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

AL: NY YANKEES at KANSAS CITY

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

BATTERIES: NYY - IAN KENNEDY, KYLE FARNSWORTH (6TH), JOBA CHAMBERLAIN (7TH),
MARIANO RIVERA (9TH) AND JORGE POSADA

KAN - GIL MECHE, NEAL MUSSER (7TH), JOEL PERALTA (7TH),
JIMMY GOBBLE (8TH), DAVID RISKE (8TH) AND JOHN BUCK

HOME RUNS: NYY - ALEX RODRIGUEZ (49) OFF GIL MECHE IN THE 2ND, 0 ON
JORGE POSADA (19) OFF GIL MECHE IN THE 2ND, 0 ON

KAN - NONE</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at KANSAS CITY

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

BATTERIES: NYY - IAN KENNEDY, KYLE FARNSWORTH (6TH), JOBA CHAMBERLAIN (7TH),
MARIANO RIVERA (9TH) AND JORGE POSADA

KAN - GIL MECHE, NEAL MUSSER (7TH), JOEL PERALTA (7TH),
JIMMY GOBBLE (8TH), DAVID RISKE (8TH) AND JOHN BUCK


WP - KYLE FARNSWORTH (2-1)
LP - NEAL MUSSER (0-1)
SAVE - MARIANO RIVERA (24)

HOME RUNS: NYY - ALEX RODRIGUEZ (49) OFF GIL MECHE IN THE 2ND, 0 ON
JORGE POSADA (19) OFF GIL MECHE IN THE 2ND, 0 ON

KAN - NONE


TIME: 3:25 ATT: 27,462

PROBABLES: NYY - ANDY PETTITTE (12-8, 3.82)
KAN - BRIAN BANNISTER (12-7, 3.16)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (3) VS KANSAS CITY (2) - FINAL

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon lf 5 0 1 0 0 0 1 .256
D Jeter ss 4 1 1 0 0 1 1 .320
B Abreu rf 5 0 1 1 0 2 4 .288
A Rodriguez 3b 4 1 3 1 1 0 0 .315
H Matsui dh 4 0 0 0 1 0 1 .294
J Posada c 4 1 1 1 1 0 5 .336
J Giambi 1b 2 0 0 0 1 0 2 .246
D Mientkiewicz 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222
R Cano 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 5 .299
M Cabrera cf 4 0 2 0 0 1 0 .294

Totals 37 3 9 3 4 5 19

BATTING: 2B - B Abreu (29, N Musser). 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), B Abreu (92). 2-out RBI - B Abreu. Runners left
in scoring position, 2 out - J Posada 2, B Abreu 3, R Cano 3. Team LOB - 12.

BASERUNNING: SB - M Cabrera (13, 2nd base off G Meche/J Buck), J Damon (23,
2nd base off D Riske/J Buck).

FIELDING: PB - J Posada.


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Gathright lf 4 0 1 0 1 1 2 .317
M Grudzielanek 2b 5 0 2 1 0 1 0 .306
R Gload 1b 3 0 1 0 1 1 3 .300
B Butler dh 4 0 1 0 0 0 4 .299
M Teahen rf 3 0 0 0 1 0 2 .288
D DeJesus cf 4 0 0 0 0 0 5 .267
A Gordon 3b 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 .252
J Smith ss 4 1 1 1 0 2 1 .202
J Buck c 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 .232
a-M Sweeney ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256

Totals 35 2 9 2 3 6 17

a-grounded to shortstop for J Buck in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - A Gordon (30, I Kennedy). RBI - J Smith (15), M Grudzielanek
(46). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D DeJesus 3, B Butler 1. Team
LOB - 9.

BASERUNNING: CS - J Gathright (5, 2nd base by I Kennedy/J Posada).

FIELDING: E - G Meche 2 (3, throw 2).


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 020 000 100 -- 3
KANSAS CITY - 020 000 000 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
I Kennedy 5 7 2 2 3 2 0 2.25
K Farnsworth (W, 2-1) 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 4.33
J Chamberlain (H, 6) 2 2 0 0 0 1 0 0.00
M Rivera (S, 24) 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.06

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
G Meche 6 5 2 2 2 3 2 3.82
N Musser (L, 0-1) 2/3 2 1 1 2 1 0 4.44
J Peralta 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.71
J Gobble 2/3 2 0 0 0 0 0 3.35
D Riske 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.24

IBB - A Rodriguez (by N Musser). HBP - D Jeter (by D Riske). Pitches-strikes:
I Kennedy 87-53; K Farnsworth 11-8; J Chamberlain 29-19; M Rivera 7-6; G Meche
105-70; N Musser 23-9; J Peralta 5-3; J Gobble 10-6; D Riske 28-17. Ground
balls-fly balls: I Kennedy 4-8; K Farnsworth 0-1; J Chamberlain 2-3; M Rivera
1-1; G Meche 9-7; N Musser 1-0; J Peralta 0-1; J Gobble 1-1; D Riske 0-3.
Batters faced: I Kennedy 24; K Farnsworth 3; J Chamberlain 8; M Rivera 3; G
Meche 26; N Musser 6; J Peralta 1; J Gobble 4; D Riske 5.

