YANKEES (52-35)
Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Robinson Cano 2B
Jorge Posada DH
Russell Martin C
Brett Gardner LF
Andruw Jones RF
Eduardo Nunez 3B
LHP CC Sabathia (12-4, 2.90)
Sabathia vs. Rays
RAYS (49-39)
Ben Zobrist 2B
Elliot Johnson SS
Evan Longoria DH
B.J. Upton CF
Sean Rodriguez 3B
Kelly Shoppach C
Casey Kotchman 1B
Brandon Guyer RF
Justin Ruggiano LF
RHP James Shields (8-7, 3.56)
Shields vs. Yankees
TIME/TV: 1:05 p.m., YES Network
WEATHER: Another nice day here at the stadium. Looks like the Yankees won’t have any trouble playing their final game before the all-star break.
UMPIRES: HP Ron Kulpa, 1B Gary Cederstrom, 2B Derryl Cousins, 3B Jim Wolf
MORE ABOUT JETER: For the first time since May of 2009, Derek Jeter has an extra-base hit in four straight games. He’s hit safely in 19 of his past 22 games and has 10 extra-base hits in his past 22 games after collecting just seven in his first 45 games this season.
UP NEXT: A four-hit game by Jeter would move him into a tie with Al Kaline for 26th place on baseball’s all-time list. He’s seven hits from tying Wade Boggs for 25th.
AFTER THE BREAK: The yankees played 18 of their first 22 games after the all-star break against teams at or below .500. The Yankees will be on the road for 42 of their final 74 games.
BERNIE CHIMES IN: Bernie Williams is in Arizona for several all-star game festivities, and before taking the stage on Saturday night, he passed on the following message to Jeter:
“Congratulations, Jeet, on No. 3,000. I wish I could have been at the Stadium today, but I was certainly glued to the TV in my hotel room in Arizona. In true Jeter fashion, you did not limp into the 3,000 hit club, but absolutely blew the doors off of it. I celebrate with you, your family and friends, all your teammates through the years, the Yankee organization, and baseball fans around the world. While the home run for number 3,000 is what everyone will remember from this day…knowing you…you probably are more satisfied with that eighth inning single up the middle that won the game. I was privileged to have the best seat in the house to see the majority of those 3,000 hits, and so many of your greatest moments, and while today is yet another one of those moments to add to your amazing career in pinstripes, I know there is still a lot more to come. Just exhale, enjoy it, and know what an honor it was to be your teammate for so many years. Tonight, my last song is dedicated to you my friend.”
UPDATE, 1:16 p.m.: Robertson is in! Dave Robertson has replaced David Price on the American League all-star roster.
UPDATE, 1:46 p.m.: Sabathia is in! CC Sabathia has also been named as an all-star game replacement. He is — oddly enough — replacing Tampa Bay starter James Shields. Obviously Sabathia won’t be going to the game, so he’ll be replaced by Alexi Ogando of the Rangers.
UPDATE, 1:49 p.m.: My only guess is that Nunez thought he was either going to be hit by the throw or out on the tag. Otherwise, I can’t really explain the last-second slide into first. My initial reaction was that he had seriously injured himself, but apparently not.
UPDATE, 1:51 p.m.: There’s 3,004, a bunt single down the third-base line. Really, really nice bunt by Jeter.
UPDATE, 1:53 p.m.: I don’t see any reason to have Granderson bunting in that situation, but I sit next to Marc Carig of the Star-Ledger during home games, and really hates the sac bunt strategy. I mean really, really hates it. His reaction when Granderson squared to bunt was epic. Off the charts, epic.
UPDATE, 2:04 p.m.: Just showed a U.S. women’s soccer update on the big screen. Huge game-tying goal, and the crowd erupted here at the stadium. The game was on in the Yankees clubhouse pregame (or at least the leadup to the soccer game was on in the clubhouse pregame).
UPDATE, 2:22 p.m.: The women’s soccer game is over, and the big video board tells me the U.S. won. It also tells me that there was more scoring in that soccer game than we’ve seen today at Yankee Stadium. Still scoreless in the sixth.
UPDATE, 2:46 p.m.: Sabathia forgets to cover the bag. Upton forgets there’s only one out. Call it even.
UPDATE, 2:54 p.m.: Two base-running mistakes by Robinson Cano, and he’s rewarded for each one of them. Should have been doubled off at first, goes to third on a horrible throw from Upton. Should have been picked off at third, scores on a throw into foul territory. It’s 1-0 Yankees. They aren’t all as pretty as yesterday.
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