GAME THREAD: AL: NY YANKEES (91-67) at TAMPA BAY (65-93)

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 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 3 7 0
TAMPA BAY 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 4 1 (BOT 8)

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - PHIL HUGHES
TAM - GARY GLOVER

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: J WILSON (.247, 1-FOR-2)
A IWAMURA (.283, 1-FOR-2, BB)
J VELANDIA (.351, 0-FOR-2, SAC)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (3) VS TAMPA BAY (1) - MID 8TH - IN PROGRESS

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon cf 4 0 2 1 0 1 1 .269
W Betemit 3b 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 .203
H Matsui lf 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .285
J Giambi dh 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 .237
S Duncan 1b 3 1 1 0 0 1 0 .254
R Cano 2b 3 1 1 0 0 2 0 .305
J Molina c 3 0 1 2 0 2 0 .253
B Sardinha rf 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .200
A Gonzalez ss 2 1 1 0 1 0 1 .143

Totals 29 3 7 3 1 11 7

BATTING: 2B - J Damon (26, S Kazmir); R Cano (40, J Switzer). RBI - J Damon
(61), J Molina 2 (19). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - H Matsui 2.
GIDP - B Sardinha. Team LOB - 3.

BASERUNNING: SB - J Damon (27, 2nd base off G Glover/D Navarro). CS - A
Gonzalez (1, 2nd base by G Glover/D Navarro).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (P Hughes-R Cano-S Duncan).


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 .283
J Velandia 2b 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .351
C Pena 1b 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 .278
B Upton cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .303
D Young rf 3 0 1 0 0 0 3 .291
G Norton dh 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .242
J Gomes lf 3 0 0 0 0 3 1 .246
D Navarro c 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .225
J Wilson ss 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .247

Totals 22 1 4 1 2 5 8

BATTING: HR - C Pena (44, 4th inning off P Hughes 0 on, 0 Out). S - J Velandia.
RBI - C Pena (119). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D Young 1. GIDP -
D Young. Team LOB - 4.

BASERUNNING: CS - J Wilson (2, 2nd base by P Hughes/J Molina).

FIELDING: E - D Navarro (14, throw). DP: 1 (J Velandia-J Wilson-C Pena).


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 000 001 20 -- 3
TAMPA BAY - 000 100 0 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
P Hughes 7 4 1 1 2 5 1 4.46

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
S Kazmir 6 3 1 1 0 10 0 3.48
J Switzer 1/3 2 2 2 0 0 0 8.15
G Glover 1 2/3 2 0 0 1 1 0 4.93

HBP - B Upton (by P Hughes). Pitches-strikes: P Hughes 102-65; S Kazmir
100-72; J Switzer 4-3; G Glover 21-13. Ground balls-fly balls: P Hughes 7-8; S
Kazmir 6-2; J Switzer 0-1; G Glover 3-0. Batters faced: P Hughes 26; S Kazmir
21; J Switzer 3; G Glover 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Paul Nauert. 1B--Mike Dimuro. 2B--Gerry Davis. 3B--Brian Gorman.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - PITCHING CHANGE
NYY: JOBA CHAMBERLAIN (2-0, 0.40) STARTING THE 8TH
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 3, TAMPA BAY 1

DUE UP FOR TAMPABAY: J WILSON (.247, 1-FOR-2)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Chamberlain relieved P Hughes.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 3
TAMPA BAY 1 BOTTOM, 8TH

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: J Wilson (.247, 1-FOR-2)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: R Casanova hit for J Wilson.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 3
TAMPA BAY 1 BOTTOM, 8TH

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: R Casanova (.221, 6 HR, 10 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Wilson ran for R Casanova.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, J WILSON ON SECOND, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 3
TAMPA BAY 1 BOTTOM, 8TH

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: A Iwamura (.283, 1-FOR-2)</div>

 

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 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 3 7 0
TAMPA BAY 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 5 1 (TOP 9)

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - JOBA CHAMBERLAIN
TAM - GARY GLOVER