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

T--3:25. Att--27,462.
Weather: 79 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, left to
right.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
NY YANKEES 3
KANSAS CITY 2 FINAL</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NY YANKEES (3) AT KANSAS CITY (2) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NY YANKEES 2ND: A Rodriguez homered to left. H Matsui grounded out to
first. J Posada homered to right. J Giambi grounded out to second. R Cano
grounded out to shortstop. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 2,
KANSAS CITY 0.

KANSAS CITY 2ND: A Gordon doubled to deep right. A Gordon to third on
passed ball by J Posada. J Smith singled to left center, A Gordon scored.
J Buck singled to right center, J Smith to third. J Gathright struck out
swinging. M Grudzielanek singled to center, J Smith scored, J Buck to second.
R Gload flied out to center. B Butler flied out to right. (2 Runs, 4 Hits,
0 Errors) NY YANKEES 2, KANSAS CITY 2.

NY YANKEES 7TH: N Musser relieved G Meche. M Cabrera struck out swinging.
J Damon grounded out to first. D Jeter singled to right. B Abreu doubled to
deep center, D Jeter scored. A Rodriguez intentionally walked. H Matsui
walked, B Abreu to third, A Rodriguez to second. J Peralta relieved N Musser.
J Posada flied out to center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 3,
KANSAS CITY 2.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NY YANKEES (3) AT KANSAS CITY (2) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

Kansas City Starting Lineups -- J Gathright LF, M Grudzielanek 2B, R Gload 1B,
B Butler DH, M Teahen RF, D DeJesus CF, A Gordon 3B, J Smith SS, J Buck C,
G Meche RHP.

Umpires -- Marty Foster (HP), Paul Schrieber (1B), Fieldin Culbreth (2B),
Travis Reininger (3B).

Gametime Weather: 79 degrees, Clear, wind left to right at 8 mph.


NY YANKEES 1ST: J Damon grounded out to second. D Jeter grounded out to
shortstop. B Abreu struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 0,
KANSAS CITY 0.

KANSAS CITY 1ST: J Gathright walked. M Grudzielanek grounded out to
shortstop, J Gathright to second. R Gload walked. B Butler flied out to
center, J Gathright to third. M Teahen walked, R Gload to second. D DeJesus
popped out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 0, KANSAS CITY 0.

NY YANKEES 2ND: A Rodriguez homered to left. H Matsui grounded out to
first. J Posada homered to right. J Giambi grounded out to second. R Cano
grounded out to shortstop. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 2,
KANSAS CITY 0.

KANSAS CITY 2ND: A Gordon doubled to deep right. A Gordon to third on
passed ball by J Posada. J Smith singled to left center, A Gordon scored.
J Buck singled to right center, J Smith to third. J Gathright struck out
swinging. M Grudzielanek singled to center, J Smith scored, J Buck to second.
R Gload flied out to center. B Butler flied out to right. (2 Runs, 4 Hits,
0 Errors) NY YANKEES 2, KANSAS CITY 2.

NY YANKEES 3RD: M Cabrera singled to right. J Damon flied out to right.
M Cabrera stole second. D Jeter struck out looking. B Abreu flied out to center.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 2, KANSAS CITY 2.

KANSAS CITY 3RD: M Teahen popped out to second. D DeJesus flied out to
left. A Gordon grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 2,
KANSAS CITY 2.

NY YANKEES 4TH: A Rodriguez reached on infield single to second. A Rodriguez
safe at second on throwing error by pitcher G Meche. H Matsui flied out to right.
J Posada walked. J Giambi flied out to left. R Cano grounded out to pitcher.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error) NY YANKEES 2, KANSAS CITY 2.

KANSAS CITY 4TH: J Smith struck out looking. J Buck grounded out to third.
J Gathright singled to left. J Gathright caught stealing second, catcher to
second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 2, KANSAS CITY 2.

NY YANKEES 5TH: M Cabrera popped out to shortstop. J Damon flied out to
right. D Jeter grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 2,
KANSAS CITY 2.

KANSAS CITY 5TH: M Grudzielanek flied out to left. R Gload singled to
center. B Butler singled to left, R Gload to second. M Teahen flied out to
left. D DeJesus grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
NY YANKEES 2, KANSAS CITY 2.

