Lose one, win one. It's the formula that has gotten this team to where it is today.
Mike Mussina labored, James Shields did not and Bobby Abreu's solo homer in the ninth broke up the shutout as the
Rays humbled the Yanks 7-1 in Game 1. Derek Jeter collected three hits, but the rest of the offense did next to nothing as the Bombers scored less than two runs for the 22nd time this season.
The Moose could get three more starts this season, but he'd have to win them all to reach 20 wins. Not impossible, but highly unlikely. I'd like to see him stay in single-digit losses, though. An 18-9 or 19-9 season looks more impressive than 18-10 or 17-11, doesn't it?
Things went much better in the nightcap.
Sidney Ponson couldn't get out of the fourth, but Phil Coke, Damaso Marte, Joba Chamberlain and Mariano Rivera pitched well in relief and Xavier Nady and Bobby Abreu delivered RBI-singles in back-to-back innings as the
Yanks edged the Rays 6-5 in Game 2. Derek Jeter picked up three more hits and Wilson Betemit's solo homer in the fourth helped ignite a five-run outburst across five innings as the Bombers battled back from a 4-1 deficit.
I didn't watch one inning of the second game so that little paragraph was the
CliffsNotes version. I hope the box score and live action were similar.
The Yanks will try and take the rubber game on Sunday and send Carl Pavano (2-1, 5.31 ERA) to the hill. The Rays will counter with Edwin Jackson (11-10, 4.06 ERA). Jackson has dropped his two September decisions, but went 4-1 in five August starts with a 2.27 ERA. He's 6-4 with a 3.31 ERA in 14 road starts this season and is 1-2 with a 4.23 ERA in five starts against the Bombers this year. The Angels smacked Pavano around in his last start and tagged him with his first loss of the season. The Yanks have won three of Pavano's four starts this year.
Just playing out the string.
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