Garza Dominates as Rays Beat Yanks 7-1

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
N.Y. Yankees	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0		1	6	0
Tampa Bay	0	1	0	4	1	0	1	0	X		7	13	0

The Yankees once again fell under the .500 mark with a 7-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays tonight. Andy Pettitte started for the Yanks and for the third time in four starts pitched poorly. Pettitte only lasted 4 innings, allowing 5 runs on 8 hits, walking 2 and striking out 5. Andy seemed distracted by the Rays running game and really couldn't get anything going on the mound. It's really amazing what a running game can do for a team, I hope Girardi took notice.

The bullpen wasn't great tonight either - Chris Britton pitched 2 innings and allowed a run on 1 hit and 2 walks, and Jose Veras allowed a run on 4 hits in his 1.2 innings of work. Edwar Ramirez came in for one batter and struck him out.

	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Pettitte (L, 3-4)	4.0	8	5	5	2	5	0	4.40
Britton	2.0	1	1	1	2	0	0	1.93
Veras	1.2	4	1	1	0	1	0	2.45
Ramirez	0.1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0.00

RAYS PITCHING

The Yankees offense couldn't do anything against Rays starter Matt Garza who went 7 innings and allowed no runs on just 5 hits, and every time the Yankees got runners on Garza got a double play ball to kill the potential rally.

The lone Yankees run came in the 8th when Jose Molina led off with a double, Alberto Gonzalez moved him over with a ground ball, and then Johnny Damon drove Molina home with a RBI groundout.

The only Yankee who had a multi-hit game was Alberto Gonzalez who went 2-for-3. Robinson Cano went 1-for-3 and extended his hitting streak to seven games.

	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, LF	4	0	0	1	0	0	2	.274
Jeter, SS	3	0	1	0	1	0	0	.309
Abreu, RF	4	0	0	0	0	2	3	.295
Matsui, DH	3	0	0	0	1	3	0	.323
Giambi, 1B	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	.177
Cabrera, CF	4	0	1	0	0	0	1	.270
Cano, 2B	3	0	1	0	0	0	2	.188
Molina, C	3	1	1	0	0	0	2	.214
Gonzalez, 3B	3	0	2	0	0	0	1	.310
Totals	30	1	6	1	2	5	12
BATTING 2B: Molina (8, Glover). TB: Jeter; Cabrera; Cano; Molina 2; Gonzalez 2. RBI: Damon (17). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Abreu. GIDP: Molina 2; Abreu. Team LOB: 5.

RAYS OFFENSE

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Matt Garza (7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K)

HONORABLE MENTION: Dioner Navarro (3-3, 2 RBI)

Game two of this four game series is tomorrow night at The Trop. Chien-Ming Wang starts for the Yankees and will face off against Rays starter Edwin Jackson. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m., and you can watch the game on YES or listen to the game on WCBS 880. Hopefully the Yanks put forth a better effort than they did tonight.