Pettitte Takes Sting out of Rays

The Yankees brought out their 'A' game to the Trop tonight with a 5-3 win, completing a 2-game sweep of the Rays in the process. Andy Pettitte gave them Bombers a solid 7 innings and the Yankees offense avenged an April 5th loss to Rays starter Edwin Jackson.

Jackson limited the Yankees to 1 run on 5 hits in their prior meeting, but the Yankees knocked him out tonight with 5 runs in 5 innings. Hideki Matsui got things jump started in the 2nd inning with his third home run of the year, all against the Rays.

The Rays took the lead in the 3rd inning on RBI singles by Jonny Gomes and Mike Defilice, but Pettitte struck out rookie Justin Ruggiano with runners on the corners to end the threat. The Rays lead was short lived as the Yankees jumped on Jackson in the 4th.

Bobby Abreu drew a lead off walk and moved to 3rd on Alex Rodriguez's double. Matsui drove in his second run of the night with a ground out to 1st and A-Rod came home on Jackson's wild pitch.

Jackson (2-1) retired the first two batters in the 5th, but a walk to Johnny Damon proved costly. Damon stole his third base of the season, and the Yankees entire team total, and scored on Derek Jeter's single to center field. Jeter advanced to 2nd on B.J. Upton's throw home, and scored on Abreu's single to center for a 5-2 lead.

Pettitte (2-1) settled down after a rocky start, retiring the side in order in three of his final four innings. He allowed a 2-out RBI single to Jason Bartlett in the 6th, but retired Carl Crawford with two men aboard to end the inning.

Kyle Farnsworth, pressed into the 8th inning set up role by the absence of Joba Chamberlain, retired the side in order to bridge the gap to Mariano Rivera. The Yankee closer sealted the deal by retiring Crawford and Carlos Pena with a man aboard to earn his 5th save of the season.

News and Notes

Derek Jeter hasn't shown any rust at the plate after sitting out for a week. The Yankees captain went 5-9 in the two game series with 3 RBI, a run scored, and a walk. He's now batting .303 on the season.

Hidkei Matsui didn't hit his third home run last year until May 18.

Mariano Rivera has not allowed a run in 6.1 innings over six appearances. He's allowed just 3 hits, hasn't walked a batter, and has struck out 7. He didn't pick up his 5th save last year until June 3.

The Rays employed the "martini glass" defense to perfection against Jason Giambi. He twice bounced into the bottom of the upside down "glass", losing what would normally be two singles for anyone else.

Andy Pettitte picked up his 203rd career win and his 166th as a Yankee. That puts him two wins behind Bob Shawkey for 5th place on the all-time franchise list.

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, LF	3	1	0	0	2	1	3	.200
Jeter, SS	4	1	3	1	1	0	0	.303
Abreu, RF	3	1	1	1	2	0	4	.296
Rodriguez, 3B	5	1	1	0	0	2	5	.300
Matsui, DH	5	1	2	2	0	0	3	.314
Giambi, 1B	4	0	0	0	1	1	3	.094
Cano, 2B	3	0	0	0	1	0	2	.175
Cabrera, CF	4	0	1	0	0	2	1	.300
Moeller, C	2	0	0	0	2	1	0	.167
Totals	33	5	8	4	9	7	21
BATTING 2B: Rodriguez (5, Jackson). HR: Matsui (3, 2nd inning off Jackson, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Jeter 3; Abreu; Rodriguez 2; Matsui 5; Cabrera. RBI: Matsui 2 (8), Jeter (4), Abreu (7). 2-out RBI: Jeter; Abreu. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Rodriguez 2; Damon 2; Giambi. GIDP: Abreu. Team LOB: 10. BASERUNNING SB: Damon (3, 2nd base off Jackson/DiFelice). CS: Abreu (2, 2nd base by Jackson/DiFelice). FIELDING DP: (Cano-Jeter-Giambi).

