GAME THREAD: AL: NY YANKEES (42-43) at TAMPA BAY (34-53)

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 1 0 3 1 1 0 1 0 7 10 0
TAMPA BAY 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 3 7 2 (BOT 9)

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - KYLE FARNSWORTH
TAM - BRIAN STOKES

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: J GOMES (.281, 1-FOR-2, SF, RBI)
D NAVARRO (.175, 0-FOR-2, SAC)
J WILSON (.270, 1-FOR-3, RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (7) VS TAMPA BAY (3) - MID 9TH - IN PROGRESS

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon dh 4 0 1 0 1 0 0 .245
M Cabrera cf 3 0 1 0 1 0 1 .276
D Jeter ss 5 1 1 1 0 0 3 .334
A Rodriguez 3b 3 3 1 1 1 0 1 .317
H Matsui lf 4 1 1 0 0 1 0 .273
J Posada c 3 0 1 1 1 0 1 .327
B Abreu rf 4 1 3 3 0 0 0 .270
R Cano 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 4 .271
A Phillips 1b 4 1 1 0 0 0 3 .310

Totals 34 7 10 6 4 2 13

BATTING: 2B - B Abreu (17, J Shields); H Matsui (20, J Shields); J Posada (26,
J Shields). HR - D Jeter (6, 4th inning off J Shields 0 on, 0 Out), A Rodriguez
(31, 4th inning off J Shields 0 on, 0 Out), B Abreu (6, 4th inning off J
Shields 0 on, 2 Out). S - M Cabrera. RBI - B Abreu 3 (44), D Jeter (45), A
Rodriguez (87), J Posada (49). 2-out RBI - B Abreu 2. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - A Phillips 2, A Rodriguez 1, R Cano 1. GIDP - D Jeter 2. Team
LOB - 5.

BASERUNNING: CS - J Damon (1, 2nd base by B Stokes/D Navarro), M Cabrera (2,
2nd base by J Shields/D Navarro).


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
C Crawford lf 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 .282
B Harris ss 4 2 2 0 0 0 1 .313
C Pena 1b 3 0 1 0 1 1 1 .288
D Young cf 4 0 2 0 0 0 2 .281
T Wigginton dh 3 0 0 1 0 3 6 .266
J Gomes rf 2 1 1 1 0 1 2 .281
D Navarro c 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .175
J Wilson 2b 3 0 1 1 0 1 0 .270

Totals 28 3 7 3 2 7 15

BATTING: 2B - J Wilson (6, A Pettitte); B Harris (19, A Pettitte). S - D
Navarro. SF - T Wigginton , J Gomes. RBI - J Wilson (4), J Gomes (23), T
Wigginton (43). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Wigginton 1, C
Crawford 1, J Gomes 1, D Navarro 1. Team LOB - 6.

FIELDING: E - A Iwamura (5, ground ball); J Wilson (6, catch). DP: 2 (J
Wilson-B Harris-C Pena, B Harris-J Wilson-C Pena).


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 010 311 010 -- 7
TAMPA BAY - 001 101 00 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
A Pettitte 5 2/3 6 3 3 1 4 0 4.27
L Vizcaino 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 2 0 4.87
K Farnsworth 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 4.33

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Shields 6 9 6 5 1 2 3 3.98
C Fossum 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 7.40
J Switzer 1/3 0 1 1 1 0 0 27.00
J Hammel 2/3 1 0 0 1 0 0 6.23
B Stokes 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 6.52

WP - J Switzer. Pitches-strikes: A Pettitte 102-63; L Vizcaino 17-11; K
Farnsworth 14-9; J Shields 93-60; C Fossum 8-6; J Switzer 11-5; J Hammel 19-12;
B Stokes 14-8. Ground balls-fly balls: A Pettitte 7-6; L Vizcaino 2-0; K
Farnsworth 0-2; J Shields 9-7; C Fossum 2-1; J Switzer 0-1; J Hammel 1-1; B
Stokes 0-2. Batters faced: A Pettitte 24; L Vizcaino 4; K Farnsworth 5; J
Shields 27; C Fossum 3; J Switzer 2; J Hammel 4; B Stokes 3.

