GAME THREAD: AL: NY YANKEES (43-44) at TAMPA BAY (35-54)

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 6
TAMPA BAY 4 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: T Wigginton (.265, 0-FOR-2)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Cantu hit for R Casanova.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, J GOMES ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 6
TAMPA BAY 4 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: J Cantu (.211, 0 HR, 4 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 0 1 1 2 0 1 0 1 6 10 0
TAMPA BAY 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 9 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: NYY - CHIEN-MING WANG, RON VILLONE (7TH), KYLE FARNSWORTH (8TH),
MARIANO RIVERA (9TH) AND JORGE POSADA

TAM - ANDY SONNANSTINE, BRIAN STOKES (7TH), SHAWN CAMP
(9TH), JASON HAMMEL (9TH) AND RAUL CASANOVA

HOME RUNS: NYY - HIDEKI MATSUI (13) OFF ANDY SONNANSTINE IN THE 4TH, 0 ON
BOBBY ABREU (7) OFF ANDY SONNANSTINE IN THE 5TH, 1 ON

TAM - CARLOS PENA (21) OFF KYLE FARNSWORTH IN THE 8TH, 0 ON</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 0 1 1 2 0 1 0 1 6 10 0
TAMPA BAY 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 9 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: NYY - CHIEN-MING WANG, RON VILLONE (7TH), KYLE FARNSWORTH (8TH),
MARIANO RIVERA (9TH) AND JORGE POSADA

TAM - ANDY SONNANSTINE, BRIAN STOKES (7TH), SHAWN CAMP
(9TH), JASON HAMMEL (9TH) AND RAUL CASANOVA


WP - CHIEN-MING WANG (10-4)
LP - ANDY SONNANSTINE (1-4)
SAVE - MARIANO RIVERA (12)

HOME RUNS: NYY - HIDEKI MATSUI (13) OFF ANDY SONNANSTINE IN THE 4TH, 0 ON
BOBBY ABREU (7) OFF ANDY SONNANSTINE IN THE 5TH, 1 ON

TAM - CARLOS PENA (21) OFF KYLE FARNSWORTH IN THE 8TH, 0 ON


TIME: 3:18 ATT: 36,048

PROBABLES: NYY - MIKE MUSSINA (4-6, 4.62)
TAM - EDWIN JACKSON (1-9, 7.23)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (6) VS TAMPA BAY (4) - FINAL

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon cf 3 2 1 0 2 0 1 .247
M Cabrera cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
D Jeter ss 5 0 2 0 0 1 2 .331
B Abreu rf 5 1 2 5 0 0 2 .273
A Rodriguez 3b 5 0 0 0 0 1 4 .312
H Matsui dh 5 1 2 1 0 0 1 .275
J Posada c 3 0 1 0 1 0 1 .330
R Cano 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 .269
A Phillips 1b 3 1 1 0 1 1 1 .286
K Thompson lf 4 1 1 0 0 2 3 .190

Totals 37 6 10 6 4 6 18

BATTING: 2B - H Matsui (21, A Sonnanstine); K Thompson (3, A Sonnanstine); D
Jeter (24, A Sonnanstine); B Abreu (18, S Camp). HR - H Matsui (13, 4th inning
off A Sonnanstine 0 on, 0 Out), B Abreu (7, 5th inning off A Sonnanstine 1 on,
2 Out). RBI - B Abreu 5 (49), H Matsui (55). 2-out RBI - B Abreu 2. Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - A Rodriguez 2, R Cano 1, K Thompson 1, H
Matsui 1. Team LOB - 8.

BASERUNNING: SB - J Posada (2, 2nd base off B Stokes/R Casanova), J Damon
(16, 2nd base off S Camp/R Casanova).