NY Yankees	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Pettitte (W, 2-1)	7.0	9	3	3	3	5	0	3.38
Farnsworth (H, 1)	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	4.91
Rivera (S, 5)	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0.00

Tampa Bay	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Bartlett, SS	5	0	2	1	0	0	3	.191
Crawford, LF	5	0	1	0	0	0	3	.226
Pena, 1B	4	1	1	0	1	1	1	.196
Upton, CF	4	0	0	0	0	0	3	.288
Longoria, 3B	3	1	0	0	1	2	2	.333
Gomes, DH	4	1	2	1	0	0	0	.296
DiFelice, C	4	0	2	1	0	0	1	.429
Ruggiano, RF	2	0	1	0	1	1	2	.333
a-Hinske, PH-RF	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	.313
Johnson, 2B	4	0	1	0	0	2	2	.200
Totals	36	3	10	3	3	7	17
a-Struck out for Ruggiano in the 8th.
BATTING TB: Bartlett 2; Crawford; Pena; Gomes 2; DiFelice 2; Ruggiano; Johnson. RBI: Gomes (6), DiFelice (4), Bartlett (4). 2-out RBI: Gomes; DiFelice; Bartlett. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Longoria; Ruggiano; Crawford. GIDP: Bartlett. Team LOB: 9. FIELDING DP: (Longoria-Johnson-Pena).

Tampa Bay	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Jackson (L, 2-1)	5.0	4	5	5	4	4	1	2.84
Howell	2.0	2	0	0	2	3	0	3.52
Miller	0.2	0	0	0	1	0	0	3.38
Glover	1.1	2	0	0	2	0	0	2.70

WP: Jackson.
Pitches-strikes: Pettitte 100-66, Farnsworth 10-7, Rivera 13-10, Jackson 94-55, Howell 43-27, Miller 12-7, Glover 40-18.
Ground outs-fly outs: Pettitte 8-8, Farnsworth 1-1, Rivera 1-1, Jackson 8-2, Howell 2-1, Miller 1-1, Glover 1-3.
Batters faced: Pettitte 32, Farnsworth 3, Rivera 4, Jackson 21, Howell 10, Miller 3, Glover 8.
Inherited runners-scored: Glover 1-0.
Umpires: HP: Charlie Reliford. 1B: Greg Gibson. 2B: Chris Guccione. 3B: Brian Runge.
Weather: 72 degrees, dome.
Wind: Indoors.
T: 3:01.
Att: 20,923.

Pettitte Takes Sting out of Rays

The Yankees brought out their 'A' game to the Trop tonight with a 5-3 win, completing a 2-game sweep of the Rays in the process. Andy Pettitte gave them Bombers a solid 7 innings and the Yankees offense avenged an April 5th loss to Rays starter Edwin Jackson.

Jackson limited the Yankees to 1 run on 5 hits in their prior meeting, but the Yankees knocked him out tonight with 5 runs in 5 innings. Hideki Matsui got things jump started in the 2nd inning with his third home run of the year, all against the Rays.

The Rays took the lead in the 3rd inning on RBI singles by Jonny Gomes and Mike Defilice, but Pettitte struck out rookie Justin Ruggiano with runners on the corners to end the threat. The Rays lead was short lived as the Yankees jumped on Jackson in the 4th.

Bobby Abreu drew a lead off walk and moved to 3rd on Alex Rodriguez's double. Matsui drove in his second run of the night with a ground out to 1st and A-Rod came home on Jackson's wild pitch.

Jackson (2-1) retired the first two batters in the 5th, but a walk to Johnny Damon proved costly. Damon stole his third base of the season, and the Yankees entire team total, and scored on Derek Jeter's single to center field. Jeter advanced to 2nd on B.J. Upton's throw home, and scored on Abreu's single to center for a 5-2 lead.

Pettitte (2-1) settled down after a rocky start, retiring the side in order in three of his final four innings. He allowed a 2-out RBI single to Jason Bartlett in the 6th, but retired Carl Crawford with two men aboard to end the inning.

Kyle Farnsworth, pressed into the 8th inning set up role by the absence of Joba Chamberlain, retired the side in order to bridge the gap to Mariano Rivera. The Yankee closer sealted the deal by retiring Crawford and Carlos Pena with a man aboard to earn his 5th save of the season.

