=== New York Yankees Team Report - September 8 ===

(My Sportsbook) - The much anticipated doubleheader between the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Devil Rays will finally take place this afternoon, as the two teams continue their five-game set at Yankee Stadium.

The double-dip was originally slated for Monday, but due to Hurricane Frances the Devil Rays were unable to get to New York by the 3 p.m. start time of the opener. The Yankees had originally put in a forfeit request for Monday's first game, but commissioner Bud Selig immediately indicated that he would not rule in their favor, forcing New York to withdraw the request Tuesday.

Getting the call for the Yankees in the opener will be righthander Esteban Loaiza, who gets another crack at the Yankees' starting rotation in the wake of Kevin Brown's injury.

Loaiza was moved to the bullpen on August 28, just one day after not making it out of the fifth inning. Loaiza, who is 0-2 with an 8.46 ERA since being traded to the Yankees, allowed four runs and seven hits while walking four over just 4 1/3 innings during the 8-7 win over the Blue Jays.

The 32-year-old Loaiza is 9-7 with a 5.45 ERA in 27 games this season with both the Yankees and Chicago White Sox. He was traded from Chicago on July 31 in a deal that sent pitcher Jose Contreras and cash to the White Sox.

Loaiza is 5-6 with a 7.04 ERA in 20 career games against the Devil Rays.

In the night cap, the Yankees will turn to rookie lefthander Brad Halsey, who is also in the running to fill Brown's vacated spot. Halsey started four games for New York earlier in the season before being shipped back to Triple-A Columbus, where he posted the second-best ERA in the International League (2.63).

In the second game of the set on Tuesday, Jon Lieber posted a season-high nine strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings for the win, leading New York to an 11-2 victory. Gary Sheffield was 4-for-5 with two runs scored and Alex Rodriguez knocked in three runs for the Yankees, who have won three straight.

New York, though, remained 2 1/2 games ahead of Boston for first place in the AL East, after the Red Sox defeated Oakland.

New York second baseman Miguel Cairo is riding a season-high nine-game hitting streak.

The Yankees lead the season series against the Devil Rays, 12-4 with a 7-0 mark in the Bronx. New York has also won 52 of the last 72 overall meetings with Tampa Bay.

New York is 48-21 at home on the year, while Tampa Bay is 23-42 on the road and is 4-20 in their last 24 games away from Tropicana Field.