GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: NY YANKEES (90-67) at TAMPA BAY (65-92)

AL: NY YANKEES (90-67) at TAMPA BAY (65-92)

<h3>Yankees look to lock up playoff spot vs. Devil Rays</h3>



Ny Yankees (90-67) at Tampa Bay (65-92), 7:10 pm EDT

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) - The New York Yankees willlook to clinch a playoff spot on Wednesday when they take on theTampa Bay Devil Rays in the middle game of a three-game series.

The Yankees sit three games back of the Boston Red Sox (93-64)in the American League East Division, but hold a 4 1/2 gameadvantage over the Detroit Tigers (86-72) in the AL wild cardrace.


New York had the chance to wrap up a postseason berth onTuesday, but couldn't overcome the Devil Rays, suffering a 7-6setback in 10 innings.


Chien-Ming Wang (18-7, 3.72 ERA) will try to get the Yankeesback in the playoffs for the 13th consecutive season when hetakes the mound on Wednesday.


Wang dominated the Toronto Blue Jays in his last start, allowingtwo runs - one earned - and six hits over seven innings. TheYankees ace didn't factor into the decision, however, as theBlue Jays rallied off the bullpen, claiming a 5-4 victory onFriday.


J.P. Howell (1-5, 6.80), who has lost four consecutive starts,will try to end his losing streak against the Yankees.

Howell gave up two runs and five hits in six innings, but lostthe game as Tampa Bay managed only one run against the LosAngeles Angles of Anaheim last Wednesday.

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES AT TAMPA BAY -- LINEUPS

NY YANKEES TAMPA BAY
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Johnny Damon LF .264 11 60 Akinori Iwamura 3B .282 7 31
Derek Jeter SS .319 11 69 Jorge Velandia 2B .400 1 8
Bobby Abreu RF .283 16 98 Carlos Pena 1B .277 42 116
Alex Rodriguez 3B .311 53 151 B.J. Upton CF .302 24 82
Jorge Posada C .334 20 86 Delmon Young RF .292 13 93
Robinson Cano 2B .304 18 89 Greg Norton DH .237 4 22
Shelley Duncan DH .246 6 15 Jonny Gomes LF .247 16 46
Doug Mientkiewicz 1B .257 5 23 Dioner Navarro C .228 9 44
Melky Cabrera CF .277 8 71 Josh Wilson SS .249 2 24

Chien-Ming Wang RHP (18-7, 3.72) J.P. Howell LHP (1-5, 6.80)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY
WARMUPS: NYY - CHIEN-MING WANG (18-7, 3.72)
TAM - J.P. HOWELL (1-5, 6.80)

UMPIRES: HP - BRIAN GORMAN
1B - PAUL NAUERT
2B - MIKE DIMURO
3B - GERRY DAVIS

WEATHER: INDOORS</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY
STARTING BATS: NYY - CHIEN-MING WANG AND JORGE POSADA
TAM - J.P. HOWELL AND DIONER NAVARRO

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J DAMON (.264, 11 HR, 60 RBI)
D JETER (.319, 11 HR, 69 RBI)
B ABREU (.283, 16 HR, 98 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
NY YANKEES 0 0 0 0
TAMPA BAY 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - CHIEN-MING WANG
TAM - J.P. HOWELL

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: A IWAMURA (.282, 7 HR, 31 RBI)
J VELANDIA (.400, 1 HR, 8 RBI)
C PENA (.277, 42 HR, 116 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (0) VS TAMPA BAY (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
D Jeter ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .319
B Abreu rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
A Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311
J Posada c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .334
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304
S Duncan dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
D Mientkiewicz 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
J Velandia 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .400
C Pena 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
B Upton cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
D Young rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
G Norton dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237
J Gomes lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .228
J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 0 -- 0
TAMPA BAY - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
C Wang 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.72

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Howell 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 6.65