News and Notes

Derek Jeter hasn't shown any rust at the plate after sitting out for a week. The Yankees captain went 5-9 in the two game series with 3 RBI, a run scored, and a walk. He's now batting .303 on the season.

Hidkei Matsui didn't hit his third home run last year until May 18.

Mariano Rivera has not allowed a run in 6.1 innings over six appearances. He's allowed just 3 hits, hasn't walked a batter, and has struck out 7. He didn't pick up his 5th save last year until June 3.

The Rays employed the "martini glass" defense to perfection against Jason Giambi. He twice bounced into the bottom of the upside down "glass", losing what would normally be two singles for anyone else.

Andy Pettitte picked up his 203rd career win and his 166th as a Yankee. That puts him two wins behind Bob Shawkey for 5th place on the all-time franchise list.

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, LF	3	1	0	0	2	1	3	.200
Jeter, SS	4	1	3	1	1	0	0	.303
Abreu, RF	3	1	1	1	2	0	4	.296
Rodriguez, 3B	5	1	1	0	0	2	5	.300
Matsui, DH	5	1	2	2	0	0	3	.314
Giambi, 1B	4	0	0	0	1	1	3	.094
Cano, 2B	3	0	0	0	1	0	2	.175
Cabrera, CF	4	0	1	0	0	2	1	.300
Moeller, C	2	0	0	0	2	1	0	.167
Totals	33	5	8	4	9	7	21
BATTING 2B: Rodriguez (5, Jackson). HR: Matsui (3, 2nd inning off Jackson, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Jeter 3; Abreu; Rodriguez 2; Matsui 5; Cabrera. RBI: Matsui 2 (8), Jeter (4), Abreu (7). 2-out RBI: Jeter; Abreu. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Rodriguez 2; Damon 2; Giambi. GIDP: Abreu. Team LOB: 10. BASERUNNING SB: Damon (3, 2nd base off Jackson/DiFelice). CS: Abreu (2, 2nd base by Jackson/DiFelice). FIELDING DP: (Cano-Jeter-Giambi).

NY Yankees	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Pettitte (W, 2-1)	7.0	9	3	3	3	5	0	3.38
Farnsworth (H, 1)	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	4.91
Rivera (S, 5)	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0.00

Tampa Bay	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Bartlett, SS	5	0	2	1	0	0	3	.191
Crawford, LF	5	0	1	0	0	0	3	.226
Pena, 1B	4	1	1	0	1	1	1	.196
Upton, CF	4	0	0	0	0	0	3	.288
Longoria, 3B	3	1	0	0	1	2	2	.333
Gomes, DH	4	1	2	1	0	0	0	.296
DiFelice, C	4	0	2	1	0	0	1	.429
Ruggiano, RF	2	0	1	0	1	1	2	.333
a-Hinske, PH-RF	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	.313
Johnson, 2B	4	0	1	0	0	2	2	.200
Totals	36	3	10	3	3	7	17
a-Struck out for Ruggiano in the 8th.
BATTING TB: Bartlett 2; Crawford; Pena; Gomes 2; DiFelice 2; Ruggiano; Johnson. RBI: Gomes (6), DiFelice (4), Bartlett (4). 2-out RBI: Gomes; DiFelice; Bartlett. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Longoria; Ruggiano; Crawford. GIDP: Bartlett. Team LOB: 9. FIELDING DP: (Longoria-Johnson-Pena).

