GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: NY YANKEES (91-67) at BALTIMORE (67-91)

AL: NY YANKEES (91-67) at BALTIMORE (67-91)

<h3>A-Rod eyes MVP as Yankees go for division title</h3>



Ny Yankees (92-67) at Baltimore (68-91) ,7:05 pm EDT

BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- Alex Rodriguez and the New York Yankeeswill make their last effort to win the American League EastDivision when they open their final series of the regular seasonagainst the Baltimore Orioles on Friday.


The Yankees sit just two games behind the Boston Red Sox (94-65)in the AL East. New York has already punched its postseasonticket and will enter the playoffs with at least the AL wildcard.


Despite questions on whether he will opt out of his contract atseason's end, Rodriguez has put together an MVP-caliber season,leading the majors with 53 home runs and 151 RBIs while batting.309. The 32-year-old third baseman is looking to win his thirdAL Most Valuable Player award in five years.


Mike Mussina (11-10, 4.96 ERA) will try to earn his way into theplayoff rotation when he goes for his fourth straight win onFriday.


Mussina, who lost three consecutive decisions before puttingtogether the winning streak, has been dominant during hisvictories. The 38-year-old righthander has allowed just threeruns and 15 hits over 19 2/3 innings during the hot streak.

Jon Leicester (2-3, 6.51) will try to earn the win aftersuffering back-to-back losses when he opposes the Yankees.

Leicester, who hasn't been given any run support during his lasttwo losses, surrendered three runs and seven hits in eightinnings in his last outing as the Orioles were shutout by theTexas Rangers, 3-0, on Sunday.

 

AL: NY YANKEES (91-67) at BALTIMORE (67-91)

<h3>Yankees starting playoff preparation</h3>

<div class="pre">Ny Yankees (92-68) at Baltimore (69-91) 7:05 pm EDT</div>

BALTIMORE (Ticker) - For the first time since 1997, The New YorkYankees will not be celebrating a division title.


The Yankees will look to close their season out on a positivenote when they face the Baltimore Orioles in the second of athree-game series Saturday.


Melvin Mora's game-winning bunt single in the bottom of the 10thinning helped the Orioles rally for a 10-9 victory Friday. Thewin handed the AL East title to the Boston Red Sox, whodefeated the Minnesota Twins, 5-2.


New York had already assured itself a 13th straight postseasonberth by clinching at least the AL wild card on Wednesday.

The Yankees will send veteran lefthander Andy Pettitte (14-9,3.81 ERA) to the mound. The 13-year veteran is 1-1 with a 2.38ERA in four outings - three starts - against the Orioles thisseason.


Baltimore will counter with Daniel Cabrera (9-17, 5.36), who haslost his previous five decisions. The Dominican righthanderleads the major leagues with 107 walks.


The Orioles, who have ensured themselves that they will notfinish in last place in the division, are seeking their thirdstraight win.

 

AL: NY YANKEES (93-68) at BALTIMORE (69-92)

<h3>Yankees conclude regular season vs. Orioles</h3>

<div class="pre">NY Yankees (93-68) at Baltimore (69-92) 1:35 pm EDT</div>

BALTIMORE (Ticker) - The New York Yankees conclude their regularseason on Sunday when they wrap a three-game set with theBaltimore Orioles.


Looking to give some of their key players extra time off beforethey meet the Cleveland Indians in the American League DivisionSeries, the Yankees rested Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, HidekiMatsui and Johnny Damon in Saturday's 11-10 victory. The winwas keyed by a 10-run fourth inning which was capped off byShelley Duncan's two-run homer.


Hoping to go send New York to the postseason on a winning note,Sean Henn (2-2, 7.49) will make his first start of the seasonafter 28 appearances out of the bullpen. He is 0-4 with a 10.20ERA in four career starts, with his last start coming onSeptember 20, 2006, against Toronto.


The lefthander has done well in five relief appearances againstBaltimore, though, holding the Orioles to 0.90 ERA in 10innings.


Baltimore will counter with Brian Burres (6-7, 5.66), who willlook to end his two-start losing streak. In Tuesday's 11-4 lossto the Toronto Blue Jays, he permitted seven runs and eighthits over just 3 1/3 innings.


Over six lifetime appearances - two starts - the lefthander is1-1 with a 2.50 ERA.

