New York Yankees (76-74) at Tampa Bay Rays (74-78), 7:10 p.m. (ET)

(SportsNetwork.com) - Congratulations on your retirement, Mr. Jeter ... now duck!

That was the unusual message sent by a Tampa Bay pitcher on Jeter's penultimate appearance against the Rays at Tropicana Field on Tuesday night, and he'll play there for the final time on Wednesday night when the New York Yankees visit to close out a three-game series.

New York was beaten, 6-1, in Tuesday's game, which flared in the eight inning when Steve Geltz hit Jeter on the hand. It was the fifth time a New York player has been hit by a Rays pitcher in their last five games.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi was ejected after Jeter was hit, and New York pitcher David Phelps was tossed after hitting Kevin Kiermaier in the bottom of the inning.

"I'm all for pitching inside, but you've got to know how to pitch inside because it's extremely dangerous," Girardi said. "I don't know what they expect. You hit five of our guys in four games, you don't think we'll be (mad)?"

The Yankees have lost five of six games while scoring just seven runs and managing just three hits in 34 at-bats with runners in scoring position.

The Rays oppose New York with Alex Cobb, who took a no-hitter into the eighth inning against the Yankees on Thursday.

"Cobb was outstanding. He was as good as I've seen him," Jeter said.

The retiring shortstop, meanwhile, has just two hits in 15 career at-bats against Cobb and has gone his last 26 at-bats without a hit.

Cobb has won seven of his last eight decisions and has maintained a sub-1.00 earned run average in his last six outings. Last time he faced New York in Tampa, he went 7 1/3 scoreless innings in a 5-0 victory.

His 1.69 ERA against the Yankees is his lowest against any multiple foe.

Brandon McCarthy goes for New York after throwing seven scoreless innings against Baltimore on Friday, but getting a no-decision in a 2-1 loss.

He was 3-0 in four meetings with the Rays before they touched him for four runs in 6 1/3 innings on Aug. 15.