NY YANKEES 6TH: B Abreu flied out to left. A Rodriguez singled to left.
H Matsui grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher, A Rodriguez safe at third on
throwing error by pitcher G Meche. J Posada grounded into fielder's choice to
third, H Matsui out at second. J Giambi walked, J Posada to second. R Cano
struck out looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error) NY YANKEES 2, KANSAS CITY 2.

KANSAS CITY 6TH: K Farnsworth relieved I Kennedy. A Gordon popped out to
second. J Smith struck out swinging. J Buck struck out swinging. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 2, KANSAS CITY 2.

NY YANKEES 7TH: N Musser relieved G Meche. M Cabrera struck out swinging.
J Damon grounded out to first. D Jeter singled to right. B Abreu doubled to
deep center, D Jeter scored. A Rodriguez intentionally walked. H Matsui
walked, B Abreu to third, A Rodriguez to second. J Peralta relieved N Musser.
J Posada flied out to center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 3,
KANSAS CITY 2.

KANSAS CITY 7TH: D Mientkiewicz at first base. J Chamberlain relieved
K Farnsworth. J Gathright grounded out to shortstop. M Grudzielanek singled
to right. R Gload struck out swinging. B Butler flied out to left. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 3, KANSAS CITY 2.

NY YANKEES 8TH: J Gobble relieved J Peralta. D Mientkiewicz flied out to
center. R Cano grounded out to pitcher. M Cabrera singled to center. J Damon
singled to right, M Cabrera to third. D Riske relieved J Gobble. J Damon stole
second. D Jeter hit by pitch. B Abreu struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) NY YANKEES 3, KANSAS CITY 2.

KANSAS CITY 8TH: M Teahen flied out to right. D DeJesus grounded out to
second. A Gordon singled to left. J Smith popped out to first. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 3, KANSAS CITY 2.

NY YANKEES 9TH: A Rodriguez lined out to center. H Matsui fouled out to
right. J Posada flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 3,
KANSAS CITY 2.

KANSAS CITY 9TH: M Rivera relieved J Chamberlain. M Sweeney hit for J Buck.
M Sweeney grounded out to shortstop. J Gathright popped out to third.
M Grudzielanek struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 3,
KANSAS CITY 2.</div>

 

Rodriguez blasts No. 513, Yankees edge Royals

<h3>NY YANKEES 3, KANSAS CITY 2</h3>By Alan Eskew
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) - Alex Rodriguez had three hitswith another milestone home run and Bobby Abreu drove in thego-ahead run as the New York Yankees defeated the Kansas CityRoyals, 3-2, on Friday in the opener of a three-game series.

Rodriguez and Jorge Posada homered in the second inning to givethe Yankees a brief 2-0 lead. It was Rodriguez's 49th home runof the season and 513th in his career, passing Ernie Banks andEddie Mathews for 17th on the all-time list.


The blast was Rodriguez's fourth homer in six at-bats.

The 32-year-old superstar has a great chance of collecting histhird American League MVP trophy this season, posting a .313batting average with a major league-leading 135 RBI.

He added singles in the fourth and sixth innings before beingintentionally walked in the seventh inning.


Abreu's two-out double in the seventh off reliever Neal Musser(0-1) scored Derek Jeter to give the Yankees a 3-2 lead. Therookie took the loss in just his third appearance since beingcalled up on September 1.


Kyle Farnsworth (2-1) worked a spotless sixth with twostrikeouts to pick up the victory.


Joba Chamberlain hurled two scoreless innings, and has notallowed a run in his first 11 major league appearances, covering14 1/3 innings. Mariano Rivera worked a perfect ninth to loghis 24th save in 27 opportunities.


The Yankees (79-62) have won three straight contests andmaintained their three-game advantage over the Detroit Tigers(76-65) in the AL wild card.


The Royals loaded the bases with three walks in the first, butrookie righthander Ian Kennedy got out of that jam when DavidDeJesus popped up to second baseman Robinson Cano on the firstpitch.


The Royals grouped four hits together in the bottom of thesecond for two runs. Jason Smith's single scored Alex Gordon,who led off the inning with a double. Mark Grudzielanek'ssingle to center scored Smith and gave him his 600th career RBI.

Gil Meche, who the Royals signed to a five-year $55 millioncontract in the offseason, left after six innings. The28-year-old righthander, who celebrates a birthday Saturday,allowed two runs on five hits and two walks with threestrikeouts.


Meche is 0-6 in nine starts since a July 20 victory against atDetroit.


