GAME THREAD: AL: NY YANKEES (44-44) at TAMPA BAY (35-55)

AL: NY YANKEES (44-44) at TAMPA BAY (35-55)

<h3>Mussina, Yankees aim to take series vs. Devil Rays</h3>



<div class="pre">NY Yankees (45-44) at Tampa Bay (35-55) 1:40 pm EDT</div>

<div class="pre">ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- Bobby Abreu has stepped up</div>for the New York Yankees. Now, they will look to anotherstruggling performer to break out.


Mike Mussina will take the mound for the Yankees when they lookto take three out of four against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays inthe series finale between the clubs at Tropicana Field on Sundayafternoon.


Abreu knocked in five runs and Chien-Ming Wang tossed sixeffective innings to spark the Yankees to a 6-4 victory over theDevil Rays in the third game of a four-game set on Saturdaynight.


New York acquired Abreu at the July 31 trade deadline lastseason, but the right fielder has yet to play up to expectationssince his arrival. A career .301 hitter, he entered Saturday'scontest with a .271 average and just six homers.


But Abreu, who has homered in two of his last three games, hasstarted to turn things around.


The Yankees will look for a similar renaissance from Mussina(4-6, 4.62 ERA), who is looking for his first road victory sinceMay 3. He has gone 0-3 with a 5.27 ERA in his last fiveoutings away from home.


The righthander, who was supposed to be a reliable veteran forNew York this season, has lost three of his last four starts,including a 6-2 loss vs. the Minnesota Twins in his last startbefore the All-Star break on July 4.


He allowed four runs - three earned - and five hits in sixinnings in that contest.


Mussina will be opposed by Edwin Jackson (1-9, 7.23), who hasstruggled mightily this season. He yielded seven runs and ninehits in five innings in a 7-5 loss at the Boston Red Sox on July4.


It will be the first start against the Yankees for Jackson, whohad a 5.06 ERA in four appearances out of the bullpen againstNew York last campaign.

 

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 DH .247 5 28 Akinori Iwamura 3B .282 3 12
Derek Jeter SS .331 6 45 Carl Crawford LF .279 6 51
Bobby Abreu RF .273 7 49 Brendan Harris SS .309 8 39
Alex Rodriguez 3B .312 31 87 Carlos Pena 1B .292 21 55
Hideki Matsui LF .275 13 55 Delmon Young RF .289 9 50
Melky Cabrera CF .275 4 31 B.J. Upton CF .320 9 32
Robinson Cano 2B .269 6 40 Greg Norton DH .186 2 7
Andy Phillips 1B .286 1 5 Ty Wigginton 2B .264 13 43
Wil Nieves C .120 0 4 Dioner Navarro C .173 1 15

Mike Mussina RHP (4-6, 4.62) Edwin Jackson RHP (1-9, 7.23)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY
WARMUPS: NYY - MIKE MUSSINA (4-6, 4.62)
TAM - EDWIN JACKSON (1-9, 7.23)

UMPIRES: HP - C.B. BUCKNOR
1B - JOE WEST
2B - ED RAPUANO
3B - ED HICKOX

WEATHER: INDOORS</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY
STARTING BATS: NYY - MIKE MUSSINA AND WIL NIEVES
TAM - EDWIN JACKSON AND DIONER NAVARRO

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J DAMON (.247, 5 HR, 28 RBI)
D JETER (.331, 6 HR, 45 RBI)
B ABREU (.273, 7 HR, 49 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 - MIKE MUSSINA
TAM - EDWIN JACKSON

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: A IWAMURA (.282, 3 HR, 12 RBI)
C CRAWFORD (.279, 6 HR, 51 RBI)
B HARRIS (.309, 8 HR, 39 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 dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
D Jeter ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .331
B Abreu rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .272
A Rodriguez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .311
H Matsui lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269
A Phillips 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
W Nieves c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .120

Totals 3 0 0 0 1 1 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Rodriguez 1. Team LOB - 1.


BASERUNNING: SB - D Jeter (8, 2nd base off E Jackson/D Navarro).


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
C Crawford lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
B Harris ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309
C Pena 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
D Young rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
B Upton cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .320
G Norton dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .186
T Wigginton 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .173

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
M Mussina 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.62

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
E Jackson 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 7.14

Pitches-strikes: E Jackson 20-10. Ground balls-fly balls: E Jackson 1-1.
Batters faced: E Jackson 4.