Tampa Bay	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Jackson (L, 2-1)	5.0	4	5	5	4	4	1	2.84
Howell	2.0	2	0	0	2	3	0	3.52
Miller	0.2	0	0	0	1	0	0	3.38
Glover	1.1	2	0	0	2	0	0	2.70

WP: Jackson.
Pitches-strikes: Pettitte 100-66, Farnsworth 10-7, Rivera 13-10, Jackson 94-55, Howell 43-27, Miller 12-7, Glover 40-18.
Ground outs-fly outs: Pettitte 8-8, Farnsworth 1-1, Rivera 1-1, Jackson 8-2, Howell 2-1, Miller 1-1, Glover 1-3.
Batters faced: Pettitte 32, Farnsworth 3, Rivera 4, Jackson 21, Howell 10, Miller 3, Glover 8.
Inherited runners-scored: Glover 1-0.
Umpires: HP: Charlie Reliford. 1B: Greg Gibson. 2B: Chris Guccione. 3B: Brian Runge.
Weather: 72 degrees, dome.
Wind: Indoors.
T: 3:01.
Att: 20,923.

Around the Horn - 4/9

0 wins, 7 losses, 15 runs scored, a .235 team batting average. Those are the woeful stats of the Detroit Tigers who remained winless after the Red Sox won their home opener, 5-0. The Tigers haven't started this badly since their forgettable 119 loss campaign of 2003. How long until Jim Leyland pops his cork?

Kudos to the Red Sox yesterday (yes it pains us to say that)- they had Bill Buckner throw out the ceremonial 1st pitch. Billy Bucks has been unfairly known as the goat of the 1986 World Series because of the ball that went through his legs in Game 6, helping to extend the "Curse of the Bambino". But the real goat was manager John McNamara who wanted Buckner out there to celebrate the championship. McNamara knew Buckner was no longer the defensive gem he once was. The Red Sox also honored current and former members of the Patriots, Celtics, and Bruins.

With K-Rod sidelined for a few days with an ankle injury and Scot Shields coming off an ineffective season, the Angels gave Justin Speier a chance to close out last night's game with the Indians. The result? A Travis Hafner 2-run HR that won it for the Tribe.

Alan Embree blew a 2-run lead on a Frank Thomas HR in the 8th, but the A's prevailed over the Jays in the 9th, 9-8, on Ryan Sweeney's RBI triple. Huston Street picked up his first save and had his first scoreless appearance. The home run was #516 for The Big Hurt.

Aubrey Huff and the Orioles are on a tear. Huff had 4 hits and 4 RBI yesterday as the O's won their 6th straight, 8-1 over the Rangers. Can the Rangers ever get pitching?

Erik Bedard won his first game as a Mariners in the M's 6-5 win over the Rays. Remember when Ichiro couldn't buy a hit during spring training? With a 3-hit day, he's hitting .324. The Rays have lost 3 straight after winning 3 of their first 4.

The Phillies still have the Mets number. They won the last 8 meetings last season to help clinch the Wild Card. Yesterday they ruined the Mets home opener and a nice performance by starter Oliver Perez, by rallying from a 2-0 deficit late to win 5-2.

Troy Glaus delivered a decisive 2-run double in the 8th in the Cards 5-3 win over the Astros.

Mark Reynolds stayed red hot for the Diamondbacks, homering for the 5th time in as many games. He and Connor Jackson each drove in 3 runs as the Dbacks toppled the Dodgers 10-5. Doug Davis, battling thyroid cancer, picked up his first win of the year. He'll undergo surgery tomorrow. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Davis and his family.

Closer Brian Wilson blew the Giants one run lead to the Padres in the 9th, but Bengie Molina saved him with a walk-off home run in the 11th. Molina's 2nd home run of the game gave the Giants a 3-2 win.

Matt Holliday had 3 hits and a pair of RBI in the Rockies 4-3 win over the Braves.

Eric Gagne gave up a 9th, game tying home run to the Reds Corey Patterson for his 2nd blown save of the season. But Richie Weeks delivered a walk-off single in the 10th to give the Brewers a 3-2 victory.

Injury News

The Twins are expected to place starter Matt Garza on the DL with nerve irritation in his arm. The plan is to have Francisco Liriano take Garza's place on Sunday.

The Red Sox have placed Bartolo Colon on the minor league DL with a strained oblique.

B.J. Ryan made his 2nd rehab appearance for the Jays; Randy Johnson struck out 7 in a 6 inning rehab start. He allowed 3 runs.

The Nationals have placed Dmitri Young on the DL with a sore back.

