GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: CLEVELAND (2-1) at NY YANKEES (1-2)

AL: CLEVELAND (2-1) at NY YANKEES (1-2)

<h3>Yankees look to even ALDS behind Wang</h3>

<div class="pre">Cleveland at NY Yankees 7:37 pm EDT</div><div class="pre">American League Division Series Indians lead, 2-1</div>

<div class="pre">BRONX, New York (Ticker) - Not every Division Series will end</div>in a sweep this postseason. The New York Yankees refused to letthat happen.


The Yankees will look to even their American League DivisionSeries with the Cleveland Indians when they host Game Four onMonday.


The Indians built a commanding two-games-to-none lead inCleveland, but the home crowd and some menacing words from ownerGeorge Steinbrenner about the job security of popular managerJoe Torre lit a fire under the Yankees in Game Three.

Rookie Phil Hughes (1-0) allowed two hits in 3 2/3 innings ofrelief after starter Roger Clemens was forced to leave with astrained left hamstring, and New York got a three-run homer outof Johnny Damon in the fifth and tacked on three runs in thesixth en route to an 8-4 victory on Sunday night.


Before the Yankees even had a chance to get settled at YankeeStadium on Sunday afternoon, rumors about Torre's job securitywere swirling. A report in the Bergen Record in New Jersey hadcomments from Steinbrenner that indicated Torre's 12-year tenurewas going to end with a third straight loss in the divisionseries.


For four innings it looked like Torre was managing his finalgame as the Yankees struggled against Jake Westbrook's sinker.They hit into three double plays through the first three inningsand faced a 3-1 deficit. Captain Derek Jeter bounced intodouble plays in the first and third while Jorge Posada hit intoone in the second.


But they recovered to beat Westbrook and extend the series atleast one more game.


New York will bring back Game One starter Chien-Ming Wang (0-1)on three days' rest in Game Four. The righthanded sinkerballerwent 19-7 in the regular season, but could not keep histrademark sinker down against the Indians last Thursday.

Wang was knocked around for eight runs and nine hits in 4 2/3frames as the Yankees dropped the opener, 12-3.


"I feel fine. No sore, my arm feel good, no problem," Wang saidabout going on three days' rest.


"And the last time I faced Cleveland the ball was up, andtomorrow I'll try to get the ball down," he continued.

The Indians will counter with 15-game winner Paul Byrd (NR). Therighthanded control artist will be making his first appearancethis postseason after struggling to a 1-3 record with a 6.43 ERAin his final five starts.


He has appeared in the postseason in 2004 with the AtlantaBraves and in 2005 with the Angels. Byrd owns a 1-1 record inthe playoffs with a 5.40 ERA in five games - three starts.

"We're going to move forward just as we had planned," Clevelandmanager Eric Wedge said after the Game Three disappointment."(Byrd) will be on the mound tomorrow, and we'll go from there.

"You know, it's where we are. We knew we were going to need fourstarters, if it went that far here in the series. And that'swhere we're at. That's what we're going to go with."

Byrd is just 1-4 with a 4.44 ERA against New York in his career.He surrendered seven runs and seven hits in two innings tosuffer a loss against the Yankees on August 11.

 

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 .308 0 0 Johnny Damon LF .308 2 5
Asdrubal Cabrera 2B .154 1 1 Derek Jeter SS .083 0 0
Travis Hafner DH .231 1 2 Bobby Abreu RF .200 0 1
Victor Martinez 1B .333 1 2 Alex Rodriguez 3B .200 0 0
Jhonny Peralta SS .364 0 1 Jorge Posada C .100 0 0
Kenny Lofton LF .545 0 4 Hideki Matsui DH .222 0 0
Franklin Gutierrez RF .200 0 0 Robinson Cano 2B .273 1 2
Casey Blake 3B .083 0 2 Melky Cabrera CF .167 1 2
Kelly Shoppach C .000 0 0 Doug Mientkiewicz 1B .000 0 0

Paul Byrd RHP (NO RECORD) Chien-Ming Wang RHP (0-1, 15.43)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES
WARMUPS: CLE - PAUL BYRD (NO RECORD)
NYY - CHIEN-MING WANG (0-1, 15.43)

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

WEATHER: 88 Degrees, partly cloudy
WIND: 4 mph, right to left</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES
STARTING BATS: CLE - PAUL BYRD AND KELLY SHOPPACH
NYY - CHIEN-MING WANG AND JORGE POSADA

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: G SIZEMORE (.308, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
A CABRERA (.154, 1 HR, 1 RBI)
T HAFNER (.231, 1 HR, 2 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES PLAYOFFS - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY GRADY SIZEMORE (1) TO RIGHT CENTER WITH 0
OUT IN THE 1ST OFF CHIEN-MING WANG.
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 1, NY YANKEES 0

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: A CABRERA (.154, 1 HR, 1 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL CLEVELAND AT NY YANKEES
NOTE: THE HOME RUN BY CLEVELAND'S GRADY SIZEMORE LED OFF
THE GAME.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES

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

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: K LOFTON (.545, 0 HR, 4 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
NYY - CHIEN-MING WANG

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J DAMON (.308, 2 HR, 5 RBI)
D JETER (.083, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
B ABREU (.200, 0 HR, 1 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES

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

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .357
A Cabrera 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143
T Hafner dh 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .286
V Martinez 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
J Peralta ss 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .417
K Lofton lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .500
F Gutierrez rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .083
K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 6 2 3 2 0 0 1

BATTING: HR - G Sizemore (1, 1st inning off C Wang 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - G
Sizemore (1), J Peralta (2). 2-out RBI - J Peralta. Team LOB - 1.


NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
D Jeter ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .083
B Abreu rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
A Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
J Posada c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .100
H Matsui dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167
D Mientkiewicz 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


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

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ###

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
C Wang 1 3 2 2 0 0 1 15.88

Pitches-strikes: C Wang 24-16. Ground balls-fly balls: C Wang 3-0. Batters
faced: C Wang 6.

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

Weather: 88 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 4 mph, right to left.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES
CONFIRMED STARTERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
NYY - CHIEN-MING WANG</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
NYY - CHIEN-MING WANG

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: F GUTIERREZ (.200, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
C BLAKE (.083, 0 HR, 2 RBI)
K SHOPPACH (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (2) VS NY YANKEES (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .357
A Cabrera 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143
T Hafner dh 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .286
V Martinez 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
J Peralta ss 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .417
K Lofton lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .500
F Gutierrez rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .083
K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 6 2 3 2 0 0 1

BATTING: HR - G Sizemore (1, 1st inning off C Wang 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - G
Sizemore (1), J Peralta (2). 2-out RBI - J Peralta. Team LOB - 1.


NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
D Jeter ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .154
B Abreu rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .273
A Rodriguez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .182
J Posada c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .091
H Matsui dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167
D Mientkiewicz 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 5 0 2 0 0 1 4

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


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

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 0.00

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
C Wang 1 3 2 2 0 0 1 15.88

Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 17-12; C Wang 24-16. Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd
1-1; C Wang 3-0. Batters faced: P Byrd 5; C Wang 6.

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

Weather: 88 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 4 mph, right to left.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES - PITCHING CHANGE
NYY: MIKE MUSSINA (NO RECORD) IN THE 2ND
SITUATION: NO RUNS IN, K SHOPPACH ON FIRST, C BLAKE ON SECOND, F
GUTIERREZ ON THIRD, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 2, NY YANKEES 0

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: G SIZEMORE (.357, 1-FOR-1, HR, RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: M Mussina relieved C Wang.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, K SHOPPACH ON FIRST, C BLAKE ON SECOND, F
GUTIERREZ ON THIRD, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 2
NY YANKEES 0 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: G Sizemore (.357, 1-FOR-1, HR, RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES PLAYOFFS - SCORING UPDATE
GRADY SIZEMORE HIT INTO DOUBLE PLAY SCORING FRANKLIN
GUTIERREZ.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, C BLAKE ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 3
NY YANKEES 0 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: A CABRERA (.143, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES PLAYOFFS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY ASDRUBAL CABRERA SCORED CASEY BLAKE.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, A CABRERA ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 4
NY YANKEES 0 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: T HAFNER (.286, 1-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 2 2 4 6 0
NY YANKEES 0 0 2 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
NYY - MIKE MUSSINA

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: H MATSUI (.222, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
R CANO (.273, 1 HR, 2 RBI)
M CABRERA (.167, 1 HR, 2 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">CLEVELAND (4) VS NY YANKEES (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 2 1 1 1 0 0 1 .333
A Cabrera 2b 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .200
T Hafner dh 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 .286
V Martinez 1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .286
J Peralta ss 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .417
K Lofton lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .500
F Gutierrez rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .333
C Blake 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .154
K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 11 4 6 3 1 0 4

BATTING: HR - G Sizemore (1, 1st inning off C Wang 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - G
Sizemore (1), J Peralta (2), A Cabrera (2). 2-out RBI - J Peralta, A Cabrera.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - V Martinez 1. GIDP - G Sizemore. Team
LOB - 3.


NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
D Jeter ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .154
B Abreu rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .273
A Rodriguez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .182
J Posada c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .091
H Matsui dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167
D Mientkiewicz 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 5 0 2 0 0 1 4

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

FIELDING: DP: 1 (R Cano-D Jeter-D Mientkiewicz).


----------------------------------------------------
CLEVELAND - 22 -- 4
NY YANKEES - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 0.00

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
C Wang 1 5 4 4 0 0 1 19.06
M Mussina 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0.00

C Wang pitched to 3 batters in the 2nd.

HBP - K Shoppach (by C Wang). Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 16-12; C Wang 32-20; M
Mussina 21-12. Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd 1-1; C Wang 3-0; M Mussina 3-0.
Batters faced: P Byrd 5; C Wang 9; M Mussina 4.

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

Weather: 87 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 2 mph, left to right.</div>

 

AL: CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES PLAYOFFS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY DEREK JETER SCORED HIDEKI MATSUI.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, D JETER ON FIRST, D MIENTKIEWICZ ON SECOND,
R CANO ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 4
NY YANKEES 1 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: B ABREU (.273, 1-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 2 2 4 6 0
NY YANKEES 0 1 1 4 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD
NYY - MIKE MUSSINA

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: J PERALTA (.417, 1-FOR-1, RBI)
K LOFTON (.500, 0-FOR-1)
F GUTIERREZ (.333, 1-FOR-1)</div>