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

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - PITCHING CHANGE
NYY: MARIANO RIVERA (2-3, 3.71) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 7, TAMPA BAY 3

DUE UP FOR TAMPABAY: J GOMES (.281, 1-FOR-2, RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: M Rivera relieved K Farnsworth.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 7
TAMPA BAY 3 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: J Gomes (.281, 1-FOR-2, RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: R Casanova hit for D Navarro.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 7
TAMPA BAY 3 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: R Casanova (.268, 4 HR, 8 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
NY YANKEES 0 1 0 3 1 1 0 1 0 7 10 0
TAMPA BAY 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 3 7 2 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: NYY - ANDY PETTITTE, LUIS VIZCAINO (6TH), KYLE FARNSWORTH (8TH),
MARIANO RIVERA (9TH) AND JORGE POSADA

TAM - JAMES SHIELDS, CASEY FOSSUM (7TH), JON SWITZER
(8TH), JASON HAMMEL (8TH), BRIAN STOKES (9TH) AND DIONER
NAVARRO

HOME RUNS: NYY - DEREK JETER (6) OFF JAMES SHIELDS IN THE 4TH, 0 ON
ALEX RODRIGUEZ (31) OFF JAMES SHIELDS IN THE 4TH, 0 ON
BOBBY ABREU (6) OFF JAMES SHIELDS IN THE 4TH, 0 ON

TAM - NONE</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
NY YANKEES 0 1 0 3 1 1 0 1 0 7 10 0
TAMPA BAY 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 3 7 2 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: NYY - ANDY PETTITTE, LUIS VIZCAINO (6TH), KYLE FARNSWORTH (8TH),
MARIANO RIVERA (9TH) AND JORGE POSADA

TAM - JAMES SHIELDS, CASEY FOSSUM (7TH), JON SWITZER
(8TH), JASON HAMMEL (8TH), BRIAN STOKES (9TH) AND DIONER
NAVARRO


WP - ANDY PETTITTE (5-6)
LP - JAMES SHIELDS (7-5)
SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS: NYY - DEREK JETER (6) OFF JAMES SHIELDS IN THE 4TH, 0 ON
ALEX RODRIGUEZ (31) OFF JAMES SHIELDS IN THE 4TH, 0 ON
BOBBY ABREU (6) OFF JAMES SHIELDS IN THE 4TH, 0 ON

TAM - NONE


TIME: 3:03 ATT: 21,907

PROBABLES: NYY - ROGER CLEMENS (2-3, 3.63)
TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR (5-6, 4.41)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (7) VS TAMPA BAY (3) - FINAL

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon dh 4 0 1 0 1 0 0 .245
M Cabrera cf 3 0 1 0 1 0 1 .276
D Jeter ss 5 1 1 1 0 0 3 .334
A Rodriguez 3b 3 3 1 1 1 0 1 .317
H Matsui lf 4 1 1 0 0 1 0 .273
J Posada c 3 0 1 1 1 0 1 .327
B Abreu rf 4 1 3 3 0 0 0 .270
R Cano 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 4 .271
A Phillips 1b 4 1 1 0 0 0 3 .310

Totals 34 7 10 6 4 2 13

BATTING: 2B - B Abreu (17, J Shields); H Matsui (20, J Shields); J Posada (26,
J Shields). HR - D Jeter (6, 4th inning off J Shields 0 on, 0 Out), A Rodriguez
(31, 4th inning off J Shields 0 on, 0 Out), B Abreu (6, 4th inning off J
Shields 0 on, 2 Out). S - M Cabrera. RBI - B Abreu 3 (44), D Jeter (45), A
Rodriguez (87), J Posada (49). 2-out RBI - B Abreu 2. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - A Phillips 2, A Rodriguez 1, R Cano 1. GIDP - D Jeter 2. Team
LOB - 5.

BASERUNNING: CS - J Damon (1, 2nd base by B Stokes/D Navarro), M Cabrera (2,
2nd base by J Shields/D Navarro).


