Joba, Kennedy blank Reds 4-0

Joba Chamberlain wasn't perfect, but he blanked the Reds for 2.1 innings Monday tonight. Ian Kennedy nearly doubled Joba's effort with 4 scoreless frames as the Yankees blanked the Reds, 4-0, in Tampa tonight.

Chamberlain hit his pitch count (49) quicker than Joe Girardi and Dave Eiland would have liked, but Kennedy was masterful. The USC product faced 15 batters, allowing a pair of hits and one walk, while striking out two. Counting the USF game, Kennedy has allowed just 1 run on 5 hits over 8 innings. Billy Traber (.2), Mariano Rivera (1), and LaTroy Hawkins (1) chipped in to complete a six-hit shutout.

Alex Rodriguez snapped a scoreless tie with an RBI double in the 3rd. Later in the inning, Hideki Matsui had one of his first two hits of the spring, delivering an RBI single. Alberto Gonzalez and Justin Christian added RBI singles in the 6th and 8th innings to complete the scoring.

The Yankees also had their runnings shoes on, swiping three bases in as many attempts. Brett Gardner, Christian, and Bobby Abreu had one steal apiece. Abreu was also later picked off of first base by former Yankee Mike Stanton. Joba picked Reds rookie phenom Jay Bruce off of first base as well.

The Yankees take on the Toronto Blue Jays Tuesday in Tampa with Chien-Ming Wang getting the start. Gustavo Chacin, coming back from arm woes, goes for the Jays. Darrell Rasner, Kyle Farnsworth, Heath Phillips, Jonathan Albaladejo and Ross Ohlendorf are also scheduled to pitch for the Bombers.

March 10, 2008

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Cincinnati	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	6	1
NY Yankees	0	0	2	0	0	1	0	1	X		4	12	1

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, CF	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	.316
Christian, CF	3	0	1	1	0	1	1	.143
Jeter, SS	3	0	1	0	0	0	3	.235
Gonzalez, SS	2	0	1	1	0	1	1	.364
Abreu, RF	1	1	0	0	2	0	1	.500
Lane, RF	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	.278
Rodriguez, A, 3B	3	1	2	1	0	1	0	.500
Ransom, 3B	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	.154
Giambi, 1B	3	0	1	0	0	1	2	.333
Ensberg, 1B	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	.400
Posada, C	3	0	1	0	0	2	2	.077
Moeller, C	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	.083
Matsui, DH	3	0	2	1	0	1	1	.333
a-Betemit, PH-DH	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	.222
Green, 2B	2	0	1	0	0	1	1	.111
Woodward, 2B	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.500
Gardner, B, LF	2	1	0	0	1	0	4	.286
Curtis, LF	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	.333
Totals	34	4	12	4	4	11	19
a-Struck out for Matsui in the 7th.
BATTING 2B: Rodriguez, A (2, Bailey), Curtis (1, Volquez). TB: Christian; Jeter; Gonzalez; Rodriguez, A 3; Giambi; Posada; Moeller; Matsui 2; Green; Curtis 2. RBI: Rodriguez, A (2), Matsui (1), Gonzalez (2), Christian (1). 2-out RBI: Gonzalez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Giambi; Jeter 2; Lane. Team LOB: 11. BASERUNNING SB: Gardner, B (1, 2nd base off Volquez/Bako), Christian (1, 2nd base off Volquez/Bako), Abreu (3, 2nd base off Bailey/Valentin). PO: Abreu (1st base by Stanton). FIELDING E: Rodriguez, A (1, throw). Pickoffs: Chamberlain (Bruce at 1st base).

NY Yankees	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Chamberlain	2.1	2	0	0	0	1	0	4.15
Traber (W, 1-0)	0.2	1	0	0	0	1	0	0.00
Rivera	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0.00
Kennedy	4.0	2	0	0	1	2	0	1.50
Hawkins	1.0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0.00

WP: Kennedy.
HBP: Green (by Bailey).
Ground outs-fly outs: Chamberlain 2-3, Traber 0-1, Rivera 2-0, Kennedy 2-8, Hawkins 1-2.
Batters faced: Chamberlain 9, Traber 3, Rivera 3, Kennedy 15, Hawkins 4.
Inherited runners-scored: Traber 1-0.
Umpires: HP: D.J. Reyburn. 1B: Mark Carlson. 2B: Eric Cooper. 3B: Paul Emmel.
Weather: 74 degrees, cloudy.
Wind: 6 mph, In from RF.
T: 2:50.
Att: 10,474.