 

AL: NY YANKEES at BALTIMORE

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

NY YANKEES BALTIMORE
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Johnny Damon LF .270 12 62 Tike Redman CF .328 2 16
Derek Jeter SS .322 12 73 Luis Hernandez 2B .308 1 7
Bobby Abreu RF .285 16 99 Melvin Mora 3B .274 14 58
Alex Rodriguez 3B .312 54 155 Miguel Tejada SS .295 18 81
Jason Giambi DH .237 14 37 Kevin Millar DH .252 16 62
Wilson Betemit 2B .215 4 21 Jay Payton RF .258 7 58
Melky Cabrera CF .274 8 73 Scott Moore 1B .256 1 10
Doug Mientkiewicz 1B .272 5 24 J.R. House C .200 2 2
Jose Molina C .247 1 19 Freddie Bynum LF .272 2 11

Sean Henn LHP (2-2, 7.49) Brian Burres LHP (6-7, 5.66)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL AT BALTIMORE
WARMUPS: NYY - SEAN HENN (2-2, 7.49)
BAL - BRIAN BURRES (6-7, 5.66)

UMPIRES: HP - TONY RANDAZZO
1B - GREG GIBSON
2B - LARRY VANOVER
3B - DANA DEMUTH

WEATHER: 84 Degrees, sunny
WIND: 5 mph, out to center</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL AT BALTIMORE
STARTING BATS: NYY - SEAN HENN AND JOSE MOLINA
BAL - BRIAN BURRES AND J.R. HOUSE

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J DAMON (.270, 12 HR, 62 RBI)
D JETER (.322, 12 HR, 73 RBI)
B ABREU (.285, 16 HR, 99 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL AT BALTIMORE - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY ALEX RODRIGUEZ SCORED DEREK JETER.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A RODRIGUEZ ON FIRST, B ABREU ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 1
BALTIMORE 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J GIAMBI (.237, 14 HR, 37 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at BALTIMORE

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - SEAN HENN
BAL - BRIAN BURRES

DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: T REDMAN (.328, 2 HR, 16 RBI)
L HERNANDEZ (.308, 1 HR, 7 RBI)
M MORA (.274, 14 HR, 58 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at BALTIMORE

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

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .269
D Jeter ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .323
B Abreu rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .285
A Rodriguez 3b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .313
J Giambi dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .236
W Betemit 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .213
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
D Mientkiewicz 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
J Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247

Totals 5 1 2 1 1 2 4

BATTING: 3B - D Jeter (4, B Burres). RBI - A Rodriguez (156). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - W Betemit 1. Team LOB - 2.


BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
T Redman cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .328
L Hernandez 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
M Mora 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
M Tejada ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
K Millar dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
J Payton rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258
S Moore 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
J House c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
F Bynum lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 1 -- 1
BALTIMORE - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
S Henn 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7.49

BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era
B Burres 1 2 1 1 1 2 0 5.69

Pitches-strikes: B Burres 26-15. Ground balls-fly balls: B Burres 0-1.
Batters faced: B Burres 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Tony Randazzo. 1B--Greg Gibson. 2B--Larry Vanover. 3B--Dana
Demuth.

Weather: 84 degrees, sunny. Wind: 5 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL AT BALTIMORE
CONFIRMED STARTERS: NYY - SEAN HENN
BAL - BRIAN BURRES</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at BALTIMORE

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - SEAN HENN
BAL - BRIAN BURRES

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: M CABRERA (.274, 8 HR, 73 RBI)
D MIENTKIEWICZ (.272, 5 HR, 24 RBI)
J MOLINA (.247, 1 HR, 19 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at BALTIMORE

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

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .269
D Jeter ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .323
B Abreu rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .285
A Rodriguez 3b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .313
J Giambi dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .236
W Betemit 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .213
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
D Mientkiewicz 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
J Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247

Totals 5 1 2 1 1 2 4

BATTING: 3B - D Jeter (4, B Burres). RBI - A Rodriguez (156). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - W Betemit 1. Team LOB - 2.


BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
T Redman cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326
L Hernandez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303
M Mora 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
M Tejada ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
K Millar dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
J Payton rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258
S Moore 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
J House c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
F Bynum lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 1 -- 1
BALTIMORE - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
S Henn 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 7.27

BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era
B Burres 1 2 1 1 1 2 0 5.69

Pitches-strikes: S Henn 17-12; B Burres 26-15. Ground balls-fly balls: S Henn
1-2; B Burres 0-1. Batters faced: S Henn 3; B Burres 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Tony Randazzo. 1B--Greg Gibson. 2B--Larry Vanover. 3B--Dana
Demuth.

Weather: 84 degrees, sunny. Wind: 5 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at BALTIMORE

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - SEAN HENN
BAL - BRIAN BURRES

DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: M TEJADA (.295, 18 HR, 81 RBI)
K MILLAR (.252, 16 HR, 62 RBI)
J PAYTON (.258, 7 HR, 58 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at BALTIMORE

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

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .269
D Jeter ss 2 1 1 0 0 1 2 .322
B Abreu rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .285
A Rodriguez 3b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .313
J Giambi dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .236
W Betemit 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .213
M Cabrera cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .275
D Mientkiewicz 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .270
J Molina c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .251

Totals 10 1 4 1 1 3 8

BATTING: 3B - D Jeter (4, B Burres). RBI - A Rodriguez (156). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - W Betemit 1, D Jeter 1. Team LOB - 4.


BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
T Redman cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326
L Hernandez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303
M Mora 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
M Tejada ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
K Millar dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
J Payton rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258
S Moore 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
J House c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
F Bynum lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 10 -- 1
BALTIMORE - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
S Henn 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 7.27

BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era
B Burres 2 4 1 1 1 3 0 5.64

Pitches-strikes: S Henn 17-12; B Burres 55-36. Ground balls-fly balls: S Henn
1-2; B Burres 1-2. Batters faced: S Henn 3; B Burres 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Tony Randazzo. 1B--Greg Gibson. 2B--Larry Vanover. 3B--Dana
Demuth.

Weather: 84 degrees, sunny. Wind: 5 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL AT BALTIMORE - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY KEVIN MILLAR (17) TO LEFT WITH 1 OUT IN
THE 2ND OFF SEAN HENN.
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 1, BALTIMORE 1

DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: J PAYTON (.258, 7 HR, 58 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at BALTIMORE

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - SEAN HENN
BAL - BRIAN BURRES

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: B ABREU (.285, 0-FOR-0, BB)
A RODRIGUEZ (.313, 1-FOR-1, RBI)
J GIAMBI (.236, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at BALTIMORE

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

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .269
D Jeter ss 2 1 1 0 0 1 2 .322
B Abreu rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .285
A Rodriguez 3b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .313
J Giambi dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .236
W Betemit 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .213
M Cabrera cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .275
D Mientkiewicz 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .270
J Molina c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .251

Totals 10 1 4 1 1 3 8

BATTING: 3B - D Jeter (4, B Burres). RBI - A Rodriguez (156). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - W Betemit 1, D Jeter 1. Team LOB - 4.

FIELDING: PB - J Molina.


BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
T Redman cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326
L Hernandez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303
M Mora 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
M Tejada ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
K Millar dh 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .253
J Payton rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .258
S Moore 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .250
J House c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .194
F Bynum lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272

Totals 7 1 1 1 1 0 2

BATTING: HR - K Millar (17, 2nd inning off S Henn 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - K Millar
(63). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J House 1. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 10 -- 1
BALTIMORE - 01 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
S Henn 2 1 1 1 1 0 1 7.32

BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era
B Burres 2 4 1 1 1 3 0 5.64

Pitches-strikes: S Henn 30-18; B Burres 55-36. Ground balls-fly balls: S Henn
2-4; B Burres 1-2. Batters faced: S Henn 8; B Burres 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Tony Randazzo. 1B--Greg Gibson. 2B--Larry Vanover. 3B--Dana
Demuth.

Weather: 84 degrees, sunny. Wind: 5 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">AL AT BALTIMORE - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY WILSON BETEMIT SCORED ALEX RODRIGUEZ.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, W BETEMIT ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 2
BALTIMORE 1 TOP, 3RD

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: M CABRERA (.275, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at BALTIMORE

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - SEAN HENN
BAL - BRIAN BURRES

DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: F BYNUM (.272, 2 HR, 11 RBI)
T REDMAN (.326, 0-FOR-1)
L HERNANDEZ (.303, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at BALTIMORE

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (2) VS BALTIMORE (1) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .269
D Jeter ss 2 1 1 0 0 1 2 .322
B Abreu rf 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .284
A Rodriguez 3b 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 .314
J Giambi dh 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 .235
W Betemit 2b 2 0 1 1 0 1 2 .222
M Cabrera cf 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 .274
D Mientkiewicz 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .270
J Molina c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .251

Totals 15 2 6 2 1 3 10

BATTING: 2B - W Betemit (4, B Burres). 3B - D Jeter (4, B Burres). RBI - A
Rodriguez (156), W Betemit (22). 2-out RBI - W Betemit. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - W Betemit 1, D Jeter 1, M Cabrera 1. Team LOB - 5.

FIELDING: PB - J Molina.


BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
T Redman cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326
L Hernandez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303
M Mora 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
M Tejada ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
K Millar dh 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .253
J Payton rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .258
S Moore 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .250
J House c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .194
F Bynum lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272

Totals 7 1 1 1 1 0 2

BATTING: HR - K Millar (17, 2nd inning off S Henn 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - K Millar
(63). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J House 1. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 101 -- 2
BALTIMORE - 01 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
S Henn 2 1 1 1 1 0 1 7.32

BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era
B Burres 3 6 2 2 1 3 0 5.67

Pitches-strikes: S Henn 30-18; B Burres 73-47. Ground balls-fly balls: S Henn
2-4; B Burres 1-5. Batters faced: S Henn 8; B Burres 16.

UMPIRES: HP--Tony Randazzo. 1B--Greg Gibson. 2B--Larry Vanover. 3B--Dana
Demuth.

Weather: 84 degrees, sunny. Wind: 5 mph, out to center.</div>