The LoHud Yankees Blog

The Yankees have announced the full schedule for tonight’s pregame ceremony.

Everything will begin at 7:05, pushing first pitch back to 7:35. There will be a video tribute, the family will got to monument park and the monument itself will be unveiled at 7:20.

I’m guessing the whole thing will be on the YES Network.

Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Lance Berkman DH
Brett Gardner LF
Francisco Cervelli C

Just a reminder, the Yankees will hold a special ceremony to dedicate and unveil a monument in honor of George Steinbrenner in Yankee Stadium’s Monument Park prior to tonight’s game against the Rays.

The Yankees are asking fans to arrive early and be in their seats by 6:45 p.m. Monument Park will be closed to fans prior to the game. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at approximately 7 p.m. with a special introduction behind home plate, followed by the unveiling of Mr. Steinbrenner’s monument in Monument Park.

Mr. Steinbrenner’s granddaughter Haley Swindal, who is currently performing in the musical Cabaret at the Surflight Theater in Beach Haven, N.J., will sing God Bless America during the seventh-inning stretch in tribute to her grandfather. Frank Sinatra, Jr., will sing the national anthem prior to the game, while the colors will be presented by the West Point Color Guard.

Mr. Steinbrenner’s wife, Joan, and all four of the couple’s children – Hal, Hank, Jennifer and Jessica – are scheduled to be in attendance.

Tonight
RHP Ivan Nova (1-0, 4.30)
vs.
RHP Matt Garza (14-8, 3.88)
7:05 p.m., YES Network

Tuesday
RHP Phil Hughes (16-8, 4.31)
vs.
James Shields (13-12, 4.86)
7:05 p.m., MY9

Wednesday
RHP A.J. Burnett (10-13, 5.08)
vs.
RHP Wade Davis (12-9, 4.19)
7:05 p.m., YES Network and ESPN

Thursday
LHP CC Sabathia (20-6, 3.05)
vs.
LHP David Price (17-6, 2.79)
7:05 p.m., YES Network and MLB Network

Associated Press photo of Nova

This has to be it, right? For two teams separated by a half game, what could possibly be more important than a four-game head-to-head series in the final two weeks of the season? The Yankees and Rays played three games against one another last week, and all three were decided by one run. Two were decided in extra innings. There’s little reason to expect something different this week.

“You hope not,” Derek Jeter said. “But I would anticipate it.”

Of course, it’s also interesting to get the opinion of a veteran who’s been through the playoffs but hasn’t been through the larger-than-life drama of New York.

“The East is going to come down to the last week,” Lance Berkman said. “Unless something crazy happens like we win four straight or something like that. In a four-game series, usually if it’s two good teams it’s 2-2 and then we’re right back where we were and nobody gains any ground. And so the last week and a half of the season is going to determine it.”

Based on last week’s series in Tampa Bay, and based on the fact we’re this deep in the season and the race is this close, it’s obvious these teams are evenly matched. They might have very different styles — that picture is of the Rays leaving for the road trip — but both teams pitch well and have explosive lineups that have been known to slump.

“It’s going to be fun coming back and playing a team we’re going to be battling against the last two weeks of the season,” Mark Teixeira said. “There aren’t going to be any blowouts. It’s just two good teams playing against one another. They’re going to be battles.”

Associated Press photo

Before the Luke Scott home run, before the bases-loaded were loaded in the 11th and before the Orioles were storming the field, this actually seemed like a good day for the Yankees. A very good day. Yes, there were stranded base runners in the early innings, but Andy Pettitte was the most important thing about this afternoon, and Pettitte was terrific.

“As the game went on I felt like I was coming even harder and harder off the mound as far as getting through my pitchers a little better,” Pettitte said. “All and all, in that end, it was a good day.”

Joe Girardi said before the game he was hoping for six innings out of Pettitte, and the Yankees could hardly have gotten six better innings. After allowing two-out RBI bunt single in the first inning – one that seemed to catch everyone off guard — Pettitte retired 15 of the last 17 batters he faced, including the last 11 in a row.