Mets right-hander El Duque has been sent for an MRI due to continued soreness in his right foot.

Around the Horn - 4/9

0 wins, 7 losses, 15 runs scored, a .235 team batting average. Those are the woeful stats of the Detroit Tigers who remained winless after the Red Sox won their home opener, 5-0. The Tigers haven't started this badly since their forgettable 119 loss campaign of 2003. How long until Jim Leyland pops his cork?

Kudos to the Red Sox yesterday (yes it pains us to say that)- they had Bill Buckner throw out the ceremonial 1st pitch. Billy Bucks has been unfairly known as the goat of the 1986 World Series because of the ball that went through his legs in Game 6, helping to extend the "Curse of the Bambino". But the real goat was manager John McNamara who wanted Buckner out there to celebrate the championship. McNamara knew Buckner was no longer the defensive gem he once was. The Red Sox also honored current and former members of the Patriots, Celtics, and Bruins.

With K-Rod sidelined for a few days with an ankle injury and Scot Shields coming off an ineffective season, the Angels gave Justin Speier a chance to close out last night's game with the Indians. The result? A Travis Hafner 2-run HR that won it for the Tribe.

Alan Embree blew a 2-run lead on a Frank Thomas HR in the 8th, but the A's prevailed over the Jays in the 9th, 9-8, on Ryan Sweeney's RBI triple. Huston Street picked up his first save and had his first scoreless appearance. The home run was #516 for The Big Hurt.

Aubrey Huff and the Orioles are on a tear. Huff had 4 hits and 4 RBI yesterday as the O's won their 6th straight, 8-1 over the Rangers. Can the Rangers ever get pitching?

Erik Bedard won his first game as a Mariners in the M's 6-5 win over the Rays. Remember when Ichiro couldn't buy a hit during spring training? With a 3-hit day, he's hitting .324. The Rays have lost 3 straight after winning 3 of their first 4.

The Phillies still have the Mets number. They won the last 8 meetings last season to help clinch the Wild Card. Yesterday they ruined the Mets home opener and a nice performance by starter Oliver Perez, by rallying from a 2-0 deficit late to win 5-2.

Troy Glaus delivered a decisive 2-run double in the 8th in the Cards 5-3 win over the Astros.

Mark Reynolds stayed red hot for the Diamondbacks, homering for the 5th time in as many games. He and Connor Jackson each drove in 3 runs as the Dbacks toppled the Dodgers 10-5. Doug Davis, battling thyroid cancer, picked up his first win of the year. He'll undergo surgery tomorrow. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Davis and his family.

Closer Brian Wilson blew the Giants one run lead to the Padres in the 9th, but Bengie Molina saved him with a walk-off home run in the 11th. Molina's 2nd home run of the game gave the Giants a 3-2 win.

Matt Holliday had 3 hits and a pair of RBI in the Rockies 4-3 win over the Braves.

Eric Gagne gave up a 9th, game tying home run to the Reds Corey Patterson for his 2nd blown save of the season. But Richie Weeks delivered a walk-off single in the 10th to give the Brewers a 3-2 victory.

Injury News

The Twins are expected to place starter Matt Garza on the DL with nerve irritation in his arm. The plan is to have Francisco Liriano take Garza's place on Sunday.

The Red Sox have placed Bartolo Colon on the minor league DL with a strained oblique.

B.J. Ryan made his 2nd rehab appearance for the Jays; Randy Johnson struck out 7 in a 6 inning rehab start. He allowed 3 runs.

The Nationals have placed Dmitri Young on the DL with a sore back.

Mets right-hander El Duque has been sent for an MRI due to continued soreness in his right foot.

Mussina Comes Alive

We doubt he'll have the success Peter Frampton had in 1976, but Mike Mussina (1-1) threw 6 innings of excellent ball tonight as the Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-1. In getting their most offensive production of the season, the Yankees won their second straight and managed to split the four game series with the Rays. The lone drawback was an apparent strained quad by Derek Jeter, who left the game after grounding out in the 1st inning.