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 5 0 2 0 0 1 1 .282
C Crawford lf 4 1 0 0 0 1 2 .279
B Harris ss 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 .309
C Pena 1b 4 2 2 3 0 1 0 .292
D Young rf 4 0 2 1 0 0 0 .289
B Upton cf 3 0 1 0 1 2 1 .320
T Wigginton 2b 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 .264
J Gomes dh 4 0 1 0 0 1 3 .279
R Casanova c 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .244
a-J Cantu ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .207

Totals 35 4 9 4 1 10 9

a-struck out swinging for R Casanova in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - C Pena (15, C Wang); D Young (21, C Wang). HR - C Pena (21, 8th
inning off K Farnsworth 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - C Pena 3 (55), D Young (50).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Wigginton 1, J Gomes 2, A Iwamura
1. Team LOB - 6.

BASERUNNING: CS - B Upton (6, 2nd base by K Farnsworth/J Posada).


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 001 120 101 -- 6
TAMPA BAY - 300 000 010 -- 4
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
C Wang (W, 10-4) 6 7 3 3 0 6 0 3.43
R Villone (H, 1) 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.10
K Farnsworth (H, 10) 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 4.46
M Rivera (S, 12) 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.50

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
A Sonnanstine (L, 1-4) 6 1/3 9 5 5 1 3 2 5.57
B Stokes 1 2/3 0 0 0 2 2 0 6.26
S Camp 2/3 1 1 1 1 1 0 5.80
J Hammel 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.11

HBP - T Wigginton (by C Wang). Pitches-strikes: C Wang 95-62; R Villone 12-9;
K Farnsworth 20-11; M Rivera 19-15; A Sonnanstine 104-64; B Stokes 30-17; S
Camp 20-11; J Hammel 3-2. Ground balls-fly balls: C Wang 8-4; R Villone 1-0; K
Farnsworth 1-1; M Rivera 1-0; A Sonnanstine 6-10; B Stokes 2-1; S Camp 1-0; J
Hammel 0-1. Batters faced: C Wang 26; R Villone 3; K Farnsworth 4; M Rivera 4;
A Sonnanstine 29; B Stokes 7; S Camp 4; J Hammel 1.

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

T--3:18. Att--36,048.
Weather: INDOORS</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
NY YANKEES 6
TAMPA BAY 4 FINAL</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NY YANKEES (6) AT TAMPA BAY (4) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TAMPA BAY 1ST: A Iwamura singled to center. C Crawford grounded into
fielder's choice to second, A Iwamura out at second. B Harris singled to
right, C Crawford to second. C Pena doubled to right, C Crawford and B Harris
scored. D Young doubled to deep left, C Pena scored. B Upton struck out
looking. T Wigginton struck out swinging. (3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors)
NY YANKEES 0, TAMPA BAY 3.

NY YANKEES 3RD: A Phillips reached on infield single to shortstop.
K Thompson flied out to left. J Damon walked, A Phillips to second. D Jeter
singled to left, A Phillips to third, J Damon to second. B Abreu grounded into
fielder's choice to shortstop, A Phillips scored, D Jeter out at second,
J Damon to third. A Rodriguez grounded into fielder's choice to third, B Abreu
out at second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 1, TAMPA BAY 3.

NY YANKEES 4TH: H Matsui homered to right. J Posada lined out to right.
R Cano grounded out to first. A Phillips flied out to center. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) NY YANKEES 2, TAMPA BAY 3.

NY YANKEES 5TH: K Thompson doubled to deep left. J Damon lined out to
second. D Jeter struck out swinging. B Abreu homered to right, K Thompson
scored. A Rodriguez flied out to center. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
NY YANKEES 4, TAMPA BAY 3.

NY YANKEES 7TH: K Thompson struck out swinging. J Damon singled to shallow
right center. D Jeter doubled to deep left, J Damon to third. B Stokes
relieved A Sonnanstine. B Abreu grounded out to second, J Damon scored.
A Rodriguez grounded out to first. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 5, TAMPA BAY 3.

TAMPA BAY 8TH: K Farnsworth relieved R Villone. B Harris grounded out to
shortstop. C Pena homered to right. D Young flied out to center. B Upton
walked. B Upton caught stealing second, catcher to second.(1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) NY YANKEES 5, TAMPA BAY 4.

