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

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

<h3>After clinching playoff spot, Yankees eye AL East</h3>



<div class="pre">Ny Yankees (91-67) at Tampa Bay (65-93) 7:10 pm EDT</div>

<div class="pre">ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) - With a playoff spot wrapped</div>up, the New York Yankees will concentrate on winning theAmerican League East Division on Thursday when they take on theTampa Bay Devil Rays in the finale of a three-game series.

The Yankees took the middle game of the set on Wednesday, 12-4,clinching a postseason birth for the 13th consecutive season.

New York, which currently holds the AL wild card, isn't out ofthe division race yet, trailing the Boston Red Sox (94-64) bythree games in the AL East. However, the Yanks will need plentyof help since they have just four games left.


Rookie Phil Hughes (4-3, 4.80 ERA) take the mound for theYankees. The 21-year-old righthander failed to factor into thedecision against Toronto on Saturday after allowing three runsand seven hits in five innings.


New York is 4-0 in the last four games that Hughes has started.

The Devil Rays will counter with Scott Kazmir (13-9, 3.54), whois locked in a battle with fellow lefthander Johan Santana ofthe Minnesota Twins for AL strikeout title.


Kazmir struck out nine batters in his last start against the RedSox on Friday, giving him 229 on the season. He is sixstrikeouts behind Santana, who made his final regular-seasonstart Wednesday.

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

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

NY YANKEES TAMPA BAY
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Johnny Damon CF .267 11 60 Akinori Iwamura 3B .282 7 31
Wilson Betemit 3B .214 4 20 Jorge Velandia 2B .371 1 8
Hideki Matsui LF .287 25 102 Carlos Pena 1B .277 43 118
Jason Giambi DH .239 14 36 B.J. Upton CF .305 24 82
Shelley Duncan 1B .250 6 15 Delmon Young RF .291 13 93
Robinson Cano 2B .305 19 94 Greg Norton DH .246 4 22
Jose Molina C .251 1 17 Jonny Gomes LF .248 17 48
Bronson Sardinha RF .000 0 0 Dioner Navarro C .227 9 44
Alberto Gonzalez SS .000 0 1 Josh Wilson SS .245 2 24

Phil Hughes RHP (4-3, 4.80) Scott Kazmir LHP (13-9, 3.54)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY
WARMUPS: NYY - PHIL HUGHES (4-3, 4.80)
TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR (13-9, 3.54)

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
STARTING BATS: NYY - PHIL HUGHES AND JOSE MOLINA
TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR AND DIONER NAVARRO

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J DAMON (.267, 11 HR, 60 RBI)
W BETEMIT (.214, 4 HR, 20 RBI)
H MATSUI (.287, 25 HR, 102 RBI)</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
TAMPA BAY 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - PHIL HUGHES
TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: A IWAMURA (.282, 7 HR, 31 RBI)
J VELANDIA (.371, 1 HR, 8 RBI)
C PENA (.277, 43 HR, 118 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

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

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
W Betemit 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211
H Matsui lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
J Giambi dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239
S Duncan 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305
J Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
B Sardinha rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
A Gonzalez ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
J Velandia 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .371
C Pena 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
B Upton cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305
D Young rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
G Norton dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
J Gomes lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227
J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


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

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
P Hughes 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.80

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
S Kazmir 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.53

Pitches-strikes: S Kazmir 16-11. Ground balls-fly balls: S Kazmir 2-1.
Batters faced: S Kazmir 3.

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
CONFIRMED STARTERS: NYY - PHIL HUGHES
TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR</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
TAMPA BAY 0 0 0 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - PHIL HUGHES
TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J GIAMBI (.239, 14 HR, 36 RBI)
S DUNCAN (.250, 6 HR, 15 RBI)
R CANO (.305, 19 HR, 94 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

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

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
W Betemit 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211
H Matsui lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
J Giambi dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239
S Duncan 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
R Cano 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305
J Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
B Sardinha rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
A Gonzalez ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .282
J Velandia 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .371
C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .277
B Upton cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305
D Young rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .291
G Norton dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
J Gomes lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227
J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245

Totals 2 0 0 0 1 1 3

BATTING: S - J Velandia. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D Young 1.
Team LOB - 2.


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

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
P Hughes 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 4.72

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
S Kazmir 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.53

HBP - B Upton (by P Hughes). Pitches-strikes: P Hughes 20-12; S Kazmir 16-11.
Ground balls-fly balls: P Hughes 2-0; S Kazmir 2-1. Batters faced: P Hughes 5;
S Kazmir 3.

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
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
NY YANKEES 0 0 0 0 0
TAMPA BAY 0 0 0 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - PHIL HUGHES
TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: G NORTON (.246, 4 HR, 22 RBI)
J GOMES (.248, 17 HR, 48 RBI)
D NAVARRO (.227, 9 HR, 44 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (0) VS TAMPA BAY (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
W Betemit 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211
H Matsui lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
J Giambi dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .238
S Duncan 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
R Cano 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .304
J Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
B Sardinha rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
A Gonzalez ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 6 0 0 0 0 2 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .282
J Velandia 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .371
C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .277
B Upton cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305
D Young rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .291
G Norton dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
J Gomes lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227
J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245

Totals 2 0 0 0 1 1 3

BATTING: S - J Velandia. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D Young 1.
Team LOB - 2.


