GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: TAMPA BAY (45-74) at NY YANKEES (67-52)

AL: TAMPA BAY (45-74) at NY YANKEES (67-52)

<h3>Yankees try to stay in playoff picture vs. Devil Rays</h3>



<div class="pre">Tampa Bay (54-80) at Ny Yankees (75-59) 7:05 pm EDT</div>

BRONX, New York (Ticker) - Now that the New York Yankees sitatop the American League wild card race, they will look to staythere when they open a three-game series against the Tampa BayDevil Rays on Friday.


The Yankees are coming off a three-game sweep of the Boston RedSox (80-54) at Yankee Stadium. New York came into the serieseight games back of the first place Red Sox in the AmericanLeague East Division, but narrowed Boston's lead to five.

In addition to closing the gap in the East, the Yankees tookcontrol of the AL wild card race. New York sits one game aheadof the Seattle Mariners (75-59) and three games in front of theDetroit Tigers (72-62).


Rookie Phil Hughes (2-2, 5.35) will try to keep the Yankees inthe thick of the playoff race when he toes the rubber. Hugheshas been mediocre since returning to the rotation after anextended stay on the disabled list kept him out for three monthswith a hamstring and ankle injury.


Hughes is 1-1 since his return and has given up five runs ineach of his last two starts. During his last outing, Hughesgave up four hits, three of which were home runs, in six inningswhile suffering a 5-4 setback to the Tigers.


Rookie Andy Sonnanstine (3-9, 6.38) will take the mound for theDevil Rays. Sonnanstine is 2-1 in his last three starts and hadhis best showing of the season his last time out. The24-year-old righthander allowed two runs on five hits and struckout seven in five innings, as Tampa Bay prevailed, 7-4, againstthe Oakland Athletics on Sunday.


Sonnanstine has faced the Yankees this season, surrendering fiveruns on nine hits over 6 1/3 innings, en route to a 6-4 loss onJune 14.

 

AL: TAMPA BAY (55-80) at NY YANKEES (75-60)

<h3>Yankees send out yet another rookie on Saturday</h3>

<div class="pre">Tampa Bay (55-80) at NY Yankees (75-60) 1:05 pm EDT</div>

BRONX, New York (Ticker) - The New York Yankees havemixed-and-matched their rotation all season long. On Saturday,yet another young pitcher will throw his hat in the ring whenIan Kennedy makes his major league debut against the Tampa BayDevil Rays.


Kennedy (NR) will become the eighth different rookie to start agame - and the fifth one to make his major league debut - forthe Yankees this season, tying a 100-year-old franchise record.

The 2006 first-round pick appears to be New York's first choiceto replace the demoted Mike Mussina, who was skipped a start dueto a 0-3 record with a 17.69 ERA in his last three outings.

The 22-year-old righthander has pitched at three minor leaguelevels in the Yankee organization this campaign, compiling a12-3 record with a 1.91 ERA. He has also recorded 163strikeouts over 146 1/3 innings.


His opposition will be Edwin Jackson (4-12, 5.51 ERA), whoposted his first two-win month as a major leaguer when he went2-1 with a 2.45 ERA in five starts in August. In his last starton Monday, he surrendered four runs and nine hits over six-plusinnings in a 5-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox.


The righthander has pitched well in both of his two startsagainst New York this season, going 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA.Including four relief appearances over his five-year majorleague career, he is 1-0 with a 3.63 ERA lifetime vs. theYankees.


Despite a 9-1 loss in Friday's opener, New York remained onegame ahead of Seattle (73-60) in the American League wild cardafter the Mariners lost at the Toronto Blue Jays. The Yankeescontinue to trail the Boston Red Sox (80-55) by five games inthe AL East.

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at NY YANKEES

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

TAMPA BAY NY YANKEES
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Akinori Iwamura 3B .284 5 22 Melky Cabrera CF .294 8 58
Carl Crawford LF .313 10 73 Derek Jeter SS .325 9 59
Carlos Pena 1B .274 33 92 Bobby Abreu RF .285 15 88
B.J. Upton CF .313 21 68 Alex Rodriguez 3B .305 44 125
Delmon Young RF .293 10 71 Hideki Matsui LF .303 23 91
Brendan Harris 2B .285 8 52 Jason Giambi DH .256 12 29
Jonny Gomes DH .253 14 40 Robinson Cano 2B .301 16 76
Josh Wilson SS .264 1 18 Andy Phillips 1B .286 2 25
Josh Paul C .198 1 9 Jose Molina C .238 0 12

Edwin Jackson RHP (4-12, 5.51) Ian Kennedy RHP (NO RECORD)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES
WARMUPS: TAM - EDWIN JACKSON (4-12, 5.51)
NYY - IAN KENNEDY (NO RECORD)

