Morton, Rays aim for rare series win at Yankees

The Tampa Bay Rays are hoping another strong start from Charlie Morton can lead to a rare series win at the New York Yankees.

Morton puts a career-high 16-game unbeaten streak on the line Sunday as Tampa Bay visits Yankee Stadium in the rubber game of a three-game series.

When the Rays took of two of three in New York from Aug. 14-16, it was their first series win in the Bronx since June 30-July 2, 2014. It ended a stretch of 12 consecutive series losses, the longest stretch by any opponent since the current Yankee Stadium opened in 2009.

Since his last loss on Aug. 11, Morton is 7-0 with a 3.04 ERA. He surpassed the 14-game run he put together by going 10-0 from Sept. 15, 2017 to May 29, 2018.

His current streak is the second-longest active streak in the majors behind Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw, who is 9-0 in his past 18 starts.

Morton also owns the Rays' record for the longest unbeaten streak to start his career with the team (excluding openers). On Tuesday at the Miami Marlins, he kept the streak alive by allowing three hits, retiring the final 10 hitters and pitching six innings for his third scoreless start of the season.

Morton will try to get the Rays a second straight win in New York after Austin Meadows homered in the 11th inning in a 2-1 win Saturday. The Rays allowed three runs in the ninth inning of a 4-3 loss Friday.

"To be able to bounce back, the guys, they showed each other something today," Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said.

Morton is 2-1 with a 4.10 ERA in four regular-season starts against the Yankees.

The Yankees are 9-3 in their last 12 games after striking out 15 times Saturday against Blake Snell and five relievers. Gary Sanchez was 0 for 5 with four strikeouts but will be back in the lineup Sunday.

"Tampa can do that to you," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "You're facing Snell, it's a challenge. Obviously, a tough day for him (Sanchez) and I look forward to him getting back in there tomorrow behind the plate and getting back after it."

Chad Green (0-2, 13.97) will start for the Yankees in what likely will be an opener role. Green has made two appearances since returning from the minors last week and allowed two runs in the eighth inning Friday.

--Field Level Media