GAME THREAD: AL: NY YANKEES (78-62) at KANSAS CITY (62-77)

AL: NY YANKEES (78-62) at KANSAS CITY (62-77)

<h3>Kennedy makes second start for Yankees</h3>

<div class="pre">Ny Yankees (78-62) at Kansas City (62-77) 8:10 pm EDT</div>

<div class="pre">KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) - Ian Kennedy hopes to build</div>upon a successful major league debut when he takes the mound forthe New York Yankees against the Kansas City Royals on Friday.

Recalled from the minors to replace the struggling Mike Mussinain the rotation, the 22-year-old Kennedy (1-0, 1.29 ERA) beatTampa Bay in his first start on Saturday. The righthander gaveup three runs - one earned - and five hits in seven innings.

Alex Rodriguez hit a pair of home runs during an eight-runseventh inning as the Yankees posted a 10-2 win over Seattle onWednesday.


Backed by Rodriguez, who leads the majors in homers (48) and RBI(134), the Yankees have a three-game lead over Seattle (74-64)and Detroit (75-65) in the American League wild card race.

Rodriguez has 512 career homers, tying him for 17th on theall-time list with Ernie Banks and Eddie Mathews.


Gil Meche (7-12, 3.85) hopes to slow down Rodriguez when he toesthe rubber for the Royals. The righthander enters in the midstof a career-high six-game losing streak.


The Yankees have won six of the seven meetings between the teamsthis season.

 

AL: NY YANKEES at KANSAS CITY

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

NY YANKEES KANSAS CITY
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Johnny Damon LF .256 9 52 Joey Gathright LF .318 0 16
Derek Jeter SS .320 9 62 Mark Grudzielanek 2B .305 5 45
Bobby Abreu RF .288 16 91 Ross Gload 1B .300 7 47
Alex Rodriguez 3B .312 48 134 Billy Butler DH .300 6 44
Hideki Matsui DH .296 23 91 Mark Teahen RF .290 6 54
Jorge Posada C .337 18 81 David Dejesus CF .269 6 54
Jason Giambi 1B .249 12 30 Alex Gordon 3B .250 14 54
Robinson Cano 2B .301 16 79 Jason Smith SS .200 5 14
Melky Cabrera CF .293 8 62 John Buck C .231 18 47

Ian Kennedy RHP (1-0, 1.29) Gil Meche RHP (7-12, 3.85)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY
WARMUPS: NYY - IAN KENNEDY (1-0, 1.29)
KAN - GIL MECHE (7-12, 3.85)

UMPIRES: HP - MARTY FOSTER
1B - PAUL SCHRIEBER
2B - FIELDIN CULBRETH
3B - TRAVIS REININGER

WEATHER: 81 Degrees, clear
WIND: 4 mph, left to right</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY
STARTING BATS: NYY - IAN KENNEDY AND JORGE POSADA
KAN - GIL MECHE AND JOHN BUCK

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J DAMON (.256, 9 HR, 52 RBI)
D JETER (.320, 9 HR, 62 RBI)
B ABREU (.288, 16 HR, 91 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at KANSAS CITY

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - IAN KENNEDY
KAN - GIL MECHE

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: J GATHRIGHT (.318, 0 HR, 16 RBI)
M GRUDZIELANEK (.305, 5 HR, 45 RBI)
R GLOAD (.300, 7 HR, 47 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (0) VS KANSAS CITY (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 0 0 0 0 0 .320
B Abreu rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .288
A Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312
H Matsui dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296
J Posada c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .337
J Giambi 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Gathright lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .318
M Grudzielanek 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305
R Gload 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
B Butler dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
M Teahen rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
D DeJesus cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269
A Gordon 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
J Smith ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
J Buck c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 0 -- 0
KANSAS CITY - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
I Kennedy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.29

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
G Meche 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.83

Pitches-strikes: G Meche 16-10. Ground balls-fly balls: G Meche 2-0. Batters
faced: G Meche 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Marty Foster. 1B--Paul Schrieber. 2B--Fieldin Culbreth.
3B--Travis Reininger.