UMPIRES: HP - KERWIN DANLEY
1B - DOUG EDDINGS
2B - MIKE EVERITT
3B - DANA DEMUTH

WEATHER: 77 Degrees, sunny
WIND: 8 mph, in from right</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES
STARTING BATS: TAM - EDWIN JACKSON AND JOSH PAUL
NYY - IAN KENNEDY AND JOSE MOLINA

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: A IWAMURA (.284, 5 HR, 22 RBI)
C CRAWFORD (.313, 10 HR, 73 RBI)
C PENA (.274, 33 HR, 92 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at NY YANKEES

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TAM - EDWIN JACKSON
NYY - IAN KENNEDY

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: M CABRERA (.294, 8 HR, 58 RBI)
D JETER (.325, 9 HR, 59 RBI)
B ABREU (.285, 15 HR, 88 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at NY YANKEES

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

TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313
C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
B Upton cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313
D Young rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
B Harris 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
J Gomes dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
J Paul c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .198

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
D Jeter ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .325
B Abreu rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
A Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305
H Matsui lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303
J Giambi dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
A Phillips 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
J Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


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

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
E Jackson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.51

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
I Kennedy 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00

Pitches-strikes: I Kennedy 6-5. Ground balls-fly balls: I Kennedy 1-2.
Batters faced: I Kennedy 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Kerwin Danley. 1B--Doug Eddings. 2B--Mike Everitt. 3B--Dana
Demuth.

Weather: 78 degrees, sunny. Wind: 16 mph, left to right.</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES
CONFIRMED STARTERS: TAM - EDWIN JACKSON
NYY - IAN KENNEDY</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY ALEX RODRIGUEZ (45) TO LEFT WITH 2 OUT
IN THE 1ST OFF EDWIN JACKSON SCORED BOBBY ABREU.
CURRENT SCORE: TAMPA BAY 0, NY YANKEES 2

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: H MATSUI (.303, 23 HR, 91 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at NY YANKEES

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TAM - EDWIN JACKSON
NYY - IAN KENNEDY

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: B UPTON (.313, 21 HR, 68 RBI)
D YOUNG (.293, 10 HR, 71 RBI)
B HARRIS (.285, 8 HR, 52 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at NY YANKEES

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

TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313
C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
B Upton cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313
D Young rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
B Harris 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
J Gomes dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
J Paul c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .198

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Cabrera cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
D Jeter ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .324
B Abreu rf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .285
A Rodriguez 3b 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .306
H Matsui lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
J Giambi dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
A Phillips 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
J Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238

Totals 4 2 1 2 1 0 0

BATTING: HR - A Rodriguez (45, 1st inning off E Jackson 1 on, 2 Out). RBI - A
Rodriguez 2 (127). 2-out RBI - A Rodriguez 2. Team LOB - 0.


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

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
E Jackson 1 1 2 2 1 0 1 5.61

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
I Kennedy 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00

Pitches-strikes: E Jackson 22-13; I Kennedy 6-5. Ground balls-fly balls: E
Jackson 2-1; I Kennedy 1-2. Batters faced: E Jackson 5; I Kennedy 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Kerwin Danley. 1B--Doug Eddings. 2B--Mike Everitt. 3B--Dana
Demuth.

Weather: 78 degrees, sunny. Wind: 16 mph, left to right.</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY JOSH WILSON SCORED DELMON YOUNG AND BRENDAN
HARRIS.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, J WILSON ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TAMPA BAY 2
NY YANKEES 2 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: J PAUL (.198, 1 HR, 9 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at NY YANKEES

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TAM - EDWIN JACKSON
NYY - IAN KENNEDY

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J GIAMBI (.256, 12 HR, 29 RBI)
R CANO (.301, 16 HR, 76 RBI)
A PHILLIPS (.286, 2 HR, 25 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at NY YANKEES

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

TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .282
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313
C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
B Upton cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312
D Young rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .294
B Harris 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .286
J Gomes dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .252
J Wilson ss 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .268
J Paul c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .198

Totals 9 2 3 2 1 2 4

BATTING: 2B - J Wilson (11, I Kennedy). RBI - J Wilson 2 (20). 2-out RBI - J
Wilson 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Iwamura 1. Team LOB - 2.



NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Cabrera cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
D Jeter ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .324
B Abreu rf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .285
A Rodriguez 3b 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .306
H Matsui lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
J Giambi dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
A Phillips 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
J Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238

Totals 4 2 1 2 1 0 0

BATTING: HR - A Rodriguez (45, 1st inning off E Jackson 1 on, 2 Out). RBI - A
Rodriguez 2 (127). 2-out RBI - A Rodriguez 2. Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: E - A Rodriguez (11, dropped foul ball).


----------------------------------------------------
TAMPA BAY - 02 -- 2
NY YANKEES - 2 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
E Jackson 1 1 2 2 1 0 1 5.61

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
I Kennedy 2 3 2 0 1 2 0 0.00

Pitches-strikes: E Jackson 22-13; I Kennedy 42-27. Ground balls-fly balls: E
Jackson 2-1; I Kennedy 1-3. Batters faced: E Jackson 5; I Kennedy 10.