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J GIAMBI (.237, 0-FOR-3)
S DUNCAN (.254, 1-FOR-3)
R CANO (.305, 1-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (3) VS TAMPA BAY (1) - END 8TH - IN PROGRESS

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon cf 4 0 2 1 0 1 1 .269
W Betemit 3b 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 .203
H Matsui lf 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .285
J Giambi dh 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 .237
S Duncan 1b 3 1 1 0 0 1 0 .254
R Cano 2b 3 1 1 0 0 2 0 .305
J Molina c 3 0 1 2 0 2 0 .253
B Sardinha rf 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .200
A Gonzalez ss 2 1 1 0 1 0 1 .143

Totals 29 3 7 3 1 11 7

BATTING: 2B - J Damon (26, S Kazmir); R Cano (40, J Switzer). RBI - J Damon
(61), J Molina 2 (19). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - H Matsui 2.
GIDP - B Sardinha. Team LOB - 3.

BASERUNNING: SB - J Damon (27, 2nd base off G Glover/D Navarro). CS - A
Gonzalez (1, 2nd base by G Glover/D Navarro).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (P Hughes-R Cano-S Duncan).


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 3 0 1 0 1 0 1 .282
J Velandia 2b 3 0 0 0 0 2 2 .342
C Pena 1b 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 .278
B Upton cf 3 0 0 0 0 1 3 .303
D Young rf 3 0 1 0 0 0 3 .291
G Norton dh 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .242
J Gomes lf 3 0 0 0 0 3 1 .246
D Navarro c 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .225
J Wilson ss 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 .250
B Harris pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286

Totals 26 1 5 1 2 7 12

BATTING: 2B - J Wilson (15, J Chamberlain). HR - C Pena (44, 4th inning off P
Hughes 0 on, 0 Out). S - J Velandia. RBI - C Pena (119). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - B Upton 1, D Young 1. GIDP - D Young. Team LOB - 6.


BASERUNNING: CS - J Wilson (2, 2nd base by P Hughes/J Molina).

FIELDING: E - D Navarro (14, throw). DP: 1 (J Velandia-J Wilson-C Pena).


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 000 001 20 -- 3
TAMPA BAY - 000 100 00 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
P Hughes 7 4 1 1 2 5 1 4.46
J Chamberlain 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 0.38

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
S Kazmir 6 3 1 1 0 10 0 3.48
J Switzer 1/3 2 2 2 0 0 0 8.15
G Glover 1 2/3 2 0 0 1 1 0 4.93

HBP - B Upton (by P Hughes); C Pena (by J Chamberlain). Pitches-strikes: P
Hughes 102-65; J Chamberlain 20-12; S Kazmir 100-72; J Switzer 4-3; G Glover
21-13. Ground balls-fly balls: P Hughes 7-8; J Chamberlain 0-1; S Kazmir 6-2; J
Switzer 0-1; G Glover 3-0. Batters faced: P Hughes 26; J Chamberlain 5; S
Kazmir 21; J Switzer 3; G Glover 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Paul Nauert. 1B--Mike Dimuro. 2B--Gerry Davis. 3B--Brian Gorman.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Velandia at shortstop.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 3
TAMPA BAY 1 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J Giambi (.237, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: B Harris at second base.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 3
TAMPA BAY 1 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J Giambi (.237, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - PITCHING CHANGE
TAM: SCOTT DOHMANN (3-0, 3.34) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 3, TAMPA BAY 1

DUE UP FOR NYYANKEES: J GIAMBI (.237, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: S Dohmann relieved G Glover.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 3
TAMPA BAY 1 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J Giambi (.237, 0-FOR-3)</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 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 3 7 0
TAMPA BAY 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: NYY - PHIL HUGHES, JOBA CHAMBERLAIN (8TH), JOSE VERAS (9TH) AND JOSE
MOLINA

TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR, JON SWITZER (7TH), GARY GLOVER
(7TH), SCOTT DOHMANN (9TH) AND DIONER NAVARRO