Pitches-strikes: J Howell 13-8. Ground balls-fly balls: J Howell 2-0. Batters
faced: J Howell 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Paul Nauert. 2B--Mike Dimuro. 3B--Gerry Davis.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY
CONFIRMED STARTERS: NYY - CHIEN-MING WANG
TAM - J.P. HOWELL</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY CARLOS PENA SCORED AKINORI IWAMURA.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 0
TAMPA BAY 1 BOTTOM, 1ST

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: B UPTON (.302, 24 HR, 82 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
NY YANKEES 0 0 0 0
TAMPA BAY 1 1 2 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - CHIEN-MING WANG
TAM - J.P. HOWELL

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: A RODRIGUEZ (.311, 53 HR, 151 RBI)
J POSADA (.334, 20 HR, 86 RBI)
R CANO (.304, 18 HR, 89 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (0) VS TAMPA BAY (1) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
D Jeter ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .319
B Abreu rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
A Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311
J Posada c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .334
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304
S Duncan dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
D Mientkiewicz 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .283
J Velandia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .387
C Pena 1b 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .277
B Upton cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .304
D Young rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .291
G Norton dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237
J Gomes lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .228
J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249

Totals 4 1 2 1 0 0 2

BATTING: 3B - A Iwamura (9, C Wang). SF - C Pena. RBI - C Pena (117). Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - D Young 1. Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: SB - B Upton (22, 2nd base off C Wang/J Posada).


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 0 -- 0
TAMPA BAY - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
C Wang 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 3.75

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Howell 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 6.65

Pitches-strikes: C Wang 15-9; J Howell 13-8. Ground balls-fly balls: C Wang
2-1; J Howell 2-0. Batters faced: C Wang 5; J Howell 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Paul Nauert. 2B--Mike Dimuro. 3B--Gerry Davis.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
NY YANKEES 0 0 0 0 0
TAMPA BAY 1 1 2 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - CHIEN-MING WANG
TAM - J.P. HOWELL

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: G NORTON (.237, 4 HR, 22 RBI)
J GOMES (.247, 16 HR, 46 RBI)
D NAVARRO (.228, 9 HR, 44 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (0) VS TAMPA BAY (1) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
D Jeter ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .319
B Abreu rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
A Rodriguez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .310
J Posada c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
R Cano 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303
S Duncan dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
D Mientkiewicz 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277

Totals 6 0 0 0 0 2 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .283
J Velandia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .387
C Pena 1b 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .277
B Upton cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .304
D Young rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .291
G Norton dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237
J Gomes lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .228
J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249

Totals 4 1 2 1 0 0 2

BATTING: 3B - A Iwamura (9, C Wang). SF - C Pena. RBI - C Pena (117). Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - D Young 1. Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: SB - B Upton (22, 2nd base off C Wang/J Posada).


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 00 -- 0
TAMPA BAY - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
C Wang 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 3.75

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Howell 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 6.52

Pitches-strikes: C Wang 15-9; J Howell 27-16. Ground balls-fly balls: C Wang
2-1; J Howell 3-1. Batters faced: C Wang 5; J Howell 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Paul Nauert. 2B--Mike Dimuro. 3B--Gerry Davis.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
NY YANKEES 0 0 0 0 0
TAMPA BAY 1 0 1 3 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - CHIEN-MING WANG
TAM - J.P. HOWELL

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: S DUNCAN (.246, 6 HR, 15 RBI)
D MIENTKIEWICZ (.257, 5 HR, 23 RBI)
M CABRERA (.277, 8 HR, 71 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (0) VS TAMPA BAY (1) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
D Jeter ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .319
B Abreu rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
A Rodriguez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .310
J Posada c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
R Cano 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303
S Duncan dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
D Mientkiewicz 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277

Totals 6 0 0 0 0 2 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .283
J Velandia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .387
C Pena 1b 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .277
B Upton cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .304
D Young rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .291
G Norton dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .241
J Gomes lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .246
D Navarro c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227
J Wilson ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .248

Totals 8 1 3 1 0 1 4

BATTING: 3B - A Iwamura (9, C Wang). SF - C Pena. RBI - C Pena (117). Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - J Wilson 1, D Young 1. Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: SB - B Upton (22, 2nd base off C Wang/J Posada).