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
C Crawford lf 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 .282
B Harris ss 4 2 2 0 0 0 1 .313
C Pena 1b 3 0 1 0 1 1 1 .288
D Young cf 4 0 2 0 0 0 2 .281
T Wigginton dh 3 0 0 1 0 3 6 .266
J Gomes rf 3 1 1 1 0 2 2 .279
D Navarro c 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .175
a-R Casanova ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262
J Wilson 2b 4 0 1 1 0 2 0 .266

Totals 31 3 7 3 2 9 15

a-grounded to first for D Navarro in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - J Wilson (6, A Pettitte); B Harris (19, A Pettitte). S - D
Navarro. SF - T Wigginton , J Gomes. RBI - J Wilson (4), J Gomes (23), T
Wigginton (43). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Wigginton 1, C
Crawford 1, J Gomes 1, D Navarro 1. Team LOB - 6.

FIELDING: E - A Iwamura (5, ground ball); J Wilson (6, catch). DP: 2 (J
Wilson-B Harris-C Pena, B Harris-J Wilson-C Pena).


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 010 311 010 -- 7
TAMPA BAY - 001 101 000 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
A Pettitte (W, 5-6) 5 2/3 6 3 3 1 4 0 4.27
L Vizcaino (H, 3) 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 2 0 4.87
K Farnsworth 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 4.33
M Rivera 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.60

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Shields (L, 7-5) 6 9 6 5 1 2 3 3.98
C Fossum 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 7.40
J Switzer 1/3 0 1 1 1 0 0 27.00
J Hammel 2/3 1 0 0 1 0 0 6.23
B Stokes 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 6.52

WP - J Switzer. Pitches-strikes: A Pettitte 102-63; L Vizcaino 17-11; K
Farnsworth 14-9; M Rivera 12-9; J Shields 93-60; C Fossum 8-6; J Switzer 11-5;
J Hammel 19-12; B Stokes 14-8. Ground balls-fly balls: A Pettitte 7-6; L
Vizcaino 2-0; K Farnsworth 0-2; M Rivera 1-0; J Shields 9-7; C Fossum 2-1; J
Switzer 0-1; J Hammel 1-1; B Stokes 0-2. Batters faced: A Pettitte 24; L
Vizcaino 4; K Farnsworth 5; M Rivera 3; J Shields 27; C Fossum 3; J Switzer 2;
J Hammel 4; B Stokes 3.

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

T--3:03. Att--21,907.
Weather: INDOORS</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
NY YANKEES 7
TAMPA BAY 3 FINAL</div>

 

Rodriguez, Jeter shine as Yankees beat Devil Rays

<h3>NY YANKEES 7, TAMPA BAY 3</h3>ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- Alex Rodriguez, Bobby Abreuand Derek Jeter all homered in the fourth inning as the New YorkYankees kicked off the second half of the season with a 7-3victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Thursday.

New York snapped a 1-1 tie in the fourth, when Jeter belted aleadoff homer - his sixth - and Rodriguez followed with hismajor-league leading 31st blast off Tampa Bay starter JamesShields (7-5). Abreu's solo shot two batters later capped thethree-run uprising as the Yankees went ahead for good.

The Yankees opened the scoring in the second as Rodriguezreached on third baseman Akinori Iwamura's fielding error andlater scored on Abreu's double to right.


Rodriguez told the media earlier Thursday that he would notnegotiate with the Yankees until the end this season. OnWednesday, New York decided it would break tradition and try towork out a contract extension with former American League MVPduring the year.


According to Rodriguez's agent Scott Boras, the slugger isexpected to make as least $30 million a season if he opts out ofhis current deal. The All-Star third baseman has 3 1/2 yearsleft on his record 10-year, $252 million contract.

Jeter, who went 1-of-3 in Tuesday's All-Star Game, helped pushthe advantage to 5-2 in the fifth with a bases-loaded RBIgroundout, scoring


Andy Phillips, who singled to lead off the fifth, scored on adouble-play grounder by Jeter to give the Yankees a 5-1 bulge.Jorge Posada plated a run in the sixth with a double and Abreucompleted a three-RBI performance by driving in Rodriguez with asingle in the eighth.


