GAME THREAD: AL: NY YANKEES (64-51) at CLEVELAND (65-51)

AL: NY YANKEES (64-51) at CLEVELAND (65-51)

<h3>Yankees try to remain perfect against Indians</h3>

<div class="pre">Ny Yankees (64-51) at Cleveland (65-51) 7:05 pm EDT</div>

CLEVELAND (Ticker) - The New York Yankees look to remain perfectagainst the Cleveland Indians when the teams continue athree-game series on Saturday.


On Friday, rookie Phil Hughes worked six outstanding inningsand Alex Rodriguez belted his major league-leading 37th homer,leading the Yankees to a 6-1 victory. New York improved to 4-0against Cleveland this season.


New York, which has won six of its last seven games overall, hasmoved into a virtual tie with Seattle (63-50) for the lead inthe American League wild card race.


Looking to continue their hot play, the Yankees send MikeMussina (7-7, 4.66) to the mound. The veteran righthander hasshowed signs of turning things around after a slow start,winning his last three starts.


Mussina is 1-1 with a 6.23 ERA in four career starts at JacobsField.


Cleveland has split its last 10 games, but holds a 1 1/2-gamelead over Detroit in the AL Central Division.


The Indians counter with Paul Byrd (10-4, 4.14), who pitched afour-hitter in beating Minnesota on Monday. The veteranrighthander, who is 3-0 since the All-Star break, is 6-2 at homethis season.


However, Byrd is only 1-3 in seven starts vs. the Yankees and hasn'tbeaten them since June 7, 1999, when he was with Philadelphia.

 

AL: NY YANKEES (64-51) at CLEVELAND (65-51)

<h3>Yankees try to remain perfect against Indians</h3>

<div class="pre">Ny Yankees (64-51) at Cleveland (65-51) 7:05 pm EDT</div>

CLEVELAND (Ticker) - The New York Yankees look to remain perfectagainst the Cleveland Indians when the teams continue athree-game series on Saturday.


On Friday, rookie Phil Hughes worked six outstanding inningsand Alex Rodriguez belted his major league-leading 37th homer,leading the Yankees to a 6-1 victory. New York improved to 4-0against Cleveland this season.


New York, which has won six of its last seven games overall, hasmoved into a virtual tie with Seattle (63-50) for the lead inthe American League wild card race.


Looking to continue their hot play, the Yankees send MikeMussina (7-7, 4.66) to the mound. The veteran righthander hasshowed signs of turning things around after a slow start,winning his last three starts.


Mussina is 1-1 with a 6.23 ERA in four career starts at JacobsField.


Cleveland has split its last 10 games, but holds a 1 1/2-gamelead over Detroit in the AL Central Division.


The Indians counter with Paul Byrd (10-4, 4.14), who pitched afour-hitter in beating Minnesota on Monday. The veteranrighthander, who is 3-0 since the All-Star break, is 6-2 at homethis season.


However, Byrd is only 1-3 in seven starts vs. the Yankees and hasn'tbeaten them since June 7, 1999, when he was with Philadelphia.

 

AL: NY YANKEES at CLEVELAND

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

NY YANKEES CLEVELAND
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Johnny Damon LF .257 6 42 Grady Sizemore CF .275 19 64
Derek Jeter SS .330 8 55 Kenny Lofton LF .296 7 25
Bobby Abreu RF .284 11 76 Victor Martinez 1B .302 18 80
Alex Rodriguez 3B .300 37 110 Ryan Garko DH .307 14 44
Hideki Matsui DH .292 23 81 Jhonny Peralta SS .280 17 59
Robinson Cano 2B .311 13 68 Casey Blake 3B .264 15 56
Melky Cabrera CF .301 7 49 Trot Nixon RF .253 3 31
Andy Phillips 1B .287 2 19 Kelly Shoppach C .281 5 20
Jose Molina C .214 0 12 Josh Barfield 2B .247 3 49

