Pettitte, Jeter fire Yankees

2008-7-10  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

COMING off two tight wins over their traditional rival, and about to head into the All-Star break, the New York Yankees turned to two of their veterans to beat the Tampa Bay Rays.

Derek Jeter came through with his bat and glove, backing a stellar effort by Andy Pettitte that helped the Yankees beat the Rays 5-0 on Tuesday night.

"We knew the importance of the game," manager Joe Girardi said.

Meanwhile in Boston, the Red Sox rallied for four runs in the eighth inning to top the Minnesota Twins 6-5.

For the second straight night, Manny Ramirez came through with a clutch hit in the eighth inning. A day after hitting a go-ahead single, Ramirez connected for a two-run homer.

"We had a terrific inning, a lot of good things happened," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "Last night was what we needed, but sometimes you need a home run."

Jeter didn't homer, but had a key two-run double off All-Star Scott Kazmir, then made a stellar spinning play in the seventh inning that preserved a two-run lead and prompted the crowd to chant his name.

With men on first and third and two out, the Yankees captain snared a grounder by Willy Aybar deep in the shortstop hole, leaped and twisted in the air to throw to second baseman Robinson Cano for a force out that saved a run.

Girardi said, "I look at the play Jeter made in the hole. That would have made it 2-1. The play Jeter made was a huge play.

"It's a great play and he makes it as good as anybody - the control with which he's able to do it, to jump and spin and make the throw right on the money."

Elsewhere in the American League, it was: Detroit 9, Cleveland 2; Toronto 7, Baltimore 6; Texas 3, Los Angeles 2; Chicago 8, Kansas City 7, 13 innings; and Oakland 2, Seattle 0.