Yankees starter Andy Pettitte (5-6) allowed three runs and sixhits in 5 2/3 innings for his first win since June 14 againstArizona. He struck out four and walked one in improving to 12-1all time against Tampa Bay.


Shields gave up six runs and nine hits in six frames. He fellto just 1-5 over his last six starts and remained winless infour lifetime outings against New York.


Ty Wigginton, Jonny Gomes and Josh Wilson each had an RBI forthe Devil Rays, who have managed just one win since June 25,going 1-14 during that stretch.

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NY YANKEES (7) AT TAMPA BAY (3) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NY YANKEES 2ND: A Rodriguez safe at first on error by third baseman
A Iwamura. H Matsui grounded out to pitcher, A Rodriguez to second. J Posada
fouled out to third. B Abreu doubled to deep right, A Rodriguez scored.
R Cano flied out to left. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 Error) NY YANKEES 1, TAMPA BAY 0.

TAMPA BAY 3RD: J Gomes singled to left. D Navarro sacrificed to first,
J Gomes to second. J Wilson doubled to left, J Gomes scored. A Iwamura grounded
out to second, J Wilson to third. C Crawford grounded out to first. (1 Run,
2 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 1, TAMPA BAY 1.

NY YANKEES 4TH: D Jeter homered to center. A Rodriguez homered to left.
H Matsui struck out swinging. J Posada flied out to center. B Abreu homered to
center. R Cano struck out swinging. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 4,
TAMPA BAY 1.

TAMPA BAY 4TH: B Harris doubled to deep center. C Pena walked. D Young
singled to right, B Harris to third, C Pena to second. T Wigginton struck out
looking. J Gomes hit sacrifice fly to right, B Harris scored, C Pena to third.
D Navarro struck out looking. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 4,
TAMPA BAY 2.

NY YANKEES 5TH: A Phillips singled to center. J Damon singled to left,
A Phillips to second. M Cabrera sacrificed to catcher, A Phillips to third,
J Damon to second, M Cabrera safe at first on error by second baseman J Wilson,
A Phillips to third. D Jeter grounded into double play, shortstop to second
to first, A Phillips scored, M Cabrera out at second, J Damon to third.
A Rodriguez fouled out to first. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 1 Error) NY YANKEES 5,
TAMPA BAY 2.

NY YANKEES 6TH: H Matsui doubled to right center. J Posada doubled to
right, H Matsui scored. B Abreu grounded out to second, J Posada to third.
R Cano grounded out to second. A Phillips grounded out to pitcher. (1 Run,
2 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 6, TAMPA BAY 2.

TAMPA BAY 6TH: B Harris singled to center. C Pena flied out to center.
D Young singled to center, B Harris to third, D Young to second advancing on
throw. T Wigginton hit sacrifice fly to center, B Harris scored. L Vizcaino
relieved A Pettitte. J Gomes struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
NY YANKEES 6, TAMPA BAY 3.

NY YANKEES 8TH: J Switzer relieved C Fossum. A Rodriguez walked.
A Rodriguez to second on wild pitch by J Switzer. H Matsui flied out to center,
A Rodriguez to third. J Hammel relieved J Switzer. J Posada walked. B Abreu
reached on infield single to shortstop, A Rodriguez scored, J Posada to third.
R Cano flied out to right. A Phillips grounded out to third. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) NY YANKEES 7, TAMPA BAY 3.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NY YANKEES (7) AT TAMPA BAY (3) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ny Yankees Starting Lineups -- J Damon DH, M Cabrera CF, D Jeter SS,
A Rodriguez 3B, H Matsui LF, J Posada C, B Abreu RF, R Cano 2B, A Phillips 1B,
A Pettitte LHP.

Tampa Bay Starting Lineups -- A Iwamura 3B, C Crawford LF, B Harris SS,
C Pena 1B, D Young CF, T Wigginton DH, J Gomes RF, D Navarro C, J Wilson 2B,
J Shields RHP.

Umpires -- Joe West (HP), Ed Rapuano (1B), Ed Hickox (2B), C.B. Bucknor (3B).


Gametime Weather: INDOORS.


