Yankees Victorious in Must-Win Game

In a series that has seen plenty of runs, the New York Yankees edged out the Texas Rangers in a nail bitter by a score of 5-3.  Every game from here on out is huge for the Yankees as they have seen their playoff hopes slightly dwindle in the last week or so.

After Yankee pitcher Sidney Ponson gave up a 2-run single to Chris Davis in the second inning, things started to look dismal as they had in the previous two games in this series.

However, the Yankees rallied in the top of the third by scoring 3 runs on an RBI double by Wilson Betemit, an RBI ground out by Johnny Damon, and an RBI single by Derek Jeter.

The next inning, they Yankees would go on to add another run with a towering home run by Jason Giambi, his 22nd of the season.

Jeter doubled in the fifth inning that would plate the final Yankee run.

Although Ponson had that shaky second inning, he never looked back and went on to pitch 6.1 solid innings, surrendered 6 hits, 3 ER, and struck out 4 in what would result in his 7th win of the season.  Ponson, who has now improved his overall record to 7-2 and 3-1 with the Yankees, is proving to be a very reliable pitcher.

After the sixth inning, there was no more scoring and it was all up to the Yankee bullpen to hold the game, a bullpen that has struggled as of late.  Relievers Edwar Ramirez, Damaso Marte, and Jose Veras got the job done and turned it over to Mariano Rivera to close things out.  Rivera pitched a scoreless inning in the ninth while striking out 2 to earn his 27th save of the season and improve the Yankees record to 62-52.

Because both the Tampa Bay Rays and the Boston Red Sox were also winners tonight, the Yankees did not pick up any games in the division.  However this game was very big because they had lost last night (August 5) while both Tampa Bay and Boston were victorious, losing a game in the standings, and failed to win two nights ago (August 4) when the Rays and Red Sox both lost, not being able to capitalize on the formers' misfortunes.

The Yankees finish their four-game series against the Rangers tomorrow and hope to split the series after losing the first two games, an outcome that would be nothing short of ideal.

Newly acquired catcher Ivan Rodriguez was forced to leave the game in the third inning after bruising his right knee after colliding with David Murphy.  Murphy eventually left the game in the fourth inning as well, also injuring his right knee in the collision.

The Yankees then start a three-game series at home against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Orange County, California, USA (that doesn't sound right).  These upcoming games against the Angels are more than important and the whole outcome of the season can be determined just by looking back on how the Yankees come out of this series.


NY Yankees Box Score
                           AB    R    H    RBI    BB    K    LOB