In the sixth, Meche committed a throwing error to second onHideki Matsui's comebacker that should have been aninning-ending double play grounder. Meche threw 19 more pitchesthat inning after his error, his second of the game, untilstriking out Cano to end the sixth with the bases loaded.

New York loaded the bases again in the eighth, but David Riske,the fifth Kansas City pitcher, struck out Abreu in a nine-pitchbattle to end the inning.


Kennedy, the Yankees' 2006 first-round pick from SouthernCalifornia, was making his second big league start. He wentfive innings and allowed two runs on seven hits, leaving withthe score 2-2.

 

Rodriguez blasts No. 513, Yankees edge Royals

<h3>NY YANKEES 3, KANSAS CITY 2</h3>By Alan Eskew
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) - Alex Rodriguez had three hitswith another milestone home run and Bobby Abreu drove in thego-ahead run as the New York Yankees defeated the Kansas CityRoyals, 3-2, on Friday in the opener of a three-game series.

Rodriguez and Jorge Posada homered in the second inning to givethe Yankees a brief 2-0 lead. It was Rodriguez's 49th home runof the season and 513th in his career, passing Ernie Banks andEddie Mathews for 17th on the all-time list.


The blast was Rodriguez's fourth homer in six at-bats.

The 32-year-old superstar has a great chance of collecting histhird American League MVP trophy this season, posting a .313batting average with a major league-leading 135 RBI.

"It's been a magical season," Rodriguez said. "I've got to keepthe ride going. Jorge has been unbelievable. I don't have tocatch everyday. At his age to have the best year of his careeris really unbelievable."


He added singles in the fourth and sixth innings before beingintentionally walked in the seventh inning.


"He pretty much owns me," said Royals starter Gil Meche, whogave up all three hits to Rodriguez. "I threw him three prettygood curveballs and he bounces it five times up the middle. Ithrow him a cutter down and away, where we wanted to, and he hitit out. He's so strong. He's a freak of nature."

Abreu's two-out double in the seventh off reliever Neal Musser(0-1) scored Derek Jeter to give the Yankees a 3-2 lead. Therookie took the loss in just his third appearance since beingcalled up on September 1.


"I hit it good, but it's a big park," Abreu said. "The mainthing was nobody caught it. It was a tough game, a close game.We left a lot of guys on base (12)."


Kyle Farnsworth (2-1) worked a spotless sixth with twostrikeouts to pick up the victory.


Joba Chamberlain hurled two scoreless innings, and has notallowed a run in his first 11 major league appearances, covering14 1/3 innings. Mariano Rivera worked a perfect ninth to loghis 24th save in 27 opportunities.


The Yankees (79-62) have won three straight contests andmaintained their three-game advantage over the Detroit Tigers(76-65) in the AL wild card.


The Royals loaded the bases with three walks in the first, butrookie righthander Ian Kennedy got out of that jam when DavidDeJesus popped up to second baseman Robinson Cano on the firstpitch.


The Royals grouped four hits together in the bottom of thesecond for two runs. Jason Smith's single scored Alex Gordon,who led off the inning with a double. Mark Grudzielanek'ssingle to center scored Smith and gave him his 600th career RBI.

Gil Meche, who the Royals signed to a five-year $55 millioncontract in the offseason, left after six innings. The28-year-old righthander, who celebrates a birthday Saturday,allowed two runs on five hits and two walks with threestrikeouts.


Meche is 0-6 in nine starts since a July 20 victory against atDetroit.


In the sixth, Meche committed a throwing error to second onHideki Matsui's comebacker that should have been aninning-ending double play grounder. Meche threw 19 more pitchesthat inning after his error, his second of the game, untilstriking out Cano to end the sixth with the bases loaded.

"It at least cost me 20-something pitches," Meche said. "It wasjust stupid. It was a ball right back to me and I spun aroundand saw Smitty (Jason Smith) cutting across and tried to leadhim to the left too much and the ball sunk down. I walkedGiambi and then to Cano I threw a 3-2 changeup and left it upand geez, what a battle. I gave it all I had of what was leftin the tank."


New York loaded the bases again in the eighth, but David Riske,the fifth Kansas City pitcher, struck out Abreu in a nine-pitchbattle to end the inning.


Kennedy, the Yankees' 2006 first-round pick from SouthernCalifornia, was making his second big league start. He wentfive innings and allowed two runs on seven hits, leaving withthe score 2-2.


"I thought Kennedy was great," Yankees manager Joe Torre said."He was overstriding and couldn't locate at all early. Aboutevery inning, he had to pitch out of a jam."


"I walked the bases loaded and got out of it," Kennedy added."I didn't think it would be (like) that every time. Usually theroughest inning is the first. It was one of those days where Ihad to pick it up a little bit. I didn't have my best stuff."