“There’s always a little bit of question of, are you going to be able to make those little adjustments that you need to make when you’re out there?” Pettitte said. “When you’re rushing and you know you’re rushing, sometimes it’s not that easy to fix it. I was dragging the first few innings with my arm a little bit, and I was able to get my arm warm a little bit and get it all together. I feel like I’m going to be fine.”

This was Pettitte’s first big league start since July 18. He said the weather was cool in his two minor league rehab starts, but it was pretty hot today, a good test of Pettitte’s stamina and conditioning. He actually got better as the game went deeper, and said he felt like he could have thrown another inning.

As for his groin, the biggest test was that first-inning bunt, just past the mound on the third-base side of the infield.

“I wasn’t expecting a two-out bunt from their four-hole hitter with a runner on third base,” Pettitte said. “I slipped right when I broke. My left foot went right out, the dirt kind of moved on me, and that was about as good of a test as I was going to get.”

Here’s Pettitte.

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• A quick take on Pettitte from his friend Lance Berkman: “He’s the biggest winner I’ve ever played with.”

• Mariano Rivera blew a save for the fourth time this season. “Not a good pitch for a lefty,” Rivera said. “It was down, and that’s where he pretty much makes his living. Tough loss. Having the lead and going in there and not saving the game to me is unacceptable… I didn’t do my job, and everything fell after that.”

• Two of Rivera’s blown saves came on this road trip. Of course, so did two of his saves. Pettitte said it’s a reminder that Rivera is human. Joe Girardi said he has no concerns. “He gave up a couple of runs on this road trip,” Girardi said. “It happens.”

• Given a chance to finish the road trip strong, the Yankees instead finished with a game like so many others. “This whole road trip was like this for us basically,” Girardi said. “We’re going to go through tough times in the course of a season. The good thing is we won the series and we get to go home and we’ve played well at home.”

• The Orioles have 12 walk-off wins this season, six of them since Buck Showalter became their manager.

• A few more Pettitte notes: Brian Roberts’ first-inning steal was just the second stolen base Pettitte has allowed this season… Pettitte missed out on his 29th career win against the Orioles. The only pitcher with more is Whitey Ford, who has 30… A win would have moved Pettitte past Frank Tanana for 51st place on baseball’s all-time wins list.

• Berkman was hot coming into Baltimore, but he went 2-for-13 with two GIDP this series. “Pretty terrible. It’s a crazy game. I have felt great. I feel like I’ve been hitting the ball well. Yesterday, they pitched me tough. I wasn’t really that upset about it. There was one at-bat where I felt like I should have come through, but at that point the game was out of hand anyway. Today was frustrating because I felt like I had pitches to hit. Obviously when you hit third, you’re counted on to carry a little bit more of the burden. I had a great chance to put us up there. It’s probably a different ballgame if I can.”

• Derek Jeter was excited to hear Joe Torre and Don Mattingly are scheduled to be at the stadium for Monday’s pregame ceremony honoring George Steinbrenner. “I’m sure they will be well received by everyone,” Jeter said. “I’m glad they get an opportunity to come back because I know Mr. Steinbrenner has meant a great deal to both of their careers.”

• Asked if the next four games mean a little more than most, Jeter surprised every reporter in the group. “Nah, just like all the rest,” he said. Then he started laughing. “ Of course. We’re battling for our division so these are some important games and we’ll see what happens.”

Associated Press photos of Pettitte and Ramiro Pena

It was Mariano Rivera who blew the save, and it was Dave Robertson who took the loss, but in typical fashion this road trip, the Yankees loss also hinged on a blown scoring opportunity in the 11th. Go-ahead run at third base with no outs. Bases loaded with one out. The Yankees couldn’t take advantage, and the game was lost just minutes later.

“I can always tip my hat to the pitcher if he makes a good pitch,” Lance Berkman said. “But that was a terrible pitch. That ball was hanging right in the middle of the plate. There’s no reason not to hit that ball hard, and I just didn’t do it.”

The Yankees burned through eight players in the course of four plate appearances to load the bases for Berkman.

