A Ray of Light

Chien-Ming Wang bounced back from a rough start and Bobby Abreu continued his hot streak with 5 RBI as the Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays this evening, 6-4. The Yankees had to play catch up after Wang ran into trouble in the 1st inning.

Akinori Iwamura lead off the inning with a single. After Wang retired Carl Crawford on a fielder's choice, Brendan Harris singled, and Carlos Pena drilled a 2-run double. Delmon Young followed with a one-hopper off the left field wall for an RBI double and a 3-0 lead. But Wang began to turn things around as he struck out B.J. Upton and Ty Wigginton to end the inning.

The Yankees got one run back in the 3rd against Rays' starterAndy Sonnanstine on Abreu's RBI ground out with the bases loaded. Hideki Matsui cut the deficit to one when he slugged his 13th home run to lead off the 4th. It was Godzilla's 5th home run in his last 8 games. One inning later Abreu struck again.

Kevin Thompson lead off with a double, but was still standing on 2nd Base after Damon lined out and Derek Jeter struck out. That's when Abreu, who came into the game 15 for his last 28, drilled a Sonnastine (1-4) delivery well back in the right field seats for a 4-3 Yankees lead. It was Abreu's 7th HR of the season and 2nd in 3 nights.

After his poor start, Wang (10-4) breezed through the next 4 innings and retired the first 2 batters in the 6th on just 5 pitches. But the Rays then loaded the bases as Young and Upton singled, and Wang hit Wiggington on a 3-2 pitch. That brought up Jonny Gomes who was just 2-14 in his career with the bases loaded. Wang made that stat a little worse as he froze Gomes with an inside hard sinker for a called 3rd strike.

Another Abreu RBI grounded out in the 7th gave the Yankees some insurance and they would need it. After Ron Villone recorded 2 strikeouts in an easy bottom of the 7th, Kyle Farnsworth(less) surrendered Pena's 21st HR of the season in the 8th. Farnsworth also issued a 2-out walk to Upton, but Jorge Posada, with the help of a great scoop and tag by Robinson Cano, threw him out attempting to steal second.

The Yankees got the run back in the top of the 9th, when Damon singled, stole 2nd, and came home on Abreu's double. It was Abreu's 5th ribbie of the night and 8th so far in the series. Then it was time for the Sandman.

Mariano Rivera gave up a 1-out single in the 9th, but struck out pinch-hitter Jorge Cantu and Iwamura on pitches up out of the strike zone to pick up his 12th save. It was also the 425th of Mo's career, moving him past John Franco for 3rd all-time on the career saves list.

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A sight not seen often- Jorge Posada stole 2nd Base without drawing a throw in the 7th inning. Someone(s) was obviously sleeping.

Chien-Ming Wang's victory was his 7th straight winning decision. He hasn't lost since May 26.

Interesting observation by 3rd Base coach Larry Bowa in his conversation with YES announcer Ken Singleton. The two talked about Robinson Cano giving away too many at-bats. Bowa said that if Cano gives away 1 at-bat a game, he's starting the season 0-162.

Melky Cabrera was scratched from the original lineup due to some kind of stomach ailment, but appeared in the dugout late in the game and was a defensive replacement for Damon in the 9th inning.

Rays starter Andy Sonnanstine issued just his 7th walk in 51 2-3 innings.

Mike Mussina starts the final game of the series tomorrow, which means you can pencil in an 0-3 for Wil Nieves. The fast Rays must already be licking their chops at the thought of running in the weak throwing Nieves.