Rays smack around Vazquez, 9-3

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Javier Vazquez's first game back with the Yankees had too much in common with his last one.

The righthander, among the Yankees' more impressive-looking starters in spring training, served up two home runs in 52/3 innings of a 9-3 loss to the Rays Friday night at Tropicana Field.

Vazquez, best - or perhaps "worst'' is the proper word - remembered by Yankees fans for a poor relief outing in Game 7 of the 2004 ALCS in which he allowed Johnny Damon's grand slam and two-run homer, gave up eight runs and eight hits Friday. After the Yankees took a 2-0 lead, he allowed two-run homers by Carlos Peña and Willy Aybar.

"It's just one [start], but obviously you want to start out on the right foot, and to lose this game is disappointing," he said.

Vazquez actually was very good the first three innings before getting whacked around in a five-run fourth and knocked out in a four-run sixth. Jorge Posada said the main problem was pitching with runners on. "From the stretch, it looked like he wanted to rush a little bit," he said.

Vazquez walked Ben Zobrist to lead off the fourth and gave up a two-run homer to Peña, who tied the Yankees' Mark Teixeira for the American League lead with 39 home runs in 2009. The Rays added three more on Dioner Navarro's two-out RBI single and Jason Bartlett's two-run double to left. Marcus Thames, starting in place of Brett Gardner, dived and tried to make a backhand catch but just missed it.

Vazquez said the pitch to Pena was "up," but that wasn't the issue. "It was in the middle of the plate," he said.

The Rays drove Vazquez from the game in a four-run sixth highlighted by Aybar's two-run homer. Sergio Mitre allowed an RBI single by Carl Crawford and an RBI double by Zobrist.

Despite Vazquez's history in New York, Joe Girardi isn't concerned about his rocky first start. "You worry about a guy that's younger more than you do with a guy who's experienced," he said. "Javy's been through this where he's had a tough start and he's had to bounce back. It's no fun, though, when it's the first start of the year."

Posada, who raved about Vazquez during spring training, said simply: "He'll be fine."

The Yankees weren't close to that against Rays lefthander David Price, who, in the words of manager Joe Maddon, was "the best I've ever seen him."

Price improved to 2-0 with a 2.56 ERA in four career starts against the Yankees, holding them to three runs and seven hits in 72/3 innings. His fastball was clocked at 97 mph in the first inning and didn't decrease significantly.

It certainly wasn't the kind of pitcher for Mark Teixeira to break out of his early-season slump. He is 0-for-16, matching the worst start of his career and continuing a career trend of rough Aprils.

"You want to give guys credit, but at the same time, I'm a little disappointed I'm not hitting the ball hard," said Teixeira, who recalled doubling off the A's Mark Mulder his rookie year in 2003 to break that 0-for-16 start. "I tend to do this to myself a lot . . . I've hit a few balls hard, but not enough to feel great about myself, so just keep working. Like I said, unfortunately I do this to myself every year. You all know I just punish myself early on, then I get it going, so hopefully it will turn around soon."