Andy Pettitte makes his final start before the postseason
this evening when the New York Yankees play the middle test of their regular
season-ending three-game set against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.
Pettitte, who could start Game 2 of the American League Division Series for
the Yankees, won for the sixth time in his last seven decisions on Sunday in
New York's AL East-clinching win over the Boston Red Sox, as he allowed two
runs and seven hits in six innings.
The 37-year-old left-hander has put together another terrific season for the
Yankees, going 14-7 with a 4.11 earned run average.
Pettitte has also dominated the Rays over the course of his career, posting a
16-4 mark to go along with a 3.75 ERA in 28 games (27 starts).
Tampa, meanwhile, will counter with 26-year-old righty Jeff Niemann, who is
12-6 with a 3.94 ERA, but is winless in his last six outings. Niemann, a
strong AL Rookie of the Year candidate, did not get a decision on Monday
against Baltimore, as he surrendered four runs and seven hits in 3 1/3 innings
of his team's 7-6 win.
Niemann will be making his third start against the Yanks, but has yet to
record a decision against them, despite pitching to a 2.61 ERA.
In the opener of this set on Friday, CC Sabathia was denied his 20th win of
the season, as B.J. Upton became the first Ray to hit for the cycle, and he
scored three times and drove in a career-best six runs to lead Tampa Bay in a
13-4 rout.
"It feels good," Upton said of the cycle. "There's been a lot of great
ballplayers to come through here. You really don't get that many opportunities
for it to happen, and it feels pretty good."
Evan Longoria and Ben Zobrist drove in two runs apiece for the Rays, who have
won five of six overall. Fernando Perez and Reid Brignac knocked in a run
each, while Gabe Kapler scored three times and had an RBI.
Overshadowed by the offense onslaught was David Price (10-7), who got the win
after going seven innings and giving up a run on two hits with five punchouts
to two walks.
Juan Miranda hit his first career home run -- a two-run shot which served as
the only extra-base hit for the Yankees, who lost their second straight game
but still have the best record in the American League locked up. Melky Cabrera
and Ramiro Pena had an RBI each in the setback.
Sabathia (19-8), who came in unbeaten in 11 starts and hadn't lost since July
28, failed in his effort to reach the 20-win plateau for the first time in his
career. The big lefty lasted just 2 2/3 innings and was roughed up for nine
runs -- five earned -- on eight hits in arguably his worst outing of the
season.
"You know what's coming up and you know what's at stake, so I'll be ready,"
said Sabathia, who is scheduled to start Game 1 of the ALDS. "I'll go out
there (for Game 1) and give it my best shot."
New York has won 10 of its 16 matchups with the Rays this season, including
four of the seven games contested at the Trop.
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