UMPIRES: HP--C.B. Bucknor. 1B--Joe West. 2B--Ed Rapuano. 3B--Ed Hickox.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY
CONFIRMED STARTERS: NYY - MIKE MUSSINA
TAM - EDWIN JACKSON</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY CARLOS PENA SCORED CARL CRAWFORD.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, C PENA ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 0
TAMPA BAY 1 BOTTOM, 1ST

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: D YOUNG (.289, 9 HR, 50 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL NY YANKEES AT TAMPA BAY
NOTE: TAMPA BAY FIRST BASEMAN CARLOS PENA SINGLED IN THE
FIRST INNING TO EXTEND HIS HITTING STREAK TO 12 GAMES.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY B.J. UPTON SCORED CARLOS PENA.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, B UPTON ON FIRST, D YOUNG ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 0
TAMPA BAY 2 BOTTOM, 1ST

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: G NORTON (.186, 2 HR, 7 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 2 2 3 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - MIKE MUSSINA
TAM - EDWIN JACKSON

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: H MATSUI (.275, 13 HR, 55 RBI)
M CABRERA (.275, 4 HR, 31 RBI)
R CANO (.269, 6 HR, 40 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

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

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
D Jeter ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .331
B Abreu rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .272
A Rodriguez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .311
H Matsui lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269
A Phillips 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
W Nieves c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .120

Totals 3 0 0 0 1 1 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Rodriguez 1. Team LOB - 1.


BASERUNNING: SB - D Jeter (8, 2nd base off E Jackson/D Navarro).

FIELDING: Outfield assists - M Cabrera (B Harris at 2nd base).


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
C Crawford lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .281
B Harris ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .309
C Pena 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .295
D Young rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .289
B Upton cf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .324
G Norton dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .184
T Wigginton 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .173

Totals 5 2 3 2 2 0 2

BATTING: RBI - C Pena (56), B Upton (33). 2-out RBI - B Upton. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - G Norton 1. Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: SB - C Crawford (25, 2nd base off M Mussina/W Nieves).


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 0 -- 0
TAMPA BAY - 2 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
M Mussina 1 3 2 2 2 0 0 4.78

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
E Jackson 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 7.14

Pitches-strikes: M Mussina 28-16; E Jackson 20-10. Ground balls-fly balls: M
Mussina 1-1; E Jackson 1-1. Batters faced: M Mussina 7; E Jackson 4.

UMPIRES: HP--C.B. Bucknor. 1B--Joe West. 2B--Ed Rapuano. 3B--Ed Hickox.

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 1 0
TAMPA BAY 2 2 3 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - MIKE MUSSINA
TAM - EDWIN JACKSON

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: T WIGGINTON (.264, 13 HR, 43 RBI)
D NAVARRO (.173, 1 HR, 15 RBI)
A IWAMURA (.281, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

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

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
D Jeter ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .331
B Abreu rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .272
A Rodriguez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .311
H Matsui lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
M Cabrera cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .277
R Cano 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .268
A Phillips 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .280
W Nieves c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .120

Totals 7 0 1 0 1 1 4

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Rodriguez 1. Team LOB - 2.


BASERUNNING: SB - D Jeter (8, 2nd base off E Jackson/D Navarro).

FIELDING: Outfield assists - M Cabrera (B Harris at 3rd base).


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
C Crawford lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .281
B Harris ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .309
C Pena 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .295
D Young rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .289
B Upton cf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .324
G Norton dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .184
T Wigginton 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .173

Totals 5 2 3 2 2 0 2

BATTING: RBI - C Pena (56), B Upton (33). 2-out RBI - B Upton. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - G Norton 1. Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: SB - C Crawford (25, 2nd base off M Mussina/W Nieves).


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 00 -- 0
TAMPA BAY - 2 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
M Mussina 1 3 2 2 2 0 0 4.78

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
E Jackson 2 1 0 0 1 1 0 7.04

Pitches-strikes: M Mussina 28-16; E Jackson 32-16. Ground balls-fly balls: M
Mussina 1-1; E Jackson 2-3. Batters faced: M Mussina 7; E Jackson 8.

