GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: CLEVELAND (2-0) at NY YANKEES (0-2)

AL: CLEVELAND (2-0) at NY YANKEES (0-2)

<h3>Clemens aim to help Yankees avoid series sweep</h3>

<div class="pre">Cleveland at NY Yankees 6:37 pm EDT</div><div class="pre">American League Division Series Indians lead, 2-0</div>

BRONX, New York (Ticker) - The New York Yankees turn to RogerClemens with the hopes of saving their season.


The Yankees will try to avoid playoff elimination when they facethe Cleveland Indians in Game Three of the American LeagueDivision Series on Sunday.


In Game Two at Jacobs Field, New York starter Andy Pettitte wasstrong over 6 1/3 innings to keep Cleveland off the board beforehanding things over to the bullpen.


However, Yankees rookie Joba Chamberlain's wild pitch enabledthe Indians to tie the game at 1-1 in the eighth and LuisVizcaino surrendered the game-winning, RBI single to TravisHafner in the 11th as Cleveland grabbed a 2-0 edge in theseries.


"We have to win a game," Yankees All-Star shortstop Derek Jetersaid following Friday's disappointing setback.


New York manager Joe Torre is putting his trust in Clemens, whoreturns to the hill for the first time since September 16because of an injured hamstring.


"We're back home now, and we need to hold our home-fieldadvantage," Clemens said. "Bottom line is for me to get the ballto the next starter, whoever that is."


A seven-time Cy Young Award winner, the veteran righthander wasbrought back to the Big Apple for moments such as this. He went6-6 with a 4.18 ERA through 17 starts.


"I don't know about the last 20 years, but I think we've gotenough information to have an idea of where he's at," Clevelandmanager Eric Wedge said. "It's Roger Clemens. You know whattype of competitor he is. But I think we've got enoughhistory."


The 45-year-old Clemens has a 12-8 mark in 34 career postseasongames. He is appearing in his playoff game since Game One ofthe 2005 World Series as a member of the Houston Astros.

Clemens was not smiling in his last postseason game at YankeeStadium, as he watched the Florida Marlins celebrate theirsecond World Series crown in Game Six in 2003.


The Indians will counter with Jake Westbrook, who bounce backafter a slow start to go 5-3 with a 2.91 ERA over his final 13regular-season starts.


"Jake had to battle some injuries early on," Wedge said. "Butonce he worked his way beyond that, he's really settled in. Imean, he really has. He's a guy that prides himself on beingsomeone that you can count on. And you know what you're goingto get from him."


Despite Westbrook's solid performance of late, the Yankees havecollected 12 runs and 17 hits in 7 2/3 innings in two triumphsoff the righthander this campaign.


AL MVP candidate Alex Rodriguez could finally breakout in frontof the home crowd, as he is batting .375 with a homer whenfacing Westbrook. Rodriguez is hitless in six at-bats in theseries.


While Rodriguez endures yet another postseason slump, TravisHafner continued his solid campaign, going 3-for-10 with a homerun and two RBI through the first two games for Cleveland.

 

AL: CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES

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

CLEVELAND NY YANKEES
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Grady Sizemore CF .375 0 0 Johnny Damon LF .111 1 1
Asdrubal Cabrera 2B .125 1 1 Derek Jeter SS .125 0 0
Travis Hafner DH .300 1 2 Bobby Abreu RF .333 0 1
Victor Martinez C .375 1 2 Alex Rodriguez 3B .000 0 0
Ryan Garko 1B .429 1 2 Jorge Posada C .000 0 0
Jhonny Peralta SS .250 0 0 Jason Giambi 1B 1.000 0 0
Kenny Lofton LF .714 0 4 Hideki Matsui DH .000 0 0
Trot Nixon RF .000 0 0 Robinson Cano 2B .143 1 1
Casey Blake 3B .125 0 2 Melky Cabrera CF .125 1 1

Jake Westbrook RHP (NO RECORD) Roger Clemens RHP (NO RECORD)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES
WARMUPS: CLE - JAKE WESTBROOK (NO RECORD)
NYY - ROGER CLEMENS (NO RECORD)

