Just Little Old Me, Underdog

Darrell Rasner doesn't carry the pedigree of "prospect" with him, but he proved once again yesterday that he can pitch in the major leagues. Rasner went one batter into the 7th inning before leaving to the congratulations of his teammates as the Yankees beat the Tigers for the first time in five tries this season, 5-2.

Rasner was outstanding; he allowed just 4 hits, including a solo home run to Matt Joyce in the 2nd inning, and issued just one walk. The second run charged to him scored after he had left the game. Rasner has already won more games, two, than Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy combined. And he got some early run support to help him out.

Jeremy Bonderman made the first batter of the game, Johnny Damon, look bad with a strikeout and fooled Derek Jeter with the first pitch he had thrown him. But just moments after Fox announcers Dick Stockton and Eric Karros mentioned that Jeter hadn't homered this year and Bonderman looked like he could have a special day, things went south for the right-hander.

Jeter's first home run sailed into the right field seats for a 1-0 lead. Bonderman than lost the strike zone. Bobby Abreu and Hideki Matsui rapped back to back singles and Bonderman walked Jason Giambi to load the bases. A 3-2 fastball to Melky Cabrera sailed wide and the Yankees had themselves a 2nd run. Bonderman's day could have been worse if not for a piece of luck.

Robinson Cano, who has begun to get out of his funk, scorched a one-hopper, but right to 2nd Baseman Ramon Santiago who deftly scooped the ball and started an inning ending double play.

Leading 2-1 in the 5th, the Yankees took advantage of Bonderman's control once again, though not without another injury. Cano drew a 2-out walk and came all the way around from 1st on Wilson Betemit's double. But Betemit pulled a hamstring muscle and will be going on the disabled list.

Rasner cruised through the middle innings and the Yankees offense knocked Bonderman from the game in the 5th. Jeter singled up the middle and scored on Abreu's double when left fielder Matt Joyce slipped and fell down. Giambi drove in the final run when he doubled off left-hander Bobby Seay for a 5-1 advantage.

Joe Girardi pulled Rasner, despite having thrown just 87 pitches, when he gave up a lead off single to Magglio Ordonez in the 7th. Kyle Farnsworth, who has been very reliable over the last dozen games reverted back to the guy fans loathe. He allowed a single to Miguel Cabrera and an RBI double to Gary Sheffield. Suddenly the Tigers had the tying run at the plate with no one out.

But Farnsworth bounced back. He retired Edgar Renteria on a pop up to Cano and then struck out Ivan Rodriguez swinging. Placido Polanco pinch-hit for Santiago, but Farnsworth retired him on an inning ending pop up to Jeter.

Joba Chamberlain cruised the 8th and Mariano Rivera picked up his 10th save in as many chances in the 9th. After allowing a lead off single to Ordonez, Rivera induced a 6-4-3 double play with Cabrera up, and retired his former teammate Sheffield on a game ending grounder to Cano.

News and Notes

Remarkably, Mariano Rivera has allowed just 6 base runners all season.

Jonathan Albaladejo was diagnosed with a mild sprain of his ulnar nerve. He was placed on the 15-day DL and replaced, once again, by Chris Britton.

Alberto Gonzalez will be called up today to replaced Betemit.

May 10, 2008

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
NY Yankees	2	0	0	1	2	0	0	0	0		5	9	0
Detroit	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0		2	7	0

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, LF	5	0	1	0	0	2	3	.282
Jeter, SS	5	2	2	1	0	2	1	.308
Abreu, RF	4	2	2	1	0	0	0	.303
Matsui, DH	4	0	1	0	0	1	1	.331
Giambi, 1B	3	0	1	1	1	0	0	.183
Cabrera, CF	3	0	0	1	1	1	1	.270
Cano, 2B	3	1	1	0	1	0	3	.185
Betemit, 3B	2	0	1	1	0	0	0	.269
1-Ensberg, PR-3B	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	.222
Moeller, C	3	0	0	0	1	0	1	.265
Totals	33	5	9	5	5	6	10
1-Ran for Betemit in the 4th.
BATTING 2B: Betemit (2, Bonderman), Abreu (7, Bonderman), Giambi (6, Seay). HR: Jeter (1, 1st inning off Bonderman, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Damon; Jeter 5; Abreu 3; Matsui; Giambi 2; Cano; Betemit 2. RBI: Jeter (18), Cabrera (18), Betemit (3), Abreu (23), Giambi (20). 2-out RBI: Betemit. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Damon. GIDP: Cano. Team LOB: 6. BASERUNNING CS: Damon (2, 2nd base by Seay/Rodriguez). FIELDING DP: 2 (Jeter-Cano, Jeter-Cano-Giambi).

NY Yankees	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Rasner (W, 2-0)	6.0	4	2	2	1	1	1	3.00
Farnsworth	1.0	2	0	0	0	1	0	3.00
Chamberlain (H, 9)	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	2.93
Rivera (S, 10)	1.0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0.00

Detroit	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Granderson, CF	4	0	0	0	0	1	1	.246
Joyce, LF	4	1	2	1	0	0	1	.267
Guillen, 3B	4	0	0	0	0	0	1	.295
Ordonez, RF	4	1	2	0	0	0	0	.315
Cabrera, 1B	4	0	1	0	0	0	1	.252
Sheffield, DH	3	0	1	1	1	1	0	.208
Renteria, SS	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	.266
Rodriguez, C	3	0	1	0	0	1	2	.270
Santiago, 2B	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.357
a-Polanco, PH-2B	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	.277
Totals	31	2	7	2	1	3	11
a-Popped out for Santiago in the 7th.
BATTING 2B: Sheffield (6, Farnsworth). HR: Joyce (1, 1st inning off Rasner, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Joyce 5; Ordonez 2; Cabrera; Sheffield 2; Rodriguez. RBI: Joyce (2), Sheffield (8). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Joyce; Polanco 2. S: Santiago. GIDP: Cabrera. Team LOB: 4. FIELDING Outfield assists: Ordonez (Giambi at home). DP: (Santiago-Renteria-Cabrera).

Detroit	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Bonderman (L, 2-4)	4.0	6	5	5	4	3	1	4.80
Seay	3.0	2	0	0	1	1	0	2.13
Cruceta	2.0	1	0	0	0	2	0	3.18

Rasner pitched to 1 batter in the 7th.
Bonderman pitched to 2 batters in the 5th.

WP: Bonderman.
Pitches-strikes: Rasner 87-61, Farnsworth 23-14, Chamberlain 11-7,
Rivera 10-8, Bonderman 86-48, Seay 32-20, Cruceta 23-15.
Ground outs-fly outs: Rasner 6-10, Farnsworth 0-2, Chamberlain 2-0,
Rivera 3-0, Bonderman 6-3, Seay 2-4, Cruceta 1-3.
Batters faced: Rasner 22, Farnsworth 5, Chamberlain 3, Rivera 3,
Bonderman 21, Seay 10, Cruceta 7.
Inherited runners-scored: Farnsworth 1-1, Seay 1-1.
Umpires: HP: Bill Miller. 1B: Paul Emmel. 2B: Gary Darling. 3B: Jerry Meals.
Weather: 67 degrees, sunny.
Wind: 8 mph, In from LF.
T: 2:51.
Att: 44,580.

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