Longoria has tendency to go long vs. Yankees

NEW YORK -- Entering Thursday night's season finale between the Rays and Yankees, Evan Longoria had as many home runs against the Yanks -- nine -- as the entire Yankees squad had against the Rays.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Longoria is only the third player in the expansion era (since 1961) to hit nine home runs or more in one season against New York, joining Cleveland's Fred Whitfield (10) in 1965 and Toronto's Jose Cruz Jr. (nine) in 2001.

Over the last three years, Baltimore first baseman Chris Davis is the only other Major Leaguer to hit nine home runs against one opponent, against Toronto last season.

Longoria's nine home runs established a Rays record for the most in one season against an opponent. The previous record, eight, was set Carlos Pena (2007, against the Yankees) and matched by Longoria two seasons later against the Red Sox.

As if the home runs weren't enough, Longoria also has 14 extra-base hits against the Yankees this season, five of them doubles. According to Elias, the only other player over the last 65 seasons to register 14 extra-base hits against New York in one season is current Yankee Vernon Wells, who had 14 for the Blue Jays in 2003.

Longoria's 25 career home runs are the most any player has hit against the Yankees since 2008, his rookie season. Toronto's Jose Bautista is next, with 18.