UMPIRES: HP--Kerwin Danley. 1B--Doug Eddings. 2B--Mike Everitt. 3B--Dana
Demuth.

Weather: 78 degrees, sunny. Wind: 16 mph, left to right.</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at NY YANKEES

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TAM - EDWIN JACKSON
NYY - IAN KENNEDY

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: C CRAWFORD (.313, 0-FOR-1)
C PENA (.273, 0-FOR-1)
B UPTON (.312, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at NY YANKEES

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

TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .282
C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313
C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
B Upton cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312
D Young rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .294
B Harris 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .286
J Gomes dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .252
J Wilson ss 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .268
J Paul c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .198

Totals 9 2 3 2 1 2 4

BATTING: 2B - J Wilson (11, I Kennedy). RBI - J Wilson 2 (20). 2-out RBI - J
Wilson 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Iwamura 1. Team LOB - 2.



NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Cabrera cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
D Jeter ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .324
B Abreu rf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .285
A Rodriguez 3b 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .306
H Matsui lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
J Giambi dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
R Cano 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
A Phillips 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .290
J Molina c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .236

Totals 8 2 2 2 1 1 1

BATTING: HR - A Rodriguez (45, 1st inning off E Jackson 1 on, 2 Out). RBI - A
Rodriguez 2 (127). 2-out RBI - A Rodriguez 2. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: E - A Rodriguez (11, dropped foul ball).


----------------------------------------------------
TAMPA BAY - 02 -- 2
NY YANKEES - 20 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
E Jackson 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 5.56

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
I Kennedy 2 3 2 0 1 2 0 0.00

Pitches-strikes: E Jackson 34-22; I Kennedy 42-27. Ground balls-fly balls: E
Jackson 3-2; I Kennedy 1-3. Batters faced: E Jackson 9; I Kennedy 10.

UMPIRES: HP--Kerwin Danley. 1B--Doug Eddings. 2B--Mike Everitt. 3B--Dana
Demuth.

Weather: 78 degrees, sunny. Wind: 16 mph, left to right.</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL TAMPA BAY AT NY YANKEES
NOTE: TAMPA BAY LEFT FIELDER CARL CRAWFORD EXTENDED HIS
HITTING STREAK TO 10 GAMES WITH A SINGLE IN THE THIRD INNING.</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at NY YANKEES

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TAM - EDWIN JACKSON
NYY - IAN KENNEDY

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: M CABRERA (.294, 0-FOR-1)
D JETER (.324, 0-FOR-1)
B ABREU (.285, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">TAMPA BAY (2) VS NY YANKEES (2) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .282
C Crawford lf 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .314
C Pena 1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .272
B Upton cf 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .312
D Young rf 2 1 1 0 0 0 2 .293
B Harris 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .286
J Gomes dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .252
J Wilson ss 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .268
J Paul c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .198

Totals 12 2 4 2 2 2 7

BATTING: 2B - J Wilson (11, I Kennedy). RBI - J Wilson 2 (20). 2-out RBI - J
Wilson 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Iwamura 1. GIDP - D
Young. Team LOB - 3.

BASERUNNING: SB - C Crawford (45, 2nd base off I Kennedy/J Molina).


NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Cabrera cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
D Jeter ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .324
B Abreu rf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .285
A Rodriguez 3b 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .306
H Matsui lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
J Giambi dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
R Cano 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
A Phillips 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .290
J Molina c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .236

Totals 8 2 2 2 1 1 1

BATTING: HR - A Rodriguez (45, 1st inning off E Jackson 1 on, 2 Out). RBI - A
Rodriguez 2 (127). 2-out RBI - A Rodriguez 2. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: E - A Rodriguez (11, dropped foul ball). DP: 1 (D Jeter-A
Phillips).


----------------------------------------------------
TAMPA BAY - 020 -- 2
NY YANKEES - 20 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
E Jackson 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 5.56

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
I Kennedy 3 4 2 0 2 2 0 0.00

Pitches-strikes: E Jackson 34-22; I Kennedy 63-40. Ground balls-fly balls: E
Jackson 3-2; I Kennedy 3-4. Batters faced: E Jackson 9; I Kennedy 14.

UMPIRES: HP--Kerwin Danley. 1B--Doug Eddings. 2B--Mike Everitt. 3B--Dana
Demuth.

Weather: 78 degrees, sunny. Wind: 16 mph, left to right.</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at NY YANKEES

<div class="pre">AL AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
ERROR BY JOSH WILSON ALLOWED MELKY CABRERA TO SCORE.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, B ABREU ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TAMPA BAY 2
NY YANKEES 3 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: A RODRIGUEZ (.306, 1-FOR-1, HR, 2 RBI)</div>