Yankees vs. Rangers - July 1

First game of July and the Yankees find themselves 6.5 games behind the Tampa Rays in the AL East and 5 games behind the Boston Red Sox in the AL Wild Card race. They also have a two game losing streak that has dropped them back to 5 games over .500 (44-39). Joba Chamberlain (2-2, 2.03) will attempt to turn things around tonight when he faces veteran Kevin Millwood (5-4, 5.08).

Chamberlain has never faced any member of the Rangers. Millwood is 1-4, 4.82 in 6 career starts against the Yankees.

Yankees vs. Millwood

Abreu 14-39 (.359) 1 HR 4 RBI
Cabrera 4-9 (.444)
Cano 4-10 (.400) 1 RBI
Damon 3-15 (.200) 1 RBI
Giambi 5-11 (.455) 2 HR 3 RBI
Jeter 5-19 (.263) 2 RBI
Moeller 0-4
Molina 1-9 (.111)
Posada 1-10 (.100)
Rodriguez 6-14 (.429) 1 HR 2 RBI


Tonight's lineups courtesy of Peter Abraham, including Derek Jeter taking a rare night off:

Damon DH
Gardner LF
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Giambi 1B
Posada C
Cano 2B
Betemit SS
Cabrera CF

As expected, A-Rod said he will not participate in this year's Home Run Derby. No word if Madonna will.

According to the NY Post, Hideki Matsui may start taking BP soon.

"He came in today and he looked great. Keeping him off it really helped," said manager Joe Girardi. "[Trainer] Gene Monahan came up to me and said he looks tremendous and we talked about him taking BP in a couple of days. So I think the actual rest where he wasn't traveling to the ballpark and taking BP and trying to test it I think really helped calm it down."

The Post's Kevn Kiernan also has a piece on how Jose Reyes should watch Derek Jeter to learn how to conduct himself on the field.

Mark Feinsand of the News has some more info on Brett Gardner. Joe Girardi said Gardner is "here to play". Of course after Saturday's game he said Kei Igawa was going to be part of the bullpen. He was sent down before the next game.