A-Rod Leads Yanks To 6th Straight

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
San Diego	0	0	2	0	0	0	2	1	0		5	8	2
N.Y. Yankees	1	2	1	0	1	0	2	1	X		8	14	1

Tonight's 8-5 win over the Padres makes six in a row for the Yanks, and improved their record to 39-33. Darrell Rasner starter for the Bombers, and was good enough to pick up his 4th win of the year. In 5 innings pitched Rasner allowed 2 runs on 3 hits, but he didn't have his best control as he walked 5.

The bullpen, which has been so good lately, was also a little shaky tonight. Edwar Ramirez pitched a very good 6th inning, but got into some trouble in the 7th when he allowed back-to-back HRs to Brian Giles and Adrian Gonzalez.

With the Yankees up 7-4 in the 8th Girardi called on Kyle Farnsworth to pitch. He then immediately served up a HR to Chase Headley to cut the lead to 7-5. The Padres did get the tying run to the plate, but The Farns was able to get out of the inning without any further damage.

I can handle Farnsworth pitching in games where the Yankees have a three run lead, but I have to wonder if Girardi still would have used him if the Yankees were still leading 5-4. I certainly hope not.

Unlike Ramirez and The Farns, Mariano Rivera was not shaky. He pitched the 9th and picked up his 19th save of the season. Mo didn't pick up his 19th save last season until August 12th.

	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Rasner (W, 4-4)	5.0	3	2	2	5	4	0	3.64
Ramirez (H, 2)	2.0	2	2	2	0	4	2	2.86
Farnsworth (H, 7)	1.0	2	1	1	0	2	1	4.18
Rivera (S, 19)	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0.82

PADRES PITCHING

Reigning Cy Young award winning Jake Peavy started for the Padres and the Yankees scored three runs off him in the first two innings. They also made him work for every out, Peavy threw 93 pitches in just four innings of work.

The 1st run was unearned, coming on an error by Khalil Greene in the bottom of the 1st. The Yanks added runs two and three in the 2nd inning on an RBI ground-rule double by Wilson Betemit and an RBI single by Johnny Damon.

After the Padres cut the lead to 3-2, Alex Rodriguez gave the Yankees some breathing room with a long solo HR off Peavy in the 4th. The homer was A-Rod's 14th of the season.

Again, after the Padres cut the lead to one with two runs in the top of the 7th, the Yankees came right back with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Derek Jeter led off with a double, and then Bobby Abreu drove him in with a RBI single. The next batter was A-Rod, and after Abreu stole second Rodriguez drove him in with a RBI single of his own.

They tacked on a final run in the 8th with another RBI single by Johnny Damon.

The Yankees offense was relentless tonight, every time the Padres scored the Yanks came right back with runs of their own. They also showed off their speed tonight by stealing four bases. The only Yankee who did not get a hit on the night was Jason Giambi, but he's been red hot so I'll give him a pass.

	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, LF	5	1	3	2	0	1	2	.332
Jeter, SS	4	1	1	0	1	1	3	.272
Abreu, RF	4	1	1	1	0	0	1	.282
Rodriguez, 3B	4	2	3	2	0	1	1	.337
Giambi, DH	4	0	0	0	0	1	3	.263
Posada, C	3	0	1	1	1	0	0	.326
Cano, 2B	4	1	1	0	0	1	2	.230
Betemit, 1B	4	2	3	1	0	1	0	.254
Cabrera, CF	4	0	1	0	0	0	3	.254
Totals	36	8	14	7	2	6	15
BATTING 2B: Cano (15, Peavy), Betemit 2 (5, Peavy, Meredith), Cabrera (9, Peavy), Jeter (10, Hampson). HR: Rodriguez (14, 3rd inning off Peavy, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Damon 3; Jeter 2; Abreu; Rodriguez 6; Posada; Cano 2; Betemit 5; Cabrera 2. RBI: Betemit (10), Damon 2 (33), Rodriguez 2 (40), Posada (18), Abreu (44). 2-out RBI: Damon 2; Posada. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Giambi; Jeter 2. GIDP: Giambi. Team LOB: 6. BASERUNNING SB: Damon (13, 2nd base off Peavy/Carlin), Rodriguez (7, 2nd base off Corey/Carlin), Abreu 2 (8, 2nd base off Peavy/Carlin, 2nd base off Meredith/Carlin). CS: Betemit (1, 2nd base by Hampson/Carlin).

PADRES OFFENSE

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Alex Rodriguez: (3-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, SB)

HONORABLE MENTION: Johnny Damon: (3-for-5, 2 RBI, R, SB)

Joba Chamberlain makes his fourth career start tomorrow afternoon for the Yanks as they go for the sweep. He will face off against 25 year old Josh Banks, who will start for the Padres. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m., and the game can be seen on YES and heard on WCBS 880.