NY YANKEES 9TH: S Camp relieved B Stokes. J Damon walked. J Damon stole
second. D Jeter grounded out to third. B Abreu doubled to left, J Damon
scored. A Rodriguez struck out looking. J Hammel relieved S Camp. H Matsui
flied out to center. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 6, TAMPA BAY 4.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NY YANKEES (6) AT TAMPA BAY (4) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ny Yankees Starting Lineups -- J Damon CF, D Jeter SS, B Abreu RF, A Rodriguez 3B,
H Matsui DH, J Posada C, R Cano 2B, A Phillips 1B, K Thompson LF, C Wang RHP.

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

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


Gametime Weather: INDOORS.


NY YANKEES 1ST: J Damon popped out to first. D Jeter flied out to center.
B Abreu grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 0, TAMPA BAY 0.

TAMPA BAY 1ST: A Iwamura singled to center. C Crawford grounded into
fielder's choice to second, A Iwamura out at second. B Harris singled to
right, C Crawford to second. C Pena doubled to right, C Crawford and B Harris
scored. D Young doubled to deep left, C Pena scored. B Upton struck out
looking. T Wigginton struck out swinging. (3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors)
NY YANKEES 0, TAMPA BAY 3.

NY YANKEES 2ND: A Rodriguez flied out to right. H Matsui doubled to deep
right. J Posada flied out to left. R Cano grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 0, TAMPA BAY 3.

TAMPA BAY 2ND: J Gomes flied out to center. R Casanova grounded out to
second. A Iwamura singled to right. C Crawford flied out to right. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 0, TAMPA BAY 3.

NY YANKEES 3RD: A Phillips reached on infield single to shortstop.
K Thompson flied out to left. J Damon walked, A Phillips to second. D Jeter
singled to left, A Phillips to third, J Damon to second. B Abreu grounded into
fielder's choice to shortstop, A Phillips scored, D Jeter out at second,
J Damon to third. A Rodriguez grounded into fielder's choice to third, B Abreu
out at second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 1, TAMPA BAY 3.

TAMPA BAY 3RD: B Harris grounded out to catcher. C Pena struck out
looking. D Young grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
NY YANKEES 1, TAMPA BAY 3.

NY YANKEES 4TH: H Matsui homered to right. J Posada lined out to right.
R Cano grounded out to first. A Phillips flied out to center. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) NY YANKEES 2, TAMPA BAY 3.

TAMPA BAY 4TH: B Upton struck out swinging. T Wigginton struck out
swinging. J Gomes grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
NY YANKEES 2, TAMPA BAY 3.

NY YANKEES 5TH: K Thompson doubled to deep left. J Damon lined out to
second. D Jeter struck out swinging. B Abreu homered to right, K Thompson
scored. A Rodriguez flied out to center. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
NY YANKEES 4, TAMPA BAY 3.

TAMPA BAY 5TH: R Casanova grounded out to third. A Iwamura grounded out to
first. C Crawford lined out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 4,
TAMPA BAY 3.

NY YANKEES 6TH: H Matsui lined out to center. J Posada singled to right.
R Cano grounded into fielder's choice to second, J Posada out at second.
A Phillips struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 4,
TAMPA BAY 3.

TAMPA BAY 6TH: B Harris flied out to left. C Pena grounded out to first.
D Young singled to left. B Upton singled to center, D Young to second.
T Wigginton hit by pitch, D Young to third, B Upton to second. J Gomes struck
out looking. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 4, TAMPA BAY 3.

NY YANKEES 7TH: K Thompson struck out swinging. J Damon singled to shallow
right center. D Jeter doubled to deep left, J Damon to third. B Stokes
relieved A Sonnanstine. B Abreu grounded out to second, J Damon scored.
A Rodriguez grounded out to first. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 5,
TAMPA BAY 3.

TAMPA BAY 7TH: R Villone relieved C Wang. R Casanova struck out swinging.
A Iwamura grounded out to shortstop. C Crawford struck out swinging. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 5, TAMPA BAY 3.