The big story in this game though was Mussina, who had struggled in his first start of the season against the Toronto Blue Jays. This time though Musssina was on target with all of his off-speed stuff and placed his fastball well. He threw 82 pitches in allowing just 2 hits, a walk, and struck out 3.

The Yankees needed Moose to be sharp, because their bats were asleep again, this time against Rays starter Jason Hammel (0-1). The right-hander was making his first appearance of the season and the Yankees had managed just 2 runs- a laser hit home run by Bobby Abreu in the 1st inning- through the first 5 innings. Meantime the Rays had the cut Yankees lead in half on Jonny Gomes 3rd inning home run.

But Abreu kick started things in the 6th, nearly hitting his second home run, before pulling into 3rd with a lead off triple. Alex Rodriguez followed with an RBI single and Hideki Matsui followed with a hit and run double down the left field line that scored A-Rod from 1st.

The Yankees put two more men on with one out in the 7th on a single by Jeter's replacement, Morgan Ensberg, and walk to Abreu. The right fielder finished a double shy of the cycle for the evening. A-Rod struck out, but Matsui and Robinson Cano delivered 2-out RBI singles to break the game open.

Brian Bruney, Kyle Farnsworth, and LaTroy Hawkins finished up as the Yankees moved back above .500 at 4-3.

News and Notes

No further word out of the clubhouse on Jeter. But in this case no news may not be good news. There's been no, "I'll be in there tomorrow" statement. With an afternoon start in Kansas City, Joe Girardi will most likely sit him no matter what. With Jeter and Giambi's injuries and Shelley Duncan serving a one game suspension, Jorge Posada was the only position player left on the bench after the 1st inning.

Poor LaTroy Hawkins, just can't get a break. Fans, still upset at his choice of wearing #21, began chanting Paul O'Neill as they did in Game 5 of the 2001 World Series. Hawkins was loudly booed after allowing 2 Rays to reach in the 9th, causing Mariano Rivera to start getting loosened up. Hawkins struck out Gomes to end it and all was forgiven. Note to fans - give it up already. I love Paul O'Neill as much as anyone, but you sound like idiots.

Joe Girardi's daughter caught his bug and had a 104 degree fever, but is doing much better.

Mike Mussina's victory was the 251st of his career, tying him with Bob Gibson for 42nd place all-time. His three strikeouts gave him 2,668, tying him with David Cone for the 21st spot on the career list.

Tampa Bay	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Iwamura, 2B	4	0	0	0	0	1	1	.192
Crawford, LF	4	0	0	0	0	0	1	.148
Pena, 1B	4	0	1	0	0	1	0	.227
Upton, CF	4	0	0	0	0	0	2	.227
Hinske, RF	3	0	0	0	1	0	0	.308
Aybar, 3B	3	0	0	0	0	1	2	.188
Gomes, DH	4	1	1	1	0	2	3	.375
DiFelice, C	3	0	1	0	0	0	1	.333
Bartlett, SS	2	0	0	0	1	0	1	.190
Totals	31	1	3	1	2	5	11
BATTING 2B: DiFelice (1, Mussina). HR: Gomes (2, 3rd inning off Mussina, 0 on, 0 out). TB: Pena; Gomes 4; DiFelice 2. RBI: Gomes (5). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Crawford; Bartlett; Gomes 2. Team LOB: 6. BASERUNNING SB: Bartlett (1, 2nd base off Mussina/Molina).

Tampa Bay	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Hammel (L, 0-1)	6.0	8	4	4	1	2	1	6.00
Dohmann	1.0	3	2	2	1	2	0	7.71
Glover	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0.00

