A.J. Burnett closes out the regular season for the New York
Yankees this afternoon when they wrap up their three-game series against the
Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.
The Yanks, of course, will begin the American League Division Series against
either the Detroit Tigers or Minnesota Twins later this week. The AL East
champions, though, have struggled a bit of late, specifically in the starting
pitching department.
After CC Sabathia was torched in the opener, denying him his 20th win of the
season, Andy Pettitte (14-8) was hit for five runs (three earned) in Tampa
Bay's 5-3 victory.
"He (Pettitte) got some balls up tonight, he wasn't as sharp as he has been in
the second half," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi. "I'm just trying to tune
these guys up (for the playoffs)."
Dioner Navarro hit a two-run homer to lead the Rays, while Jason Bartlett went
2-for-4 and drove in a run, as Tampa won for the sixth time in seven tries.
Jeff Niemann (13-6) got the win after going five innings and giving up two
runs on six hits while fanning five and walking just one. Grant Balfour threw
a 1-2-3 ninth to notch his fourth save.
"I felt pretty good, I felt like everything was there for the most part
tonight," said Niemann. "I just went out there and pitched, didn't try to
generate anything extra."
Mark Teixeira drove in a run for the AL East champion Yankees, who have lost
three in a row. Jerry Hairston Jr. knocked in a run and was hit twice by
Niemann pitches. Johnny Damon drove in the other run in defeat.
So, Burnett gets a shot today to post his third straight solid outing. The
right-hander, who has endured an up-and-down campaign, did not get a decision
on Tuesday against Kansas City, but allowed just one earned run in 6 1/3
innings of his team's 4-3 win. He is 12-9 on the season with a 4.10 ERA.
A win today would be the 100th of Burnett's career.
Burnett is 10-4 lifetime against the Rays with a 2.80 ERA in 20 starts.
Tampa, meanwhile, will counter with righty Wade Davis, who is 2-1 with a 3.45
ERA. Davis defeated Baltimore on Tuesday, yielding a run and seven hits in
seven innings.
Davis, 24, has never faced the Yankees.
New York has won 10 of its 17 matchups with the Rays this season.
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