UMPIRES: HP--C.B. Bucknor. 1B--Joe West. 2B--Ed Rapuano. 3B--Ed Hickox.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY CARL CRAWFORD SCORED TY WIGGINTON.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, C CRAWFORD ON FIRST, D NAVARRO ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 0
TAMPA BAY 3 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: B HARRIS (.309, 0-FOR-0, BB)</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 1 0
TAMPA BAY 2 1 3 6 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - MIKE MUSSINA
TAM - EDWIN JACKSON

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: W NIEVES (.120, 0 HR, 4 RBI)
J DAMON (.246, 0-FOR-1)
D JETER (.331, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (0) VS TAMPA BAY (3) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
D Jeter ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .331
B Abreu rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .272
A Rodriguez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .311
H Matsui lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
M Cabrera cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .277
R Cano 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .268
A Phillips 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .280
W Nieves c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .120

Totals 7 0 1 0 1 1 4

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Rodriguez 1. Team LOB - 2.


BASERUNNING: SB - D Jeter (8, 2nd base off E Jackson/D Navarro).

FIELDING: Outfield assists - M Cabrera (B Harris at 3rd base).


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .280
C Crawford lf 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 .283
B Harris ss 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 .308
C Pena 1b 2 1 1 1 0 0 2 .293
D Young rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .289
B Upton cf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .324
G Norton dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .184
T Wigginton 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .266
D Navarro c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .177

Totals 11 3 6 3 2 0 8

BATTING: RBI - C Pena (56), B Upton (33), C Crawford (52). 2-out RBI - B Upton.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Pena 2, G Norton 1. Team LOB - 4.


BASERUNNING: SB - C Crawford 2 (26, 2nd base off M Mussina/W Nieves 2).


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 00 -- 0
TAMPA BAY - 21 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
M Mussina 2 6 3 3 2 0 0 4.84

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
E Jackson 2 1 0 0 1 1 0 7.04

Pitches-strikes: M Mussina 42-25; E Jackson 32-16. Ground balls-fly balls: M
Mussina 1-4; E Jackson 2-3. Batters faced: M Mussina 13; E Jackson 8.

UMPIRES: HP--C.B. Bucknor. 1B--Joe West. 2B--Ed Rapuano. 3B--Ed Hickox.

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 1 0
TAMPA BAY 2 1 3 6 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - MIKE MUSSINA
TAM - EDWIN JACKSON

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: D YOUNG (.289, 0-FOR-0, BB)
B UPTON (.324, 1-FOR-1, RBI)
G NORTON (.184, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

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

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon dh 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
D Jeter ss 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 .331
B Abreu rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .272
A Rodriguez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .311
H Matsui lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
M Cabrera cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .277
R Cano 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .268
A Phillips 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .280
W Nieves c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .118

Totals 10 0 1 0 1 3 4

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Rodriguez 1. Team LOB - 2.


BASERUNNING: SB - D Jeter (8, 2nd base off E Jackson/D Navarro).

FIELDING: Outfield assists - M Cabrera (B Harris at 3rd base).


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .280
C Crawford lf 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 .283
B Harris ss 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 .308
C Pena 1b 2 1 1 1 0 0 2 .293
D Young rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .289
B Upton cf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .324
G Norton dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .184
T Wigginton 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .266
D Navarro c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .177

Totals 11 3 6 3 2 0 8

BATTING: RBI - C Pena (56), B Upton (33), C Crawford (52). 2-out RBI - B Upton.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Pena 2, G Norton 1. Team LOB - 4.


BASERUNNING: SB - C Crawford 2 (26, 2nd base off M Mussina/W Nieves 2).


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 000 -- 0
TAMPA BAY - 21 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
M Mussina 2 6 3 3 2 0 0 4.84

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
E Jackson 3 1 0 0 1 3 0 6.95

Pitches-strikes: M Mussina 42-25; E Jackson 42-25. Ground balls-fly balls: M
Mussina 1-4; E Jackson 2-4. Batters faced: M Mussina 13; E Jackson 11.

UMPIRES: HP--C.B. Bucknor. 1B--Joe West. 2B--Ed Rapuano. 3B--Ed Hickox.

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 1 0
TAMPA BAY 2 1 0 3 8 0 (TOP 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - MIKE MUSSINA
TAM - EDWIN JACKSON

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: B ABREU (.272, 0-FOR-2)
A RODRIGUEZ (.311, 0-FOR-1)
H MATSUI (.274, 0-FOR-1)</div>