Pettitte and Giambi Help Yanks Avoid Sweep

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Cincinnati	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0		1	8	0
N.Y. Yankees	0	0	0	0	1	3	0	0	X		4	11	1

The Yanks were able to avoid what would have been an embarrassing sweep at the hands of the Cincinnati Reds with a 4-1 win today at The Stadium. Andy Pettitte pitched very well for the game in a row to lead the Yanks to victory. In six innings the lefty allowed no runs on four hits, while walking two and striking out four.

Edwar Ramirez relieved Pettitte and pitched and retired the Reds 1-2-3 with a strikeout in his inning of work.

It was more of the same from Kyle Farnsworth today; he came in to pitch the 8th, and after retiring the first two batters of the inning allowed a solo HR to Ken Griffey Jr., Griffey's 601st of his career, and the 10th allowed by Farnsworth this season. The next batter was Brandon Phillips and he lined a shot up the middle that deflected off Farnsworth's hand. Phillips was on with a single and Farnsworth had to leave the game with a cut on his pitching hand. Nothing is broken, he recieved a few stitches between his pinky and ring finfer, and should not miss much time.

Mariano Rivera came in to replace Farnsworth and didn't allow a run in 1.1 IP to pick up his 21st save of the season. Mo did get into a little trouble in the 9th when he allowed the first two batters to reach base, but settled down and retired the next three batters he face.

	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Pettitte (W, 8-5)	6.0	4	0	0	2	4	0	4.04
Ramirez	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	2.74
Farnsworth	0.2	2	1	1	0	1	1	4.24
Rivera (S, 21)	1.1	2	0	0	0	1	0	0.76

REDS PITCHING

The Reds once again got great starting pitching from one of their under-22 starters, this time it was Johnny Cueto, who allowed just one run in five innings of work, while striking out seven Yankees. The lone run off Cueto came on a Robinson Cano sac fly in the bottom of the 5th.

But unlike the two previous games, today Yankees were able to get to the Reds' bullpen today. With two on and two out, and the Yankees ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the 6th, Jason Giambi hit an opposite field two run double to extend the Yankees lead to 3-1. The next batter was Jorge Posada and he connected with an RBI double of his own to give the Yanks a 4-1 lead.

	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, LF	4	0	0	0	0	1	2	.323
Jeter, SS	3	1	1	0	1	1	0	.279
Abreu, RF	4	0	2	0	0	1	3	.273
Rodriguez, 3B	4	0	1	0	0	1	3	.332
Matsui, DH	4	1	1	0	0	2	2	.323
Giambi, 1B	3	2	3	2	0	0	0	.271
1-Betemit, PR-1B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.250
Posada, C	4	0	2	1	0	2	2	.311
Cano, 2B	2	0	0	1	0	0	2	.227
Cabrera, CF	3	0	1	0	0	1	1	.254
Totals	31	4	11	4	1	9	15
1-Ran for Giambi in the 8th.
BATTING 2B: Posada 2 (9, Cueto, Affeldt), Giambi (12, Affeldt). TB: Jeter; Abreu 2; Rodriguez; Matsui; Giambi 4; Posada 4; Cabrera. RBI: Cano (26), Giambi 2 (42), Posada (19). 2-out RBI: Giambi 2; Posada. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cano 2; Damon. SF: Cano. GIDP: Matsui. Team LOB: 6. BASERUNNING SB: Giambi (2, 2nd base off Cueto/Ross). CS: Abreu (4, 2nd base by Cueto/Ross).

REDS OFFENSE

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Andy Pettitte (6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K)

HONORABLE MENTION: Jason Giambi (3-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R)

Tomorrow is an off day for the Yanks as they travel to Pittsburgh to open up a three game series with the Pirates on Tuesday. Darrell Rasner will open the series for the Yanks, and he will face left-hander Tom Gorzelanny. First pitch: 7:05 p.m. - TV: MY9 - Radio: WCBS 880