NY YANKEES 8TH: H Matsui flied out to right. J Posada walked. R Cano
struck out swinging. J Posada stole second. A Phillips walked. K Thompson
struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 5, TAMPA BAY 3.

TAMPA BAY 8TH: K Farnsworth relieved R Villone. B Harris grounded out to
shortstop. C Pena homered to right. D Young flied out to center. B Upton
walked. B Upton caught stealing second, catcher to second.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 5, TAMPA BAY 4.

NY YANKEES 9TH: S Camp relieved B Stokes. J Damon walked. J Damon stole
second. D Jeter grounded out to third. B Abreu doubled to left, J Damon
scored. A Rodriguez struck out looking. J Hammel relieved S Camp. H Matsui
flied out to center. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 6, TAMPA BAY 4.

TAMPA BAY 9TH: M Cabrera in center field. M Rivera relieved K Farnsworth.
T Wigginton grounded out to third. J Gomes singled to right. J Cantu hit for
R Casanova. J Cantu struck out swinging. J Gomes to second on fielder's
indifference. A Iwamura struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
NY YANKEES 6, TAMPA BAY 4.</div>

 

Abreu knocks in five as Yankees edge Devil Rays

<h3>NY YANKEES 6, TAMPA BAY 4</h3>ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- Bobby Abreu has been adisappointment for the struggling New York Yankees this season.He was anything but against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Saturdaynight.


Abreu knocked in five runs and Chien-Ming Wang tossed sixeffective innings to spark the Yankees to a 6-4 victory over theDevil Rays in the third game of a four-game set at TropicanaField. Abreu and Hideki Matsui each homered for New York, whichrallied from an early three-run deficit to take two of the firstthree games of the series.


The Yankees acquired Abreu at the July 31 trade deadline lastseason, but the right fielder has yet to play up to expectationssince his arrival. A career .301 hitter, he entered Saturday'scontest with a .271 average and just six homers.


But Abreu, who has homered in two of his last three games, andMatsui, who homered for the second consecutive night, eachextended their hitting streaks to nine games.


Trailing, 3-0, New York had its comeback sparked by Abreu, whobeat out a potential double-play grounder in the third to allowa run to score. Matsui's leadoff homer in the fourth cut thedeficit to one run.


In the fifth, Abreu's two-run blast gave the Yankees a 4-3 lead.He added another RBI groundout in the seventh and a run-scoringdouble in the ninth for a much-needed insurance run.

Wang (10-4), who is now 9-1 in July in his three-year career,overcame a shaky start and shut down the Devil Rays the rest ofthe way - allowing the Yankees' offense to come alive.

The righthander scattered seven hits - four in the first inning- and struck out six in six frames without a walk to improve to7-0 in his last nine starts.


After Wang exited, relievers Ron Villone, Kyle Farnsworth andMariano Rivera, who recorded his 12th save, each went an inningto close out the contest. Rivera passed John Franco for thirdplace on the all-time saves list, recording the 425th of hiscareer.


Andy Sonnanstine (1-4) lost for the fourth time in his last fiveoutings, allowing five runs and nine hits in remaining winlesssince June 10.


The Devil Rays, who touched Roger Clemens for a season-high fiveruns Friday, jumped on Wang early. Tampa Bay opened a 3-0 leadin the first inning lead on a two-run double by Carlos Pena andan RBI two-base hit by Delmon Young.


However, Wang settled down in the second. After allowing atwo-out single by Akinori Iwamura, Wang retired the next 12batters until Young and B.J. Upton hit back-to-back singles inthe sixth.


Wang then hit Ty Wigginton but escaped the bases-loaded jam bystriking out Jonny Gomes.


Pena extended his hitting streak to 11 games for the Devil Rays(35-55), who lost for the 15th time in their last 17 contestsand own the worst record in the major leagues.