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 00 -- 0
TAMPA BAY - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
P Hughes 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 4.72

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
S Kazmir 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.51

HBP - B Upton (by P Hughes). Pitches-strikes: P Hughes 20-12; S Kazmir 26-19.
Ground balls-fly balls: P Hughes 2-0; S Kazmir 3-1. Batters faced: P Hughes 5;
S Kazmir 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
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
NY YANKEES 0 0 0 0 0
TAMPA BAY 0 0 0 0 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - PHIL HUGHES
TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J MOLINA (.251, 1 HR, 17 RBI)
B SARDINHA (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
A GONZALEZ (.000, 0 HR, 1 RBI)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

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

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
W Betemit 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211
H Matsui lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
J Giambi dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .238
S Duncan 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
R Cano 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .304
J Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
B Sardinha rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
A Gonzalez ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 6 0 0 0 0 2 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .282
J Velandia 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .371
C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .277
B Upton cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305
D Young rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .291
G Norton dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245
J Gomes lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .247
D Navarro c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245

Totals 5 0 0 0 1 2 3

BATTING: S - J Velandia. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D Young 1.
Team LOB - 2.


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 00 -- 0
TAMPA BAY - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
P Hughes 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 4.66

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
S Kazmir 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.51

HBP - B Upton (by P Hughes). Pitches-strikes: P Hughes 34-22; S Kazmir 26-19.
Ground balls-fly balls: P Hughes 3-1; S Kazmir 3-1. Batters faced: P Hughes 8;
S Kazmir 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
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
NY YANKEES 0 0 0 0 1 0
TAMPA BAY 0 0 0 0 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - PHIL HUGHES
TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: J WILSON (.245, 2 HR, 24 RBI)
A IWAMURA (.282, 0-FOR-0, BB)
J VELANDIA (.371, 0-FOR-0, SAC)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (0) VS TAMPA BAY (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .266
W Betemit 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211
H Matsui lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
J Giambi dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .238
S Duncan 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
R Cano 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .304
J Molina c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .250
B Sardinha rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .333
A Gonzalez ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000

Totals 10 0 1 0 0 4 2

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .282
J Velandia 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .371
C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .277
B Upton cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305
D Young rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .291
G Norton dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245
J Gomes lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .247
D Navarro c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245

Totals 5 0 0 0 1 2 3

BATTING: S - J Velandia. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D Young 1.
Team LOB - 2.


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 000 -- 0
TAMPA BAY - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
P Hughes 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 4.66

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
S Kazmir 3 1 0 0 0 4 0 3.49

HBP - B Upton (by P Hughes). Pitches-strikes: P Hughes 34-22; S Kazmir 48-34.
Ground balls-fly balls: P Hughes 3-1; S Kazmir 3-2. Batters faced: P Hughes 8;
S Kazmir 10.

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
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
NY YANKEES 0 0 0 0 1 0
TAMPA BAY 0 0 0 0 0 0 (TOP 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - PHIL HUGHES
TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR

DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: W BETEMIT (.211, 0-FOR-1)
H MATSUI (.287, 0-FOR-1)
J GIAMBI (.238, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (0) VS TAMPA BAY (0) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .266
W Betemit 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211
H Matsui lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
J Giambi dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .238
S Duncan 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
R Cano 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .304
J Molina c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .250
B Sardinha rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .333
A Gonzalez ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000

Totals 10 0 1 0 0 4 2

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .282
J Velandia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .361
C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .277
B Upton cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305
D Young rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .291
G Norton dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245
J Gomes lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .247
D Navarro c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
J Wilson ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244

Totals 8 0 0 0 1 2 3

BATTING: S - J Velandia. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D Young 1.
Team LOB - 2.


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 000 -- 0
TAMPA BAY - 000 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
P Hughes 3 0 0 0 1 2 0 4.59

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
S Kazmir 3 1 0 0 0 4 0 3.49

HBP - B Upton (by P Hughes). Pitches-strikes: P Hughes 48-32; S Kazmir 48-34.
Ground balls-fly balls: P Hughes 4-3; S Kazmir 3-2. Batters faced: P Hughes 11;
S Kazmir 10.

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
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
NY YANKEES 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
TAMPA BAY 0 0 0 0 0 0 (BOT 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - PHIL HUGHES
TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: C PENA (.277, 0-FOR-1)
B UPTON (.305, 0-FOR-0, HBP)
D YOUNG (.291, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: NY YANKEES at TAMPA BAY

<div class="pre">NY YANKEES (0) VS TAMPA BAY (0) - MID 4TH - IN PROGRESS

NY YANKEES ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Damon cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .266
W Betemit 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .208
H Matsui lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
J Giambi dh 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 .238
S Duncan 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
R Cano 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .304
J Molina c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .250
B Sardinha rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .333
A Gonzalez ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000

Totals 13 0 1 0 0 5 2

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Iwamura 3b 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .282
J Velandia 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .361
C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .277
B Upton cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305
D Young rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .291
G Norton dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245
J Gomes lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .247
D Navarro c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
J Wilson ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244

Totals 8 0 0 0 1 2 3

BATTING: S - J Velandia. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D Young 1.
Team LOB - 2.


----------------------------------------------------
NY YANKEES - 000 0 -- 0
TAMPA BAY - 000 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES ip h r er bb so hr era
P Hughes 3 0 0 0 1 2 0 4.59

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
S Kazmir 4 1 0 0 0 5 0 3.47

HBP - B Upton (by P Hughes). Pitches-strikes: P Hughes 48-32; S Kazmir 58-41.
Ground balls-fly balls: P Hughes 4-3; S Kazmir 5-2. Batters faced: P Hughes 11;
S Kazmir 13.

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 - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY CARLOS PENA (44) TO RIGHT WITH 0 OUT IN
THE 4TH OFF PHIL HUGHES.
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 0, TAMPA BAY 1

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: B UPTON (.305, 0-FOR-0, HBP)</div>