Mike Mussina RHP (7-7, 4.66) Paul Byrd RHP (10-4, 4.13)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND
WARMUPS: NYY - MIKE MUSSINA (7-7, 4.66)
CLE - PAUL BYRD (10-4, 4.13)

UMPIRES: HP - PAUL SCHRIEBER
1B - TIM MCCLELLAND
2B - ADAM DOWDY
3B - FIELDIN CULBRETH

WEATHER: 75 Degrees, partly cloudy
WIND: 8 mph, in from right</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND
STARTING BATS: NYY - MIKE MUSSINA AND JOSE MOLINA
CLE - PAUL BYRD AND KELLY SHOPPACH

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J DAMON (.257, 6 HR, 42 RBI)
D JETER (.330, 8 HR, 55 RBI)
B ABREU (.284, 11 HR, 76 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at CLEVELAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - MIKE MUSSINA
CLE - PAUL BYRD

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: G SIZEMORE (.275, 19 HR, 64 RBI)
K LOFTON (.296, 7 HR, 25 RBI)
V MARTINEZ (.302, 18 HR, 80 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (0) VS CLEVELAND (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 .256
D Jeter ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .331
B Abreu rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .283
A Rodriguez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .299
H Matsui dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
A Phillips 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
J Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 2

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
K Lofton lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296
V Martinez 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
R Garko dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
T Nixon rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


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

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
M Mussina 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.66

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.10

Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 16-12. Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd 0-3. Batters
faced: P Byrd 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Paul Schrieber. 1B--Tim Mcclelland. 2B--Adam Dowdy. 3B--Fieldin
Culbreth.

Weather: 75 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, in from right.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND
CONFIRMED STARTERS: NYY - MIKE MUSSINA
CLE - PAUL BYRD</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY VICTOR MARTINEZ SCORED GRADY SIZEMORE.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 0
CLEVELAND 1 BOTTOM, 1ST

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: R GARKO (.307, 14 HR, 44 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at CLEVELAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - MIKE MUSSINA
CLE - PAUL BYRD

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: H MATSUI (.292, 23 HR, 81 RBI)
R CANO (.311, 13 HR, 68 RBI)
M CABRERA (.301, 7 HR, 49 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (0) VS CLEVELAND (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 .256
D Jeter ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .331
B Abreu rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .283
A Rodriguez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .299
H Matsui dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
A Phillips 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
J Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 2

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .276
K Lofton lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296
V Martinez 1b 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .302
R Garko dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
T Nixon rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247

Totals 2 1 1 1 0 0 0

BATTING: S - K Lofton. SF - V Martinez. RBI - V Martinez (81). Team LOB - 0.


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

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
M Mussina 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 4.70

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.10

WP - M Mussina. Pitches-strikes: M Mussina 10-6; P Byrd 16-12. Ground
balls-fly balls: M Mussina 1-2; P Byrd 0-3. Batters faced: M Mussina 4; P Byrd
4.

UMPIRES: HP--Paul Schrieber. 1B--Tim Mcclelland. 2B--Adam Dowdy. 3B--Fieldin
Culbreth.

Weather: 75 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, in from right.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY MELKY CABRERA SCORED HIDEKI MATSUI.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, R CANO ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 1
CLEVELAND 1 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: A PHILLIPS (.287, 2 HR, 19 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY JOHNNY DAMON SCORED ROBINSON CANO AND ANDY
PHILLIPS.
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, J DAMON ON SECOND, J MOLINA ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 3
CLEVELAND 1 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: D JETER (.331, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY BOBBY ABREU SCORED JOSE MOLINA AND JOHNNY DAMON.