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 00 -- 0
TAMPA BAY - 10 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
C Wang 2 3 1 1 0 1 0 3.73

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Howell 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 6.52

Pitches-strikes: C Wang 31-19; J Howell 27-16. Ground balls-fly balls: C Wang
4-1; J Howell 3-1. Batters faced: C Wang 9; J Howell 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Paul Nauert. 2B--Mike Dimuro. 3B--Gerry Davis.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
NY YANKEES 0 0 0 0 0 0
TAMPA BAY 1 0 1 3 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - CHIEN-MING WANG
TAM - J.P. HOWELL

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: A IWAMURA (.283, 1-FOR-1)
J VELANDIA (.387, 0-FOR-1)
C PENA (.277, 0-FOR-0, SF, RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (0) VS TAMPA BAY (1) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .263
D Jeter ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .319
B Abreu rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
A Rodriguez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .310
J Posada c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
R Cano 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303
S Duncan dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .246
D Mientkiewicz 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
M Cabrera cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .276

Totals 9 0 0 0 1 2 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Damon 1. Team LOB - 1.


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .283
J Velandia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .387
C Pena 1b 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .277
B Upton cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .304
D Young rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .291
G Norton dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .241
J Gomes lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .246
D Navarro c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227
J Wilson ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .248

Totals 8 1 3 1 0 1 4

BATTING: 3B - A Iwamura (9, C Wang). SF - C Pena. RBI - C Pena (117). Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - J Wilson 1, D Young 1. Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: SB - B Upton (22, 2nd base off C Wang/J Posada).


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 000 -- 0
TAMPA BAY - 10 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
C Wang 2 3 1 1 0 1 0 3.73

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Howell 3 0 0 0 1 2 0 6.39

Pitches-strikes: C Wang 31-19; J Howell 43-25. Ground balls-fly balls: C Wang
4-1; J Howell 5-2. Batters faced: C Wang 9; J Howell 10.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Paul Nauert. 2B--Mike Dimuro. 3B--Gerry Davis.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
NY YANKEES 0 0 0 0 0 0
TAMPA BAY 1 0 0 1 4 0 (TOP 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - CHIEN-MING WANG
TAM - J.P. HOWELL

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: D JETER (.319, 0-FOR-1)
B ABREU (.282, 0-FOR-1)
A RODRIGUEZ (.310, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (0) VS TAMPA BAY (1) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .263
D Jeter ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .319
B Abreu rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
A Rodriguez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .310
J Posada c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
R Cano 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303
S Duncan dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .246
D Mientkiewicz 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
M Cabrera cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .276

Totals 9 0 0 0 1 2 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Damon 1. Team LOB - 1.


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .283
J Velandia 2b 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .375
C Pena 1b 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 .277
B Upton cf 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 .305
D Young rf 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 .291
G Norton dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .241
J Gomes lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .246
D Navarro c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227
J Wilson ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .248

Totals 12 1 4 1 1 2 6

BATTING: 3B - A Iwamura (9, C Wang). SF - C Pena. RBI - C Pena (117). Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - J Wilson 1, D Young 2. Team LOB - 4.

BASERUNNING: SB - B Upton (22, 2nd base off C Wang/J Posada).


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 000 -- 0
TAMPA BAY - 100 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
C Wang 3 4 1 1 1 2 0 3.71

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Howell 3 0 0 0 1 2 0 6.39

Pitches-strikes: C Wang 48-27; J Howell 43-25. Ground balls-fly balls: C Wang
5-2; J Howell 5-2. Batters faced: C Wang 14; J Howell 10.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Paul Nauert. 2B--Mike Dimuro. 3B--Gerry Davis.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY DEREK JETER (12) TO LEFT WITH 0 OUT IN THE
4TH OFF J.P. HOWELL.
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 1, TAMPA BAY 1

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: B ABREU (.282, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL NY YANKEES AT TAMPA BAY
NOTE: NEW YORK SHORTSTOP DEREK JETER EXTENDED HIS HITTING
STREAK TO 13 GAMES WITH A HOME RUN IN THE FOURTH INNING.</div>