-year career. You can catch all of the action live on TSN2 at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. Trade rumours continue to swirl around the Team USA netminder and Wednesday night could be the final time the East Lansing, Michigan native suits up as a Sabre in front the of the First Niagara Center faithful. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Penguins look to become just the second team to reach 40 victories on Wednesday night as they visit the Buffalo Sabres. Pittsburgh is leading the Eastern Conference with 80 points, five more than the Atlantic Division-leading Boston Bruins. That total also is just five back of the 40-13-5 Anaheim Ducks for the best record in the NHL. The Penguins, owners of a 15-point edge over the New York Rangers for first place in the Metropolitan Division, have won three of four and 10 of their last 14 games. That includes a 2-1 victory over the visiting Ottawa Senators on Monday. James Neal scored for the first time in nine games, putting home the rebound of a Robert Bortuzzo shot 1:55 into overtime for his 18th tally of the campaign. Pittsburgh outshot Ottawa 48-25 and got 24 saves from Marc-Andre Fleury. "We stuck with the game plan and kept getting pucks to the net. (Neal) made a great play in overtime for the win," said Pens forward Brian Gibbons, who notched power-play goal in the first period. Penguins defenseman Kris Letang missed his third straight game with an undisclosed illness and did not travel to Buffalo, while forward Taylor Pyatt is expected to miss the next two games with a lower-body injury suffered against Ottawa. Pittsburgh will host the New York Rangers on Friday in its final game before the Olympic breakk. Saints #17 Jersey. Buffalo plays the first of two games on back-to-back nights before it breaks for the Olympics. The Sabres will visit the Senators following this contest. The Sabres hope to have halted a seven-game slide at home before heading to Ottawa, a skid that was extended with Mondays 3-2 setback to the Edmonton Oilers. Jhonas Enroth made 25 saves, but allowed Matt Hendricks short-handed goal in the third period that proved to be the difference despite the Sabres notching a season-high 44 shots in the game. Steve Ott scored on the power play and Drew Stafford notched a short-handed tally with 56 seconds left in the first period to put Buffalo ahead 2-1, but the Sabres lost for the ninth time in 11 games overall. Stafford scored in his return after missing the previous four games with an upper-body injury, wristing a shot top shelf for his fourth goal and sixth point in his past five games played. "I thought Drew, the way he shot that puck, thats what we want to see," said Buffalo interim coach Ted Nolan said. "Hes a big power forward and hes starting to get his confidence back." The Sabres, last in the NHL with 38 points, lost defenseman Tyler Myers to a lower-body injury and he is day-to-day, though he has not been ruled out for tonight. Wednesday marks the third and final meeting of the season between these clubs and lone clash in Buffalo. The Penguins have outscored the Sabres by a 7-1 margin in taking the first two tests at home, including a 3-0 shutout victory on Jan. 27. Fleury stopped 24 shots for his fourth shutout of the season, while Miller made 31 saves. Fleury is 14-5-2 with a 2.46 goals against average and two shutouts in his career versus the Sabres, while Miller has gone 7-12-3 with a 3.21 GAA when facing the Pens. Pittsburgh has won 11 of the past 15 meetings overall and four of the last five in Buffalo. ' ' '
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