 

Abreu knocks in five as Yankees edge Devil Rays

<h3>NY YANKEES 6, TAMPA BAY 4</h3>ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- Bobby Abreu has been adisappointment for the struggling New York Yankees this season.He was anything but against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Saturdaynight.


Abreu knocked in five runs and Chien-Ming Wang tossed sixeffective innings to spark the Yankees to a 6-4 victory over theDevil Rays in the third game of a four-game set at TropicanaField. Abreu and Hideki Matsui each homered for New York, whichrallied from an early three-run deficit to take two of the firstthree games of the series.


The Yankees acquired Abreu at the July 31 trade deadline lastseason, but the right fielder has yet to play up to expectationssince his arrival. A career .301 hitter, he entered Saturday'scontest with a .271 average and just six homers.


But Abreu, who has homered in two of his last three games, andMatsui, who homered for the second consecutive night, eachextended their hitting streaks to nine games.


"I felt good, I was trying to stay positive," Abreu said. "Agame like this is going to help me carry on for the rest of theseason. I am trying to do my best for the team."


In 1997, Abreu was briefly with the Devil Rays after the clubselected him as the third overall pick in the expansion draft.However, Tampa Bay traded Abreu later that season to thePhiladelphia Phillies for Kevin Stocker.


"Abreu is a perfect fit for what we do," Yankees manager JoeTorre said.


Trailing, 3-0, New York had its comeback sparked by Abreu, whobeat out a potential double-play grounder in the third to allowa run to score. Matsui's leadoff homer in the fourth cut thedeficit to one run.


In the fifth, Abreu's two-run blast gave the Yankees a 4-3 lead.He added another RBI groundout in the seventh and a run-scoringdouble in the ninth for a much-needed insurance run.

"He's good," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "And all of asudden, he turned it on."


Wang (10-4), who is now 9-1 in July in his three-year career,overcame a shaky start and shut down the Devil Rays the rest ofthe way - allowing the Yankees' offense to come alive.

The righthander scattered seven hits - four in the first inning- and struck out six in six frames without a walk to improve to7-0 in his last nine starts.


"After the first inning, things stayed the same, nothingchanged," Wang said. "I thought the offense would get me someruns. I didn't pitch well, but I was a little lucky."

After Wang exited, relievers Ron Villone, Kyle Farnsworth andMariano Rivera, who recorded his 12th save, each went an inningto close out the contest. Rivera passed John Franco for thirdplace on the all-time saves list, recording the 425th of hiscareer.


"It's quite an accomplishment," New York's Derek Jeter said."It shows two things - one, (Rivera's) old and two, he'sconsistent."


Rivera said the most important thing was the team's victory butstill cherished the moment.


"I'll save the ball," Rivera said. "It will be in a good placein my house. It's hard to believe (it's been 10 years). ThankGod for this."


Andy Sonnanstine (1-4) lost for the fourth time in his last fiveoutings, allowing five runs and nine hits in remaining winlesssince June 10.


"They have some exceptional hitters, that's for sure,"Sonnanstine said. "I try to keep the same mentality. Bothpitches to Abreu and Matsui were cutters. That's a pitch I'vebeen working on. Only way it'll get better is throwing itmore."


The Devil Rays, who touched Roger Clemens for a season-high fiveruns Friday, jumped on Wang early. Tampa Bay opened a 3-0 leadin the first inning lead on a two-run double by Carlos Pena andan RBI two-base hit by Delmon Young.


However, Wang settled down in the second. After allowing atwo-out single by Akinori Iwamura, Wang retired the next 12batters until Young and B.J. Upton hit back-to-back singles inthe sixth.


Wang then hit Ty Wigginton but escaped the bases-loaded jam bystriking out Jonny Gomes.


"I thought we played a pretty good game," Maddon said."Sonnanstine gave us a chance to win. It was a well-played gameon both sides. It is frustrating not to be able to carry thatthrough."


Pena extended his hitting streak to 11 games for the Devil Rays(35-55), who lost for the 15th time in their last 17 contestsand own the worst record in the major leagues.