SITUATION: 5 RUNS IN, B ABREU ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 5
CLEVELAND 1 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: A RODRIGUEZ (.299, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY ALEX RODRIGUEZ (38) TO CENTER WITH 2
OUT IN THE 2ND OFF PAUL BYRD SCORED BOBBY ABREU.
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 7, CLEVELAND 1

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: H MATSUI (.294, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at CLEVELAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - MIKE MUSSINA
CLE - PAUL BYRD

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: J PERALTA (.280, 17 HR, 59 RBI)
C BLAKE (.264, 15 HR, 56 RBI)
T NIXON (.253, 3 HR, 31 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (7) VS CLEVELAND (1) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 2 1 1 2 0 0 0 .258
D Jeter ss 2 0 1 0 0 1 2 .330
B Abreu rf 2 1 1 2 0 0 1 .285
A Rodriguez 3b 2 1 1 2 0 0 1 .301
H Matsui dh 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .293
R Cano 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .313
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 .301
A Phillips 1b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .287
J Molina c 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .220

Totals 12 7 7 7 1 1 5

BATTING: 2B - R Cano (34, P Byrd); J Damon (18, P Byrd). HR - A Rodriguez (38,
2nd inning off P Byrd 1 on, 2 Out). SF - M Cabrera. RBI - M Cabrera (50), J
Damon 2 (44), B Abreu 2 (78), A Rodriguez 2 (112). 2-out RBI - B Abreu 2, A
Rodriguez 2. Team LOB - 1.


CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .276
K Lofton lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296
V Martinez 1b 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .302
R Garko dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
T Nixon rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247

Totals 2 1 1 1 0 0 0

BATTING: S - K Lofton. SF - V Martinez. RBI - V Martinez (81). Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 07 -- 7
CLEVELAND - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
M Mussina 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 4.70

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 2 7 7 7 1 1 1 4.53

WP - M Mussina. Pitches-strikes: M Mussina 10-6; P Byrd 56-35. Ground
balls-fly balls: M Mussina 1-2; P Byrd 1-4. Batters faced: M Mussina 4; P Byrd
14.

UMPIRES: HP--Paul Schrieber. 1B--Tim Mcclelland. 2B--Adam Dowdy. 3B--Fieldin
Culbreth.

Weather: 75 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, in from right.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at CLEVELAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - MIKE MUSSINA
CLE - PAUL BYRD

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: R CANO (.313, 1-FOR-1)
M CABRERA (.301, 0-FOR-0, SF, RBI)
A PHILLIPS (.287, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (7) VS CLEVELAND (1) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 2 1 1 2 0 0 0 .258
D Jeter ss 2 0 1 0 0 1 2 .330
B Abreu rf 2 1 1 2 0 0 1 .285
A Rodriguez 3b 2 1 1 2 0 0 1 .301
H Matsui dh 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .293
R Cano 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .313
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 .301
A Phillips 1b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .287
J Molina c 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .220

Totals 12 7 7 7 1 1 5

BATTING: 2B - R Cano (34, P Byrd); J Damon (18, P Byrd). HR - A Rodriguez (38,
2nd inning off P Byrd 1 on, 2 Out). SF - M Cabrera. RBI - M Cabrera (50), J
Damon 2 (44), B Abreu 2 (78), A Rodriguez 2 (112). 2-out RBI - B Abreu 2, A
Rodriguez 2. Team LOB - 1.


CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .276
K Lofton lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296
V Martinez 1b 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .302
R Garko dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .279
C Blake 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
T Nixon rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .255
K Shoppach c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .278
J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247

Totals 6 1 2 1 0 2 1

BATTING: S - K Lofton. SF - V Martinez. RBI - V Martinez (81). Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 07 -- 7
CLEVELAND - 10 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
M Mussina 2 2 1 1 0 2 0 4.65

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 2 7 7 7 1 1 1 4.53

WP - M Mussina. Pitches-strikes: M Mussina 22-16; P Byrd 56-35. Ground
balls-fly balls: M Mussina 1-3; P Byrd 1-4. Batters faced: M Mussina 8; P Byrd
14.

UMPIRES: HP--Paul Schrieber. 1B--Tim Mcclelland. 2B--Adam Dowdy. 3B--Fieldin
Culbreth.

Weather: 75 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, in from right.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - PITCHING CHANGE
CLE: TOM MASTNY (6-2, 4.60) STARTING THE 3RD
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 7, CLEVELAND 1

DUE UP FOR NYYANKEES: R CANO (.313, 1-FOR-1)</div>