NY YANKEES 1ST: J Damon lined out to shortstop. M Cabrera walked. D Jeter
grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, M Cabrera out at
second.(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 0, TAMPA BAY 0.

TAMPA BAY 1ST: A Iwamura popped out to second. C Crawford grounded out to
second. B Harris grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
NY YANKEES 0, TAMPA BAY 0.

NY YANKEES 2ND: A Rodriguez safe at first on error by third baseman
A Iwamura. H Matsui grounded out to pitcher, A Rodriguez to second. J Posada
fouled out to third. B Abreu doubled to deep right, A Rodriguez scored.
R Cano flied out to left. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 Error) NY YANKEES 1, TAMPA BAY 0.

TAMPA BAY 2ND: C Pena struck out swinging. D Young popped out to second.
T Wigginton struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 1,
TAMPA BAY 0.

NY YANKEES 3RD: A Phillips lined out to left. J Damon lined out to second.
M Cabrera reached on bunt single to catcher. M Cabrera caught stealing
second, catcher to second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 1, TAMPA BAY 0.

TAMPA BAY 3RD: J Gomes singled to left. D Navarro sacrificed to first,
J Gomes to second. J Wilson doubled to left, J Gomes scored. A Iwamura grounded
out to second, J Wilson to third. C Crawford grounded out to first. (1 Run,
2 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 1, TAMPA BAY 1.

NY YANKEES 4TH: D Jeter homered to center. A Rodriguez homered to left.
H Matsui struck out swinging. J Posada flied out to center. B Abreu homered to
center. R Cano struck out swinging. (3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 4,
TAMPA BAY 1.

TAMPA BAY 4TH: B Harris doubled to deep center. C Pena walked. D Young
singled to right, B Harris to third, C Pena to second. T Wigginton struck out
looking. J Gomes hit sacrifice fly to right, B Harris scored, C Pena to third.
D Navarro struck out looking. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 4, TAMPA BAY 2.

NY YANKEES 5TH: A Phillips singled to center. J Damon singled to left,
A Phillips to second. M Cabrera sacrificed to catcher, A Phillips to third,
J Damon to second, M Cabrera safe at first on error by second baseman J Wilson,
A Phillips. D Jeter grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first,
A Phillips scored, M Cabrera out at second, J Damon to third. A Rodriguez
fouled out to first. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 1 Error) NY YANKEES 5, TAMPA BAY 2.

TAMPA BAY 5TH: J Wilson flied out to right. A Iwamura grounded out to
third. C Crawford grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
NY YANKEES 5, TAMPA BAY 2.

NY YANKEES 6TH: H Matsui doubled to right center. J Posada doubled to
right, H Matsui scored. B Abreu grounded out to second, J Posada to third.
R Cano grounded out to second. A Phillips grounded out to pitcher. (1 Run,
2 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 6, TAMPA BAY 2.

TAMPA BAY 6TH: B Harris singled to center. C Pena flied out to center.
D Young singled to center, B Harris to third, D Young to second advancing on
throw. T Wigginton hit sacrifice fly to center, B Harris scored. L Vizcaino
relieved A Pettitte. J Gomes struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
NY YANKEES 6, TAMPA BAY 3.

NY YANKEES 7TH: C Fossum relieved J Shields. J Damon bunt grounded out to
pitcher. M Cabrera grounded out to second. D Jeter lined out to shortstop.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 6, TAMPA BAY 3.

TAMPA BAY 7TH: D Navarro grounded out to first. J Wilson struck out
swinging. A Iwamura grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
NY YANKEES 6, TAMPA BAY 3.

NY YANKEES 8TH: J Switzer relieved C Fossum. A Rodriguez walked.
A Rodriguez to second on wild pitch by J Switzer. H Matsui flied out to center,
A Rodriguez to third. J Hammel relieved J Switzer. J Posada walked. B Abreu
reached on infield single to shortstop, A Rodriguez scored, J Posada to third.
R Cano flied out to right. A Phillips grounded out to third. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) NY YANKEES 7, TAMPA BAY 3.

