(REUTERS/Scott Audette)| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | ||
NY Yankees | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 1 | |
Tampa Bay | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 5 | 7 | 0 |
WP - Jeff Niemann (13-6)
LP - Andy Pettitte (14-8)
SV - Grant Balfour (4)
Another day, another meaningless yet frustrating loss as the Yanks head into the playoffs. It's not frustrating because they lost, but because it was another bad performance from a Yankees starter. Andy Pettitte lasted just 4.1 innings, allowing five runs (three earned) on six hits, walked four, struck out just one, and threw 54 of his 95 pitches for strikes.
I don't know if these last two games have been letdowns on the pitching side, but I certainly hope that's the case. Again, I don't care about losing, and I don't care that these lineups -- mostly full of bench players -- aren't scoring runs, but I would like to see a Yankee starter pitch well heading into those big games coming up next week. At least nobody has gotten hurt yet.
Besides one stupid throwing error by Alfredo Aceves, the bullpen pitched well, which was nice to see. Aceves didn't allow a hit or a walk in 2.1 innings pitched, and struck out three. And Chad Gaudin threw 1.1 scoreless, allowing just one hit and striking out two.
In some good news for the Yanks, the AL Central is now tied after Minnesota's win over Zack Greinke and the Royals, and Detroit's loss to the White Sox. This means two things; Justin Verlander is now forced to pitch in a must-win tomorrow afternoon, and there's also a good chance these two teams will be headed to a one-game playoff on Monday.
In other pretty interesting news, the Yankees will use Joba Chamberlain out of the pen tomorrow afternoon in Tampa to see if he can be effective in that role. I was hoping they'd do that. I also hope they use him against a good part of the Tampa lineup and not the bottom of the order. That's the best way to see what he can give you come playoff time.
| AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | LOB | AVG | |
| Gardner, CF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | .271 |
| Damon, LF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | .280 |
| Duncan, S, RF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .200 |
| Teixeira, 1B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .293 |
| Miranda, 1B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .375 |
| Matsui, H, DH | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | .273 |
| Posada, C | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .285 |
| Cervelli, C | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .301 |
| Cano, 2B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .322 |
| Pena, R, SS | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .289 |
| Swisher, RF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .249 |
| 1-Guzman, F, PR-RF-LF | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .250 |
| Hinske, 3B | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .243 |
| Hairston, J, SS-2B | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .249 |
| Totals | 33 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 14 | |
1-Ran for Swisher in the 6th. | ||||||||
BATTING TB: Gardner; Damon; Teixeira; Posada; Cano; Pena, R; Guzman, F; Hinske; Hairston, J. RBI: Damon (80), Teixeira (122), Hairston, J (39). 2-out RBI: Damon; Teixeira; Hairston, J. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Matsui, H 2; Damon; Gardner. GIDP: Swisher; Hinske. Team RISP: 3-for-11. Team LOB: 8. BASERUNNING SB: Gardner 2 (26, 2nd base off Niemann/Navarro, 2nd base off Niemann/Navarro), Guzman, F (3, 2nd base off Cormier/Navarro). CS: Hairston, J (4, 2nd base by Niemann/Navarro). FIELDING E: Aceves, A (2, throw). | ||||||||
| IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | |
| Pettitte (L, 14-8) | 4.1 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 4.16 |
| Aceves, A | 2.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3.54 |
| Gaudin | 1.1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4.64 |
Pitches-strikes: Pettitte 95-54, Aceves, A 34-23, Gaudin 22-15.
RAYS STATS
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Jeff Niemann (W, 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K)
HONORABLE MENTION: Akinori Iwamura (2-for-3, 2B, R)
GOAT OF THE GAME: Andy Pettitte (L, 4.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 1 K)
Tomorrow's Game
Yankees @ Rays
Game Time: 1:38 p.m. TV/Radio: YES, WCBS
RHP A.J. Burnett (12-9, 4.10) vs. RHP Wade Davis (2-1, 3.45)
Game Time: 1:38 p.m. TV/Radio: YES, WCBS
RHP A.J. Burnett (12-9, 4.10) vs. RHP Wade Davis (2-1, 3.45)