UMPIRES: HP - RON KULPA
1B - FIELDIN CULBRETH
2B - GERRY DAVIS
3B - JIM WOLF
LF - BRUCE FROEMMING
RF - LAZ DIAZ

WEATHER: 79 Degrees, partly cloudy
WIND: 10 mph, in from left</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES
STARTING BATS: CLE - JAKE WESTBROOK AND VICTOR MARTINEZ
NYY - ROGER CLEMENS AND JORGE POSADA

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: G SIZEMORE (.375, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
A CABRERA (.125, 1 HR, 1 RBI)
T HAFNER (.300, 1 HR, 2 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES PLAYOFFS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY RYAN GARKO SCORED ASDRUBAL CABRERA.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, R GARKO ON FIRST, T HAFNER ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 1
NY YANKEES 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: J PERALTA (.250, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - JAKE WESTBROOK
NYY - ROGER CLEMENS

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J DAMON (.111, 1 HR, 1 RBI)
D JETER (.125, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
B ABREU (.333, 0 HR, 1 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES

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

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
A Cabrera 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .222
T Hafner dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .300
V Martinez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .333
R Garko 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .500
J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .222
K Lofton lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .714
T Nixon rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125

Totals 5 1 2 1 1 0 4

BATTING: RBI - R Garko (3). 2-out RBI - R Garko. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - J Peralta 1. Team LOB - 2.


NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .111
D Jeter ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125
B Abreu rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
A Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Posada c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Giambi 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000
H Matsui dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 1 -- 1
NY YANKEES - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Westbrook 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ###

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
R Clemens 1 2 1 1 1 0 0 9.00

Pitches-strikes: R Clemens 27-16. Ground balls-fly balls: R Clemens 2-1.
Batters faced: R Clemens 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Ron Kulpa. 1B--Fieldin Culbreth. 2B--Gerry Davis. 3B--Jim Wolf.
LF--Bruce Froemming. RF--Laz Diaz.

Weather: 71 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, right to left.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES
CONFIRMED STARTERS: CLE - JAKE WESTBROOK
NYY - ROGER CLEMENS</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - JAKE WESTBROOK
NYY - ROGER CLEMENS

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: K LOFTON (.714, 0 HR, 4 RBI)
T NIXON (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
C BLAKE (.125, 0 HR, 2 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES

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

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
A Cabrera 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .222
T Hafner dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .300
V Martinez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .333
R Garko 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .500
J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .222
K Lofton lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .714
T Nixon rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125

Totals 5 1 2 1 1 0 4

BATTING: RBI - R Garko (3). 2-out RBI - R Garko. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - J Peralta 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Peralta-R Garko).


NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .200
D Jeter ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .111
B Abreu rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
A Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Posada c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Giambi 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000
H Matsui dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125

Totals 3 0 1 0 0 0 1

BATTING: GIDP - D Jeter. Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 1 -- 1
NY YANKEES - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Westbrook 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
R Clemens 1 2 1 1 1 0 0 9.00

Pitches-strikes: J Westbrook 11-7; R Clemens 27-16. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Westbrook 3-0; R Clemens 2-1. Batters faced: J Westbrook 3; R Clemens 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Ron Kulpa. 1B--Fieldin Culbreth. 2B--Gerry Davis. 3B--Jim Wolf.
LF--Bruce Froemming. RF--Laz Diaz.

Weather: 71 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, right to left.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES PLAYOFFS - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY TROT NIXON (1) TO RIGHT WITH 1 OUT IN THE
2ND OFF ROGER CLEMENS.
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 2, NY YANKEES 0

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: C BLAKE (.125, 0 HR, 2 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - JAKE WESTBROOK
NYY - ROGER CLEMENS

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: A RODRIGUEZ (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
J POSADA (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
J GIAMBI (1.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES

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

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .400
A Cabrera 2b 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .200
T Hafner dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .300
V Martinez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .333
R Garko 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .500
J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .222
K Lofton lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .625
T Nixon rf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1.000
C Blake 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .111

Totals 10 2 4 2 1 0 5

BATTING: HR - T Nixon (1, 2nd inning off R Clemens 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - R Garko
(3), T Nixon (1). 2-out RBI - R Garko. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- J Peralta 1, A Cabrera 1. Team LOB - 3.

