On June 21, 2005, the Yankees were looking for a win after dropping the first game in a four-game home set against the lowly Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Like a number of seasons in the 2000s, the 2005 Yankees got off to a relatively slow start despite their stacked roster. Coming into this series, the team was a middling 36-33 and still searching for their groove. Tampa Bay, on the other hand, came into the game in last place in the AL East with an abysmal 24-46 record. With Randy Johnson penciled in to take on Hideo Nomo, the stage for a must-win game was set.