HOME RUNS: NYY - NONE

TAM - CARLOS PENA (44) OFF PHIL HUGHES IN THE 4TH, 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 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 3 7 0
TAMPA BAY 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: NYY - PHIL HUGHES, JOBA CHAMBERLAIN (8TH), JOSE VERAS (9TH) AND JOSE
MOLINA

TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR, JON SWITZER (7TH), GARY GLOVER
(7TH), SCOTT DOHMANN (9TH) AND DIONER NAVARRO


WP - PHIL HUGHES (5-3)
LP - JON SWITZER (0-2)
SAVE - JOSE VERAS (1)

HOME RUNS: NYY - NONE

TAM - CARLOS PENA (44) OFF PHIL HUGHES IN THE 4TH, 0 ON


TIME: 2:53 ATT: 28,962

PROBABLES: TAM - ANDY SONNANSTINE (6-9, 5.80)
TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN (11-10, 4.07)

PROBABLES: NYY - MIKE MUSSINA (11-10, 4.96)
BAL - JON LEICESTER (2-3, 6.51)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (3) VS TAMPA BAY (1) - FINAL

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon cf 4 0 2 1 0 1 1 .269
W Betemit 3b 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 .203
H Matsui lf 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .285
J Giambi dh 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 .236
S Duncan 1b 4 1 1 0 0 1 0 .250
R Cano 2b 3 1 1 0 1 2 0 .305
J Molina c 4 0 1 2 0 3 1 .251
B Sardinha rf 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .200
A Gonzalez ss 2 1 1 0 1 0 1 .143

Totals 32 3 7 3 2 12 8

BATTING: 2B - J Damon (26, S Kazmir); R Cano (40, J Switzer). RBI - J Damon
(61), J Molina 2 (19). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - H Matsui 2.
GIDP - B Sardinha. Team LOB - 4.

BASERUNNING: SB - J Damon (27, 2nd base off G Glover/D Navarro). CS - A
Gonzalez (1, 2nd base by G Glover/D Navarro).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (P Hughes-R Cano-S Duncan).


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 3 0 1 0 1 0 1 .282
J Velandia 2b-ss 3 0 0 0 0 2 2 .342
C Pena 1b 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 .278
B Upton cf 3 0 0 0 0 1 3 .303
D Young rf 4 0 1 0 0 0 3 .291
G Norton dh 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .246
J Gomes lf 4 0 0 0 0 3 2 .245
D Navarro c 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .224
J Wilson ss 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 .250
a-R Casanova ph 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .221
B Harris pr-2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286

Totals 30 1 6 1 2 7 14

a-hit for J Wilson in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - J Wilson (15, J Chamberlain). HR - C Pena (44, 4th inning off P
Hughes 0 on, 0 Out). S - J Velandia. RBI - C Pena (119). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - D Navarro 1, B Upton 1, D Young 1. GIDP - D Young.
Team LOB - 7.

BASERUNNING: CS - J Wilson (2, 2nd base by P Hughes/J Molina).

FIELDING: E - D Navarro (14, throw). DP: 1 (J Velandia-J Wilson-C Pena).


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 000 001 200 -- 3
TAMPA BAY - 000 100 000 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
P Hughes (W, 5-3) 7 4 1 1 2 5 1 4.46
J Chamberlain (H, 8) 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 0.38
J Veras (S, 1) 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 6.48

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
S Kazmir 6 3 1 1 0 10 0 3.48
J Switzer (L, 0-2) 1/3 2 2 2 0 0 0 8.15
G Glover 1 2/3 2 0 0 1 1 0 4.93
S Dohmann 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 3.23

G Glover pitched to 1 batter in the 9th.

