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Moriarty9 · 10-12-2009, 11:04 AM

Lackey quiets Bronx Bombers
Takes two-hit shutout into eighth at Stadium
May 7, 2009

NEW YORK — John Lackey had a fine game tonight at Yankee Stadium, leading the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to a 4-1 win on the road.

Lackey was working on a two-hit shutout in the bottom of the eighth inning when the New York Yankees offense began showing signs of life.

Trailing 4-0, Rich Becker put the Yankees on the scoreboard with a 381-foot flyball to right field, hitting a solo shot off Lackey to open the inning. Lackey was able to neutralize any other threats throughout the game, and finished the night with one run allowed on five hits and two walks, striking out six in eight innings. With the win, he improves to 4-1 with a 3.41 ERA on the season.

Jonathan Papelbon threw a scoreless ninth inning to record his sixth save of the year.

Tampa Bay scored four runs on nine hits, all of New York starter Gil Meche, who fell to 1-4 on the year with the loss. Meche allowed four runs in 7 1/3 innings, striking out five, allowing nine hits and issuing two walks. Yankees reliever Jim Mecir threw 1 2/3 hitless innings of relief.

Cliff Pennington, Matt Holliday, and Aubrey Huff had two hits each for the Devil Rays, with Holliday and Huff each hitting a double. Jeff Francoeur also doubled in the game, going 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.

Tampa Bay baserunners seemed to run at will against Meche and catcher Nick Hundley, combining for a perfect six-for-six in stolen base attempts, with Pennington swiping three bags.

With the win, the Devil Rays are now 20-10 on the season, holding a 1.5 game lead over the 19-12 Toronto Blue Jays. The Yankees fell to 14-16, six games back in the American League East, ahead of only the 10-19 Boston Red Sox, who are 9.5 games out.

Tampa Bay now heads to Boston for a three-game set at Fenway Park this weekend before heading to Camden Yards in Baltimore for two games with the Orioles before returning home for an eight-game home stand.

New York hits the road, heading to Baltimore for three games this weekend and then three games in Canada against the Toronto Blue Jays before coming back to Yankee Stadium for a 10-game home stand.

10-12-2009, 11:04 AM	#612 (permalink)
Moriarty9 All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,858 Thanks: 10 Thanked 3x in 3 posts	Lackey quiets Bronx Bombers Takes two-hit shutout into eighth at Stadium May 7, 2009 NEW YORK — John Lackey had a fine game tonight at Yankee Stadium, leading the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to a 4-1 win on the road. Lackey was working on a two-hit shutout in the bottom of the eighth inning when the New York Yankees offense began showing signs of life. Trailing 4-0, Rich Becker put the Yankees on the scoreboard with a 381-foot flyball to right field, hitting a solo shot off Lackey to open the inning. Lackey was able to neutralize any other threats throughout the game, and finished the night with one run allowed on five hits and two walks, striking out six in eight innings. With the win, he improves to 4-1 with a 3.41 ERA on the season. Jonathan Papelbon threw a scoreless ninth inning to record his sixth save of the year. Tampa Bay scored four runs on nine hits, all of New York starter Gil Meche, who fell to 1-4 on the year with the loss. Meche allowed four runs in 7 1/3 innings, striking out five, allowing nine hits and issuing two walks. Yankees reliever Jim Mecir threw 1 2/3 hitless innings of relief. Cliff Pennington, Matt Holliday, and Aubrey Huff had two hits each for the Devil Rays, with Holliday and Huff each hitting a double. Jeff Francoeur also doubled in the game, going 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Tampa Bay baserunners seemed to run at will against Meche and catcher Nick Hundley, combining for a perfect six-for-six in stolen base attempts, with Pennington swiping three bags. With the win, the Devil Rays are now 20-10 on the season, holding a 1.5 game lead over the 19-12 Toronto Blue Jays. The Yankees fell to 14-16, six games back in the American League East, ahead of only the 10-19 Boston Red Sox, who are 9.5 games out. Tampa Bay now heads to Boston for a three-game set at Fenway Park this weekend before heading to Camden Yards in Baltimore for two games with the Orioles before returning home for an eight-game home stand. New York hits the road, heading to Baltimore for three games this weekend and then three games in Canada against the Toronto Blue Jays before coming back to Yankee Stadium for a 10-game home stand.