Yankees Pitch Themselves a Win

Chien-Ming Wang did yesterday what your number one guy is supposed to do- stop a losing streak. The Wanger pitched superbly into the 7th inning before turning things over to Joba Chamberlain and Mariano Rivera, who were lights out for the final 9 outs.

The Yankees needed superb pitching, because the lineup was punchless again. Hideki Matsui had 3 of the Yankees 8 hits, including a 2-run home run, his 2nd of the season.

Wang was the difference maker in this one though. He didn't allowed a hit until the 5th, and only allowed 4 on theday. Two of them came to start the 7th and put runners on the corners. That's when Joe Girardi, back on the bench for the first time since Thursday, signaled for Chamberlain.

The accuracy of radar guns is still up for debate, but Chamberlain registered 101 mph with a fastball to Rays 3rd Baseman Willie Aybar. He then struck out Aybar with a "slow" 97 mph fastball. Catcher Shawn Riggins ripped a line drive, but Robinson Cano snared it, and in the same motion, fired to first to double off Eric Hinske to end the inning. Chamberlain and Rivera breezed through the final six batters, with Mo blowing away B.J. Upton and Cliff Floyd to record his 3rd save.

The Yankees pounded Rays starter James Shields in his two starts last season, but they continued to be plagued by a lack of clutch hitting.

Wilson Betemit was hit by a pitch to start the 3rd, but was thrown out trying to go to 3rd on Melky Cabrera's single to left-center. In the 5th, Johnny Damon and Derek Jeter stroked back to back 1-out singles, but Bobby Abreu struck out. After a walk to Alex Rodriguez, Matsui struck out looking, allowing Shields to escape yet again.

Robinson Cano lead off the 6th with a double to end Shields' day, but the lineup fared no better against the Rays bullpen. J.P. Howell came on and retired 9 of the 10 he faced.

But the Yankees had pitching on their side Sunday to avoid a 3 game losing streak.

News and Notes

As expected, Jason Giambi sat out Sunday's game with a strained groin muscle. Considering the damp, cool weather today, it wouldn't be surprising if he sat out Monday night's finale with the Rays either.

Hideki Matsui didn't hit 2nd home run last year until May 4th.

Mariano Rivera didn't pick up his 3rd save in '07 until May 3rd, when he saved both ends of a doubleheader.

Tampa Bay	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Iwamura, 2B	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	.227
Crawford, LF	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	.174
Pena, 1B	4	0	1	0	0	2	0	.222
Upton, CF	3	0	0	0	1	1	1	.278
Floyd, DH	4	0	1	0	0	1	1	.333
Hinske, RF	2	0	1	0	1	0	0	.400
Aybar, 3B	3	0	1	0	0	2	3	.231
Riggans, C	3	0	0	0	0	1	2	.273
Bartlett, SS	3	0	0	0	0	2	1	.211
Totals	30	0	4	0	2	9	8
BATTING TB: Pena; Floyd; Hinske; Aybar. Team LOB: 5. BASERUNNING CS: Aybar (1, home by Wang/Posada). FIELDING Outfield assists: Upton (Betemit at 3rd base).

Tampa Bay	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Shields (L, 1-1)	5.0	8	2	2	1	5	1	3.00
Howell	3.0	1	0	0	0	2	0	0.00

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, LF	4	0	1	0	0	0	1	.136
Jeter, SS	4	0	1	0	0	0	1	.217
Abreu, RF	4	0	0	0	0	3	2	.318
Rodriguez, 3B	3	1	1	0	1	0	0	.333
Matsui, DH	4	1	3	2	0	1	3	.350
Cano, 2B	4	0	2	0	0	0	2	.174
Posada, C	4	0	0	0	0	2	4	.143
Betemit, 1B	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	.200
Cabrera, CF	3	0	1	0	0	1	1	.364
Totals	32	2	9	2	1	7	16
BATTING 2B: Rodriguez (3, Shields), Cano (1, Shields). HR: Matsui (2, 4th inning off Shields, 1 on, 1 out). TB: Damon; Jeter; Rodriguez 2; Matsui 6; Cano 3; Cabrera. RBI: Matsui 2 (4). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Jeter; Matsui 2; Cabrera. Team LOB: 8. FIELDING E: Cano (2, missed catch). DP: (Cano-Betemit).

NY Yankees	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Wang (W, 2-0)	6.0	4	0	0	2	6	0	1.38
Chamberlain (H, 2)	2.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0.00
Rivera (S, 3)	1.0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0.00

Shields pitched to 1 batter in the 6th.
Wang pitched to 2 batters in the 7th.

HBP: Betemit (by Shields).
Pitches-strikes: Shields 96-65, Howell 33-23, Wang 96-56, Chamberlain 16-13, Rivera 12-10.
Ground outs-fly outs: Shields 5-4, Howell 4-3, Wang 7-4, Chamberlain 2-3, Rivera 0-1.
Batters faced: Shields 24, Howell 10, Wang 24, Chamberlain 5, Rivera 3.
Inherited runners-scored: Howell 1-0, Chamberlain 2-0.
Umpires: HP: Ted Barrett. 1B: James Hoye. 2B: Doug Eddings. 3B: Dana DeMuth.
Weather: 46 degrees, cloudy.
Wind: 16 mph, In from LF.
T: 2:53.
Att: 51,279.