HBP - B Upton (by P Hughes); C Pena (by J Chamberlain). Pitches-strikes: P
Hughes 102-65; J Chamberlain 20-12; J Veras 14-9; S Kazmir 100-72; J Switzer
4-3; G Glover 27-16; S Dohmann 14-9. Ground balls-fly balls: P Hughes 7-8; J
Chamberlain 0-1; J Veras 3-0; S Kazmir 6-2; J Switzer 0-1; G Glover 4-0; S
Dohmann 1-0. Batters faced: P Hughes 26; J Chamberlain 5; J Veras 4; S Kazmir
21; J Switzer 3; G Glover 7; S Dohmann 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Paul Nauert. 1B--Mike Dimuro. 2B--Gerry Davis. 3B--Brian Gorman.

T--2:53. Att--28,962.
Weather: INDOORS</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
NY YANKEES 3
TAMPA BAY 1 FINAL</div>

 

Molina, Hughes lead Yankees past Devil Rays

<h3>NY YANKEES 3, TAMPA BAY 1</h3>ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- A night after the New YorkYankees clinched a playoff berth, they kept their AmericanLeague East title hopes alive.


Playing without several starters, backup catcher Jose Molina'stwo-run single lifted the Yankees past the Tampa Bay Devil Rays,3-1, Thursday night.


Rookie Phil Hughes pitched seven superb innings and Johnny Damonalso drove in a run for New York (92-67), which moved to within2 1/2 games of the American League East-leading Boston Red Sox(94-64) with three games left.


Boston is taking on the Minnesota Twins Thursday night.

New York closes the regular season with a three-game series atBaltimore beginning Friday.


Yankees manager Joe Torre rested regulars Derek Jeter, AlexRodriguez, Jorge Posada, Bobby Abreu, Doug Mientkiewicz andMelky Cabrera a night after New York clinched its 13thconsecutive playoff berth with a 12-4 win here.


Without their stars, the Yankees struggled against Tampa Baylefthander Scott Kazmir, who allowed only three hits and one runin six innings.


Kazmir retired 16 of the first 17 batters until allowingconsecutive hits to Alberto Gonzalez and Johnny Damon in thesixth.


With one out, Gonzalez singled into left field and Damonfollowed with an RBI double to center. Damon, who was 2-for-4Thursday, went 10-for-15 in this three-game set.


Kazmir, who fanned 10 batters, ended the inning by striking outWilson Betemit and Hideki Matsui to give him a major league-best239 this season.


Reliever Jon Switzer (0-2) started the seventh for Tampa Bay andpromptly allowed a single to Shelley Duncan and a double toRobinson Cano to put runners on second and third with one out.After Gary Glover replaced Switzer and with the infield in,Molina bounced a two-run single up the middle to make it 3-1.

It was enough for Hughes (5-3), who won his third consecutivedecision. The rookie righthander scattered four hits, strikingout five and walking two.


The only mistake by Hughes was serving up the 44th homer of theseason to Carlos Pena in the fourth inning.


Joba Chamberlain allowed a double and hit batsman in the eighth,but struck out B.J. Upton to end the frame before fellow rookieJose Veras worked around a one-out single to record his secondcareer save, the first this season.


The Devil Rays, who close out their season with three games atToronto, finished 8-10 vs. New York.

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NY YANKEES (3) AT TAMPA BAY (1) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TAMPA BAY 4TH: C Pena homered to right. B Upton fouled out to first.
D Young singled to right. G Norton lined out to center. J Gomes struck out
swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 0, TAMPA BAY 1.

NY YANKEES 6TH: B Sardinha grounded out to first. A Gonzalez singled to
left. J Damon doubled to deep center, A Gonzalez scored. W Betemit struck out
swinging. H Matsui struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 1,
TAMPA BAY 1.

NY YANKEES 7TH: J Switzer relieved S Kazmir. J Giambi fouled out to second.
S Duncan singled to center. R Cano hit a ground rule double to deep left,
S Duncan to third. G Glover relieved J Switzer. J Molina singled to center,
S Duncan and R Cano scored. B Sardinha grounded into double play, second to
shortstop to first, J Molina out at second.(2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors)
NY YANKEES 3, TAMPA BAY 1.</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NY YANKEES (3) AT TAMPA BAY (1) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ny Yankees Starting Lineups -- J Damon CF, W Betemit 3B, H Matsui LF, J Giambi DH,
S Duncan 1B, R Cano 2B, J Molina C, B Sardinha RF, A Gonzalez SS, P Hughes RHP.