Weather: 81 degrees, clear. Wind: 4 mph, left to right.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY
CONFIRMED STARTERS: NYY - IAN KENNEDY
KAN - GIL MECHE</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at KANSAS CITY

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - IAN KENNEDY
KAN - GIL MECHE

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: A RODRIGUEZ (.312, 48 HR, 134 RBI)
H MATSUI (.296, 23 HR, 91 RBI)
J POSADA (.337, 18 HR, 81 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (0) VS KANSAS CITY (0) - 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 0 0 0 0 0 .320
B Abreu rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .288
A Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312
H Matsui dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296
J Posada c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .337
J Giambi 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Gathright lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .318
M Grudzielanek 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304
R Gload 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .300
B Butler dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .299
M Teahen rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .290
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .268
A Gordon 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
J Smith ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
J Buck c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231

Totals 3 0 0 0 3 0 4

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D DeJesus 2. Team LOB - 3.



----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 0 -- 0
KANSAS CITY - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
I Kennedy 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 1.12

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
G Meche 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.83

Pitches-strikes: I Kennedy 24-11; G Meche 16-10. Ground balls-fly balls: I
Kennedy 1-2; G Meche 2-0. Batters faced: I Kennedy 6; G Meche 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Marty Foster. 1B--Paul Schrieber. 2B--Fieldin Culbreth.
3B--Travis Reininger.

Weather: 79 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, left to right.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY ALEX RODRIGUEZ (49) TO LEFT WITH 0 OUT IN
THE 2ND OFF GIL MECHE.
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 1, KANSAS CITY 0

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: H MATSUI (.296, 23 HR, 91 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY JORGE POSADA (19) TO RIGHT WITH 1 OUT IN
THE 2ND OFF GIL MECHE.
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 2, KANSAS CITY 0

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J GIAMBI (.249, 12 HR, 30 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at KANSAS CITY

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - IAN KENNEDY
KAN - GIL MECHE

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: A GORDON (.250, 14 HR, 54 RBI)
J SMITH (.200, 5 HR, 14 RBI)
J BUCK (.231, 18 HR, 47 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (2) VS KANSAS CITY (0) - MID 2ND - 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 0 0 0 0 0 .320
B Abreu rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .288
A Rodriguez 3b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .313
H Matsui dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296
J Posada c 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .339
J Giambi 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
R Cano 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293

Totals 8 2 2 2 0 1 0

BATTING: HR - A Rodriguez (49, 2nd inning off G Meche 0 on, 0 Out), J Posada
(19, 2nd inning off G Meche 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - A Rodriguez (135), J Posada
(82). Team LOB - 0.


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Gathright lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .318
M Grudzielanek 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304
R Gload 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .300
B Butler dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .299
M Teahen rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .290
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .268
A Gordon 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
J Smith ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
J Buck c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231

Totals 3 0 0 0 3 0 4

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D DeJesus 2. Team LOB - 3.



----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 02 -- 2
KANSAS CITY - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
I Kennedy 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 1.12

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
G Meche 2 2 2 2 0 1 2 3.91

Pitches-strikes: I Kennedy 24-11; G Meche 36-23. Ground balls-fly balls: I
Kennedy 1-2; G Meche 5-0. Batters faced: I Kennedy 6; G Meche 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Marty Foster. 1B--Paul Schrieber. 2B--Fieldin Culbreth.
3B--Travis Reininger.

