The Captain's Clutch Hitting Leads Yanks Past Rays

(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
NYY	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	1	1		4	8	0
TB	0	0	2	1	0	0	0	0	0		3	6	1

Andy Pettitte started today's rubber game against the Rays, and pitched well. In 7.1 innings pitched he allowed three runs on six hits, walked one and struck out four. He had one bad inning, the third, where he gave up three doubles and a single that led to two Rays runs giving them an early 2-0 lead.

After the Yankees tied it with two runs in the top half of the fourth coming on a two-run bomb off the bat of Robinson Cano, Pettitte gave one right back when he hung a slider to Carlos Pena. Pena mashed the pitch deep into the right field stands and the Rays led 3-2.

The score would remain 3-2 Rays until the top of the eighth. Derek Jeter led off the inning with a double over the head of B.J. Upton, a ball Upton probably could have caught. Either way, the Yanks were in business with a runner on second and nobody out. Johnny Damon then stepped up and lined a ball down the right field line for an RBI double and the game was tied. The Yanks should have scored more in the inning but they left Damon stranded on 2nd when Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher struck out, and following a walk to Jorge Posada, Cano grounded out.

Pettitte started the bottom of the eighth and retired the first and only batter he faced in the inning. Brian Bruney came in to relieve Pettitte and struck out both Upton and Carl Crawford. In the last two games in Tampa Bruney has faced five batters, struck out all five of them, and used just 18 pitches, and in his last five appearances he hasn't allowed a hit or walk in 4.2 innings and struck out 10. That's nasty.

With one out in the top of the 9th and nobody on Cody Ransom came to the plate and lined a low and outside pitch for a big, one out double. I have bashed Ransom for most of the beginning of the season, but that doesn't mean I'm not rooting for him. I was as happy as anyone to see him come through there. I hope he proves me wrong all year. Anyway, with Ransom on second Jose Molina lined out and that brought Jeter to the plate with the lead run on second and two out. The Captain lined a 1-1 fastball through the hole between short and third and Ransom came in to score giving the Yanks a 4-3 lead. To steal a point from John Flaherty, it was great to see how pumped the bench was when Ransom came in to score. You could see how happy they were that he came through.

Mariano Rivera came in for the save and made quick work of the Rays, retiring Pat Burrell, Carlos Pena, and Willy Aybar on eight pitches for his second save of the year. Another great sight was how pumped Joe Girardi and the rest of the coaching staff was during the final out. Kudos to the YES Network for showing that several times at the end of the telecast.

After getting their butts kicked 15-5 in the series opener it was great to see the Yankees come back and win these two games against the American League champs. They now head home on a high note to open their new stadium tomorrow against the Indians.

	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Jeter, SS	4	1	2	1	1	0	0	.289
Damon, LF	5	0	2	1	0	1	1	.259
Teixeira, 1B	4	0	0	0	0	3	3	.174
Swisher, RF	4	1	1	0	0	1	1	.429
Cabrera, M, RF	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.333
Posada, DH	3	0	0	0	1	1	1	.269
Cano, 2B	4	1	2	2	0	0	2	.382
Gardner, CF	4	0	0	0	0	2	1	.258
Pena, 3B	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	.167
a-Matsui, PH	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.125
1-Ransom, PR-3B	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	.120
Molina, J, C	4	0	0	0	0	0	2	.200
Totals	35	4	8	4	3	8	11
a-Walked for Pena in the 7th. 1-Ran for Matsui in the 7th.
BATTING 2B: Cano (2, Sonnanstine), Jeter (1, Balfour), Damon (1, Howell), Ransom (2, Percival). HR: Cano (2, 4th inning off Sonnanstine, 1 on, 1 out). TB: Jeter 3; Damon 3; Swisher; Cano 6; Ransom 2. RBI: Cano 2 (6), Damon (2), Jeter (7). 2-out RBI: Jeter. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Gardner; Teixeira; Cano; Damon. Team RISP: 2-for-9. Team LOB: 7. BASERUNNING CS: Gardner (1, 2nd base by Sonnanstine/Hernandez, M). FIELDING DP: (Pena-Teixeira-Jeter). Pickoffs: Pettitte (Hernandez, M at 1st base).

RAYS OFFENSE

	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Pettitte	7.1	6	3	3	1	4	1	2.51
Bruney (W, 1-0)	0.2	0	0	0	0	2	0	3.60
Rivera (S, 2)	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.00

RAYS PITCHING

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Derek Jeter (2-for-4, 2B, GW RBI, R)

HONORABLE MENTION: Robinson Cano (2-for-4, HR, 2B, 2 RBI, R)

“It always seems as though a season doesn’t officially start until you have your home opener.” That's what Derek Jeter said following today's win. Well, I guess tomorrow the season officially starts as the Yankees open up their new stadium against the Cleveland Indians. CC Sabathia will make the start for the Yankees, with last year's Cy Young award winner Cliff Lee going for the Indians. First pitch is set for 1:08 p.m. and the game can be seen on YES and heard on WCBS 880.