Tampa Bay Starting Lineups -- A Iwamura 3B, J Velandia 2B, C Pena 1B, B Upton CF,
D Young RF, G Norton DH, J Gomes LF, D Navarro C, J Wilson SS, S Kazmir LHP.

Umpires -- Paul Nauert (HP), Mike Dimuro (1B), Gerry Davis (2B), Brian Gorman (3B).

Gametime Weather: INDOORS.


NY YANKEES 1ST: J Damon grounded out to second. W Betemit grounded out to
third. H Matsui flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 0,
TAMPA BAY 0.

TAMPA BAY 1ST: A Iwamura walked. J Velandia sacrificed to pitcher,
A Iwamura to second. C Pena struck out looking. B Upton hit by pitch.
D Young grounded into fielder's choice to third, B Upton out at second.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 0, TAMPA BAY 0.

NY YANKEES 2ND: J Giambi struck out looking. S Duncan grounded out to
shortstop. R Cano struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 0,
TAMPA BAY 0.

TAMPA BAY 2ND: G Norton fouled out to right. J Gomes struck out looking.
D Navarro grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 0,
TAMPA BAY 0.

NY YANKEES 3RD: J Molina struck out swinging. B Sardinha reached on
infield single to shortstop. A Gonzalez flied out to center. J Damon struck
out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 0, TAMPA BAY 0.

TAMPA BAY 3RD: J Wilson flied out to center. A Iwamura grounded out to
first. J Velandia flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 0,
TAMPA BAY 0.

NY YANKEES 4TH: W Betemit grounded out to second. H Matsui grounded out to
third. J Giambi struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 0,
TAMPA BAY 0.

TAMPA BAY 4TH: C Pena homered to right. B Upton fouled out to first.
D Young singled to right. G Norton lined out to center. J Gomes struck out
swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 0, TAMPA BAY 1.

NY YANKEES 5TH: S Duncan struck out looking. R Cano struck out swinging.
J Molina struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 0, TAMPA BAY 1.

TAMPA BAY 5TH: D Navarro popped out to shortstop. J Wilson singled to
center. J Wilson caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop. A Iwamura
singled to center. J Velandia struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
NY YANKEES 0, TAMPA BAY 1.

NY YANKEES 6TH: B Sardinha grounded out to first. A Gonzalez singled to
left. J Damon doubled to deep center, A Gonzalez scored. W Betemit struck out
swinging. H Matsui struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 1,
TAMPA BAY 1.

TAMPA BAY 6TH: C Pena walked. B Upton flied out to right. D Young
grounded into double play, pitcher to second to first, C Pena out at second.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 1, TAMPA BAY 1.

NY YANKEES 7TH: J Switzer relieved S Kazmir. J Giambi fouled out to second.
S Duncan singled to center. R Cano hit a ground rule double to deep left,
S Duncan to third. G Glover relieved J Switzer. J Molina singled to center,
S Duncan and R Cano scored. B Sardinha grounded into double play, second to
shortstop to first, J Molina out at second.(2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors)
NY YANKEES 3, TAMPA BAY 1.

TAMPA BAY 7TH: G Norton grounded out to pitcher. J Gomes struck out
swinging. D Navarro flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
NY YANKEES 3, TAMPA BAY 1.

NY YANKEES 8TH: A Gonzalez walked. A Gonzalez caught stealing second,
catcher to second. J Damon singled to shallow right center. W Betemit struck
out swinging. J Damon stole second. J Damon safe at third on throwing error by
catcher D Navarro. H Matsui grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error)
NY YANKEES 3, TAMPA BAY 1.