Weather: 79 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, left to right.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JASON SMITH SCORED ALEX GORDON.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J SMITH ON FIRST, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 2
KANSAS CITY 1 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: J BUCK (.231, 18 HR, 47 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY MARK GRUDZIELANEK SCORED JASON SMITH.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M GRUDZIELANEK ON FIRST, J BUCK ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 2
KANSAS CITY 2 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: R GLOAD (.300, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at KANSAS CITY

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - IAN KENNEDY
KAN - GIL MECHE

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: M CABRERA (.293, 8 HR, 62 RBI)
J DAMON (.256, 0-FOR-1)
D JETER (.320, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (2) VS KANSAS CITY (2) - END 2ND - 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 0 0 0 0 0 .320
B Abreu rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .288
A Rodriguez 3b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .313
H Matsui dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296
J Posada c 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .339
J Giambi 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
R Cano 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293

Totals 8 2 2 2 0 1 0

BATTING: HR - A Rodriguez (49, 2nd inning off G Meche 0 on, 0 Out), J Posada
(19, 2nd inning off G Meche 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - A Rodriguez (135), J Posada
(82). Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: PB - J Posada.


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Gathright lf 1 0 0 0 1 1 2 .316
M Grudzielanek 2b 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .306
R Gload 1b 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 .299
B Butler dh 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 .298
M Teahen rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .290
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .268
A Gordon 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .252
J Smith ss 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .208
J Buck c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .233

Totals 10 2 4 2 3 1 10

BATTING: 2B - A Gordon (30, I Kennedy). RBI - J Smith (15), M Grudzielanek
(46). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D DeJesus 2, B Butler 1. Team
LOB - 5.


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 02 -- 2
KANSAS CITY - 02 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
I Kennedy 2 4 2 2 3 1 0 3.00

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
G Meche 2 2 2 2 0 1 2 3.91

Pitches-strikes: I Kennedy 49-28; G Meche 36-23. Ground balls-fly balls: I
Kennedy 1-4; G Meche 5-0. Batters faced: I Kennedy 13; G Meche 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Marty Foster. 1B--Paul Schrieber. 2B--Fieldin Culbreth.
3B--Travis Reininger.

Weather: 79 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, left to right.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at KANSAS CITY

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - IAN KENNEDY
KAN - GIL MECHE

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: M TEAHEN (.290, 0-FOR-0, BB)
D DEJESUS (.268, 0-FOR-1)
A GORDON (.252, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at KANSAS CITY

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

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .255
D Jeter ss 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .319
B Abreu rf 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .287
A Rodriguez 3b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .313
H Matsui dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296
J Posada c 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .339
J Giambi 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
R Cano 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
M Cabrera cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .294

Totals 12 2 3 2 0 2 3

BATTING: HR - A Rodriguez (49, 2nd inning off G Meche 0 on, 0 Out), J Posada
(19, 2nd inning off G Meche 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - A Rodriguez (135), J Posada
(82). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Abreu 1. Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: SB - M Cabrera (13, 2nd base off G Meche/J Buck).

FIELDING: PB - J Posada.


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Gathright lf 1 0 0 0 1 1 2 .316
M Grudzielanek 2b 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .306
R Gload 1b 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 .299
B Butler dh 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 .298
M Teahen rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .290
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .268
A Gordon 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .252
J Smith ss 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .208
J Buck c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .233

Totals 10 2 4 2 3 1 10

BATTING: 2B - A Gordon (30, I Kennedy). RBI - J Smith (15), M Grudzielanek
(46). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D DeJesus 2, B Butler 1. Team
LOB - 5.


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 020 -- 2
KANSAS CITY - 02 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
I Kennedy 2 4 2 2 3 1 0 3.00

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
G Meche 3 3 2 2 0 2 2 3.88

Pitches-strikes: I Kennedy 49-28; G Meche 49-32. Ground balls-fly balls: I
Kennedy 1-4; G Meche 5-2. Batters faced: I Kennedy 13; G Meche 12.

UMPIRES: HP--Marty Foster. 1B--Paul Schrieber. 2B--Fieldin Culbreth.
3B--Travis Reininger.

Weather: 79 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, left to right.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at KANSAS CITY

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - IAN KENNEDY
KAN - GIL MECHE

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: A RODRIGUEZ (.313, 1-FOR-1, HR, RBI)
H MATSUI (.296, 0-FOR-1)
J POSADA (.339, 1-FOR-1, HR, RBI)</div>