BASERUNNING: SB - G Sizemore (1, 2nd base off R Clemens/J Posada).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Peralta-R Garko).


NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .200
D Jeter ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .111
B Abreu rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
A Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Posada c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Giambi 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000
H Matsui dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125

Totals 3 0 1 0 0 0 1

BATTING: GIDP - D Jeter. Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 11 -- 2
NY YANKEES - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Westbrook 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
R Clemens 2 4 2 2 1 0 1 9.00

Pitches-strikes: J Westbrook 11-7; R Clemens 47-28. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Westbrook 3-0; R Clemens 3-3. Batters faced: J Westbrook 3; R Clemens 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Ron Kulpa. 1B--Fieldin Culbreth. 2B--Gerry Davis. 3B--Jim Wolf.
LF--Bruce Froemming. RF--Laz Diaz.

Weather: 71 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, right to left.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - JAKE WESTBROOK
NYY - ROGER CLEMENS

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: T HAFNER (.300, 0-FOR-0, BB)
V MARTINEZ (.333, 0-FOR-1)
R GARKO (.500, 1-FOR-1, RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES

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

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .400
A Cabrera 2b 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .200
T Hafner dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .300
V Martinez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .333
R Garko 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .500
J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .222
K Lofton lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .625
T Nixon rf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1.000
C Blake 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .111

Totals 10 2 4 2 1 0 5

BATTING: HR - T Nixon (1, 2nd inning off R Clemens 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - R Garko
(3), T Nixon (1). 2-out RBI - R Garko. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- J Peralta 1, A Cabrera 1. Team LOB - 3.

BASERUNNING: SB - G Sizemore (1, 2nd base off R Clemens/J Posada).

FIELDING: DP: 2 (J Peralta-R Garko, J Peralta-A Cabrera-R Garko).


NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .200
D Jeter ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .111
B Abreu rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
A Rodriguez 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .143
J Posada c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000
J Giambi 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500
H Matsui dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125

Totals 6 0 2 0 0 0 2

BATTING: GIDP - D Jeter, J Posada. Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 11 -- 2
NY YANKEES - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Westbrook 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.00

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
R Clemens 2 4 2 2 1 0 1 9.00

Pitches-strikes: J Westbrook 21-12; R Clemens 47-28. Ground balls-fly balls:
J Westbrook 6-0; R Clemens 3-3. Batters faced: J Westbrook 6; R Clemens 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Ron Kulpa. 1B--Fieldin Culbreth. 2B--Gerry Davis. 3B--Jim Wolf.
LF--Bruce Froemming. RF--Laz Diaz.

Weather: 71 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, right to left.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES - PITCHING CHANGE
NYY: PHIL HUGHES (0-0, 4.50) IN THE 3RD
SITUATION: NO RUNS IN, T HAFNER ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 2, NY YANKEES 0

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: R GARKO (.500, 1-FOR-1, RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: P Hughes relieved R Clemens.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, T HAFNER ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 2
NY YANKEES 0 TOP, 3RD

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: R Garko (.500, 1-FOR-1, RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL CLEVELAND AT NY YANKEES
NOTE: NEW YORK PITCHER ROGER CLEMENS LEFT THE GAME IN THE
TOP OF THE THIRD INNING WITH AN APPARENT LEG INJURY.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES PLAYOFFS - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY JHONNY PERALTA SCORED TRAVIS HAFNER.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J PERALTA ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 3
NY YANKEES 0 TOP, 3RD

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: K LOFTON (.625, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - JAKE WESTBROOK
NYY - PHIL HUGHES

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: H MATSUI (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
R CANO (.143, 1 HR, 1 RBI)
M CABRERA (.125, 1 HR, 1 RBI)</div>