Yankees win rubber game on Jeter clutch hit

Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
NYY	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	1	1		4	8	0
TB	0	0	2	1	0	0	0	0	0		3	6	1

Derek Jeter’s two-out RBI single in the ninth inning capped the Yankees’ comeback against the Rays’ bullpen, leading them to a 4-3 victory in Wednesday rubber game at Tropicana Field.

The Yankees were trailing 3-2 going into the eighth inning.  Jeter, however, led off with a double.  After Grant Balfour was brought in, Johnny Damon promptly welcomed him with a game-tying double.

Starter Andy Pettitte retired one batter in the eighth before handing the ball over to Brian Bruney.  He struck out the only two batters he faced.  After the Yankees took the lead in the ninth, Mariano Rivera pitched a perfect ninth for his second save of the year.

Pettitte started the game retiring the first six batters he faced.  He ran into trouble in the third when he gave up four hits, including three doubles.  He caught a break when Gabe Kapler was thrown out trying to advance to third on a groundball to short.  The Rays scored two runs, but it could have been much worse.

Pettitte finished pitching 7 1/3 innings, striking out four and walking one.  He gave up six hits and three earned runs on 96 pitches.

The Yankees evened the scored in the next inning.  Nick Swisher hit a leadoff single against Andy Sonnanstine and was driven home on Robinson Cano’s two-run home run two batters later.

Pettitte surrendered the lead in the next half-inning when Carlos Pena hit a leadoff home run.

Jeter, Damon and Cano each had two hits apiece.  Jeter’s and Damon’s doubles were their first of the season, while Cano hit his second double and second home run of the season.  With his fourth inning single, Swisher now has a seven-game hitting streak, hitting in each game he has started.

The Yankees will open up the new Yankee Stadium tomorrow afternoon at 1:05 p.m. against the Indians.  CC Sabathia will face Cliff Lee.