TAMPA BAY 8TH: J Chamberlain relieved P Hughes. R Casanova hit for J Wilson.
R Casanova doubled to right. B Harris ran for R Casanova. A Iwamura lined out
to left. J Velandia struck out looking. C Pena hit by pitch. B Upton struck
out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 3, TAMPA BAY 1.

NY YANKEES 9TH: J Velandia at shortstop. B Harris at second base. S Dohmann
relieved G Glover. J Giambi grounded out to shortstop. S Duncan grounded out
to third. R Cano walked. J Molina struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) NY YANKEES 3, TAMPA BAY 1.

TAMPA BAY 9TH: J Veras relieved J Chamberlain. D Young grounded out to
third. G Norton singled to right. J Gomes grounded into fielder's choice to
third, G Norton out at second. J Gomes to second on fielder's indifference.
D Navarro grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) NY YANKEES 3,
TAMPA BAY 1.</div>

 

Molina, Hughes lead Yankees past Devil Rays

<h3>NY YANKEES 3, TAMPA BAY 1</h3>ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- A night after the New YorkYankees clinched a playoff berth, they kept their AmericanLeague East title hopes alive.


Playing without several starters, backup catcher Jose Molina'stwo-run single lifted the Yankees past the Tampa Bay Devil Rays,3-1, Thursday night.


"There was a lot of goofing around in the dugout tonight,considering the time of year," Torre said. "It was a verycomfortable evening and I had fun. Our goal is to get everybodyready to play Wednesday."


Rookie Phil Hughes pitched seven superb innings and Johnny Damonalso drove in a run for New York (92-67), which moved to withintwo games of the American League East-leading Boston Red Sox(94-65) with three games left.


Boston lost, 5-4, to the Minnesota Twins Thursday night. NewYork closes the regular season with a three-game series atBaltimore beginning Friday. Hughes scattered four hits, strikingout five and walking two. The only mistake by Hughes wasserving up the 44th homer of the season to Carlos Pena in thefourth inning.


"Today was the best by far that (Hughes) pitched," Torre said."He pitched himself out of jams, the only mistake he made wasthe homer to Pena. "It was very comforting to see him pitch likethis."


Yankees manager Joe Torre rested regulars Derek Jeter, AlexRodriguez, Jorge Posada, Bobby Abreu, Doug Mientkiewicz andMelky Cabrera a night after New York clinched its 13thconsecutive playoff berth with a 12-4 win here.


Without their stars, the Yankees struggled against Tampa Baylefthander Scott Kazmir, who allowed only three hits and one runin six innings.


Kazmir retired 16 of the first 17 batters until allowingconsecutive hits to Alberto Gonzalez and Johnny Damon in thesixth.


With one out, Gonzalez singled into left field and Damonfollowed with an RBI double to center. Damon, who was 2-for-4Thursday, went 10-for-15 in this three-game set.


Kazmir, who fanned 10 batters, ended the inning by striking outWilson Betemit and Hideki Matsui to give him a major league-best239 this season.


"Kazmir leading the majors in strikeouts is an indication of allthe good young players and what they're capable of in thefuture," Devil Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "There's a lot ofgood stuff going on out here."


Reliever Jon Switzer (0-2) started the seventh for Tampa Bay andpromptly allowed a single to Shelley Duncan and a double toRobinson Cano to put runners on second and third with one out.After Gary Glover replaced Switzer and with the infield in,Molina bounced a two-run single up the middle to make it 3-1.

It was enough for Hughes (5-3), who won his third consecutivedecision.


Joba Chamberlain allowed a double and hit batsman in the eighth,but struck out B.J. Upton to end the frame before fellow rookieJose Veras worked around a one-out single in the ninth torecord his second career save, the first this season.

"I think you understand how much of the game is pitching," Torresaid.


The Devil Rays, who close out their season with three games atToronto, finished 8-10 vs. New York.


"For me, this is a tough loss," Maddon said. "I really wantedto be .500 against the Yankees this year."