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, LF	5	0	2	0	0	0	1	.185
Jeter, SS	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	.208
Ensberg, 1B	3	1	1	0	0	0	2	.250
Abreu, RF	3	3	3	2	1	0	0	.400
Rodriguez, 3B	4	1	1	1	0	1	4	.320
Matsui, DH	4	0	2	2	0	0	0	.375
Cano, 2B	4	0	1	1	0	0	1	.185
Betemit, 1B-SS	4	0	0	0	0	3	3	.111
Cabrera, CF	3	0	0	0	1	0	0	.286
Molina, C	4	0	1	0	0	1	2	.308
Totals	35	6	11	6	2	5	14
BATTING 2B: Molina (2, Hammel), Matsui (1, Hammel). 3B: Abreu (1, Hammel). HR: Abreu (1, 1st inning off Hammel, 1 on, 1 out). TB: Damon 2; Ensberg; Abreu 8; Rodriguez; Matsui 3; Cano; Molina 2. RBI: Abreu 2 (4), Rodriguez (5), Matsui 2 (6), Cano (1). 2-out RBI: Matsui; Cano. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Rodriguez; Molina; Betemit. Team LOB: 7. FIELDING E: Cano (3, throw). NY Yankees IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Mussina (W, 1-1) 6.0 2 1 1 1 3 1 3.09 Bruney (H, 1) 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Farnsworth 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.70 Hawkins 1.0 1 0 0 1 1 0 21.0 WP: Hawkins. IBB: Cabrera (by Hammel). HBP: Aybar (by Bruney). Pitches-strikes: Hammel 88-55, Dohmann 36-22, Glover 12-9, Mussina 82-52, Bruney 13-10, Farnsworth 11-9, Hawkins 22-11. Ground outs-fly outs: Hammel 11-5, Dohmann 0-1, Glover 2-0, Mussina 11-4, Bruney 1-2, Farnsworth 1-1, Hawkins 2-0. Batters faced: Hammel 27, Dohmann 7, Glover 3, Mussina 22, Bruney 4, Farnsworth 3, Hawkins 5. Umpires: HP: James Hoye. 1B: Doug Eddings. 2B: Lance Barksdale. 3B: Ted Barrett. Weather: 48 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, L to R. T: 2:53. Att: 41,302.

Mussina Comes Alive

We doubt he'll have the success Peter Frampton had in 1976, but Mike Mussina (1-1) threw 6 innings of excellent ball tonight as the Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-1. In getting their most offensive production of the season, the Yankees won their second straight and managed to split the four game series with the Rays. The lone drawback was an apparent strained quad by Derek Jeter, who left the game after grounding out in the 1st inning.

The big story in this game though was Mussina, who had struggled in his first start of the season against the Toronto Blue Jays. This time though Musssina was on target with all of his off-speed stuff and placed his fastball well. He threw 82 pitches in allowing just 2 hits, a walk, and struck out 3.

The Yankees needed Moose to be sharp, because their bats were asleep again, this time against Rays starter Jason Hammel (0-1). The right-hander was making his first appearance of the season and the Yankees had managed just 2 runs- a laser hit home run by Bobby Abreu in the 1st inning- through the first 5 innings. Meantime the Rays had the cut Yankees lead in half on Jonny Gomes 3rd inning home run.

But Abreu kick started things in the 6th, nearly hitting his second home run, before pulling into 3rd with a lead off triple. Alex Rodriguez followed with an RBI single and Hideki Matsui followed with a hit and run double down the left field line that scored A-Rod from 1st.

The Yankees put two more men on with one out in the 7th on a single by Jeter's replacement, Morgan Ensberg, and walk to Abreu. The right fielder finished a double shy of the cycle for the evening. A-Rod struck out, but Matsui and Robinson Cano delivered 2-out RBI singles to break the game open.

Brian Bruney, Kyle Farnsworth, and LaTroy Hawkins finished up as the Yankees moved back above .500 at 4-3.

News and Notes

No further word out of the clubhouse on Jeter. But in this case no news may not be good news. There's been no, "I'll be in there tomorrow" statement. With an afternoon start in Kansas City, Joe Girardi will most likely sit him no matter what. With Jeter and Giambi's injuries and Shelley Duncan serving a one game suspension, Jorge Posada was the only position player left on the bench after the 1st inning.