TAMPA BAY 8TH: K Farnsworth relieved L Vizcaino. C Crawford walked.
B Harris fouled out to catcher. C Pena singled to right, C Crawford to second.
D Young flied out to right. T Wigginton struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) NY YANKEES 7, TAMPA BAY 3.

NY YANKEES 9TH: B Stokes relieved J Hammel. J Damon walked. M Cabrera
flied out to center. D Jeter flied out to center. J Damon caught stealing
second, catcher to second.(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 7, TAMPA BAY 3.

TAMPA BAY 9TH: M Rivera relieved K Farnsworth. J Gomes struck out swinging.
R Casanova hit for D Navarro. R Casanova grounded out to first. J Wilson
struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 7, TAMPA BAY 3.</div>

 

Rodriguez, Jeter shine as Yankees beat Devil Rays

<h3>NY YANKEES 7, TAMPA BAY 3</h3>ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- Alex Rodriguez, Bobby Abreuand Derek Jeter all homered in the fourth inning as the New YorkYankees kicked off the second half of the season with a 7-3victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Thursday.

New York snapped a 1-1 tie in the fourth, when Jeter belted aleadoff homer - his sixth - and Rodriguez followed with hismajor-league leading 31st blast off Tampa Bay starter JamesShields (7-5). Abreu's solo shot two batters later capped thethree-run uprising as the Yankees went ahead for good.

"You never really know what to expect," said Yankees manager JoeTorre, whose team improved its record this season to 43-43."We played a clean game, and that's what's most important cominginto the second half. We did some fundamentally sound thingstonight. You can't get above .500 until you get to it."

The Yankees opened the scoring in the second as Rodriguezreached on third baseman Akinori Iwamura's fielding error andlater scored on Abreu's double to right.


Rodriguez told the media earlier Thursday that he would notnegotiate with the Yankees until the end this season. OnWednesday, New York decided it would break tradition and try towork out a contract extension with the former American LeagueMVP during the year.


According to Rodriguez's agent Scott Boras, the slugger isexpected to make as least $30 million a season if he opts out ofhis current deal. The All-Star third baseman has 3 1/2 yearsleft on his record 10-year, $252 million contract.

"Like I've said all year, I think it's something we'll do at theend of the year," Rodriguez said. "I think it would be selfishon my part to talk about my contract status when our teamdesperately needs wins. My goal is to win as any games as wecan, focus on my teammates and really play at a real high levelin the second half."


Jeter, who went 1-of-3 in Tuesday's All-Star Game, helped pushthe advantage to 5-2 in the fifth with a bases-loaded RBIgroundout, scoring Andy Phillips, who singled to lead off theinning.


Jorge Posada plated a run in the sixth with a double and Abreucompleted a three-RBI performance by driving in Rodriguez with asingle in the eighth.


Abreu was the only Yankee with multiple hits, going 3-for-4.

"I feel like I'm doing the best to try to help the team," Abreusaid. "Whatever I have to do to win the game. I feel morerelaxed in the box. I normally hit from behind in the count.I've felt good over the last 10 days."


Yankees starter Andy Pettitte (5-6) allowed three runs and sixhits in 5 2/3 innings for his first win since June 14 againstArizona. He struck out four and walked one in improving to 12-1all time against Tampa Bay.


"Obviously, I'd have loved to go deeper in the game," Pettittesaid. "But it was a win, so I feel better about it. I'm stilla little out of sync. Wins are good, they make you sleep a lotbetter at night."


"It is a fresh start," Rodriguez added. "Every game is a biggame for us. This serves a couple of purposes. It shows we canwin on the road and it was good for Andy's psyche to get awin."


Shields gave up six runs and nine hits in six frames. He fellto just 1-5 over his last six starts and remained winless infour lifetime outings against New York.


"You can't make mistakes," Shields said. "You can't fall downin the count. It is an All-Star team. One through nine,they're one of the best in the league. They hit my mistakes."

Ty Wigginton, Jonny Gomes and Josh Wilson each had an RBI forthe Devil Rays, who have managed just one win since June 25,going 1-14 during that stretch.


"It's just one game in the second half," Tampa Bay manager JoeMaddon said. "We'll come back (Friday) and play hard."