Poor LaTroy Hawkins, just can't get a break. Fans, still upset at his choice of wearing #21, began chanting Paul O'Neill as they did in Game 5 of the 2001 World Series. Hawkins was loudly booed after allowing 2 Rays to reach in the 9th, causing Mariano Rivera to start getting loosened up. Hawkins struck out Gomes to end it and all was forgiven. Note to fans - give it up already. I love Paul O'Neill as much as anyone, but you sound like idiots.

Joe Girardi's daughter caught his bug and had a 104 degree fever, but is doing much better.

Mike Mussina's victory was the 251st of his career, tying him with Bob Gibson for 42nd place all-time. His three strikeouts gave him 2,668, tying him with David Cone for the 21st spot on the career list.

Tampa Bay	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Iwamura, 2B	4	0	0	0	0	1	1	.192
Crawford, LF	4	0	0	0	0	0	1	.148
Pena, 1B	4	0	1	0	0	1	0	.227
Upton, CF	4	0	0	0	0	0	2	.227
Hinske, RF	3	0	0	0	1	0	0	.308
Aybar, 3B	3	0	0	0	0	1	2	.188
Gomes, DH	4	1	1	1	0	2	3	.375
DiFelice, C	3	0	1	0	0	0	1	.333
Bartlett, SS	2	0	0	0	1	0	1	.190
Totals	31	1	3	1	2	5	11
BATTING 2B: DiFelice (1, Mussina). HR: Gomes (2, 3rd inning off Mussina, 0 on, 0 out). TB: Pena; Gomes 4; DiFelice 2. RBI: Gomes (5). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Crawford; Bartlett; Gomes 2. Team LOB: 6. BASERUNNING SB: Bartlett (1, 2nd base off Mussina/Molina).

Tampa Bay	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Hammel (L, 0-1)	6.0	8	4	4	1	2	1	6.00
Dohmann	1.0	3	2	2	1	2	0	7.71
Glover	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0.00

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, LF	5	0	2	0	0	0	1	.185
Jeter, SS	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	.208
Ensberg, 1B	3	1	1	0	0	0	2	.250
Abreu, RF	3	3	3	2	1	0	0	.400
Rodriguez, 3B	4	1	1	1	0	1	4	.320
Matsui, DH	4	0	2	2	0	0	0	.375
Cano, 2B	4	0	1	1	0	0	1	.185
Betemit, 1B-SS	4	0	0	0	0	3	3	.111
Cabrera, CF	3	0	0	0	1	0	0	.286
Molina, C	4	0	1	0	0	1	2	.308
Totals	35	6	11	6	2	5	14
BATTING 2B: Molina (2, Hammel), Matsui (1, Hammel). 3B: Abreu (1, Hammel). HR: Abreu (1, 1st inning off Hammel, 1 on, 1 out). TB: Damon 2; Ensberg; Abreu 8; Rodriguez; Matsui 3; Cano; Molina 2. RBI: Abreu 2 (4), Rodriguez (5), Matsui 2 (6), Cano (1). 2-out RBI: Matsui; Cano. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Rodriguez; Molina; Betemit. Team LOB: 7. FIELDING E: Cano (3, throw). NY Yankees IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Mussina (W, 1-1) 6.0 2 1 1 1 3 1 3.09 Bruney (H, 1) 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Farnsworth 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.70 Hawkins 1.0 1 0 0 1 1 0 21.0 WP: Hawkins. IBB: Cabrera (by Hammel). HBP: Aybar (by Bruney). Pitches-strikes: Hammel 88-55, Dohmann 36-22, Glover 12-9, Mussina 82-52, Bruney 13-10, Farnsworth 11-9, Hawkins 22-11. Ground outs-fly outs: Hammel 11-5, Dohmann 0-1, Glover 2-0, Mussina 11-4, Bruney 1-2, Farnsworth 1-1, Hawkins 2-0. Batters faced: Hammel 27, Dohmann 7, Glover 3, Mussina 22, Bruney 4, Farnsworth 3, Hawkins 5. Umpires: HP: James Hoye. 1B: Doug Eddings. 2B: Lance Barksdale. 3B: Ted Barrett. Weather: 48 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, L to R. T: 2:53. Att: 41,302.