• Eduardo Nunez pinch ran for Alex Rodriguez who pinch hit for Greg Golson.
• Marcus Thames pinch hit for Ramiro Pena in the middle of an at-bat.
• Mark Teixeira pinch hit for Brett Gardner.
• Derek Jeter hit for himself.

Rodriguez opened the inning with a walk, and the game seemed to change when Mike Gonzalez threw a pickoff attempt into the stands. Pena had been showing bunt, but with the runner at third, Thames came off the bench to swing away.

“If Thames gets the run in, then I can leave Gardy in for defense,” Joe Girardi said. “That’s the thought there. It’s a 1-1 count. Marcus has hit left-handers all year long. Then you have Tex for Gardner if he doesn’t get it done. Berky had some success off Gonzalez, so I was probably going to let him hit, but it didn’t work out.”

After Thames struck out, the Orioles intentionally walked Teixeira and Jeter to face Berkman, who was hitting from his weakest side.

“I felt good,” Berkman said. “I was seeing the ball pretty well right-handed the last couple of times I’ve been up there right-handed. I felt good about the situation. He threw me a good pitch to hit and I just missed it. I hit on top of it. When I hit it I didn’t think they’d be able to turn it, but I guess they made a good turn at second base.

Associated Press photo of Robertson

In his first Major League start since mid-July, Andy Pettitte gave the Yankees six strong innings, but the Orioles rallied from a two-run deficit to beat the Yankees 4-3 in extra innings. Pettitte left the Yankees with a 3-1 lead after six, but the Orioles got a run in the eighth, tied it off Mariano Rivera in the ninth and won on Ty Wigginton’s double in the 11th. The Yankees stranded 12 base runners and squandered a bases-loaded opportunity in the final inning.

Associated Press photo of Pettitte

YANKEES (90-58)
Brett Gardner LF
Derek Jeter SS
Lance Berkman 1B
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher DH
Jorge Posada C
Curtis Granderson CF
Austin Kearns RF
Ramiro Pena 3B

LHP Andy Pettitte (11-2, 2.88)
Pettitte vs. Orioles

ORIOLES (58-90)
Brian Roberts 2B
Robert Andino 3B
Nick Markakis RF
Adam Jones CF
Jake Fox DH
Ty Wigginton 1B
Corey Patterson LF
Matt Wieters C
Cesar Izturis SS

RHP Chris Tillman (1-4, 6.32)
Tillman vs. Yankees

TIME/TV: 1:35 p.m. / YES Network and TBS

UMPIRES: HP Paul Nauert, 1B Brian Gorman, 2B Ted Barrett, 3B Tony Randazzo

WEATHER: Very bright and sunny. Temperatures in the 80s. Very, very slight chance of rain in the late innings, but it’s hard to imagine anything but sunshine this afternoon.

CHANCE TO SWEEP: The Yankees are looking for their seventh series sweep. It would be their third sweep against Baltimore. The Yankees have swept only one road series this year, taking three straight against Oakland in July.

SPEED KILLS: With Brett Gardner’s triple last night, the Yankees now have two players — Gardner and Curtis Granderson — with six triples this season. It’s the second time since 2000 that the Yankees have had teammates with six triples in a season. The other time it happened was 2007 with Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano.

A GOOD SIGN: From ESPN Research: CC Sabathia is the fourth Yankees pitcher since 1956 — the year the Cy Young Award was first given out — to become the first in the big leagues to reach 20 wins. The previous three times (Bob Turley in 1958, Whitey Ford in 1961 and Ron Guidry in 1978) the pitchers went on to win the Cy Young and the Yankees went on to win the World Series.

UPDATE, 1:51 p.m.: Pretty big round of applause for Pettitte as he took the mound for the first inning. He’s working with a 1-0 lead after Brett Gardner led off with a walk and scored on a two-out single by — who else? — Robinson Cano.

UPDATE, 1:52 p.m.: Bill Madden is reporting that both Joe Torre and Don Mattingly will attend Monday’s ceremony to unveil George Steinbrenner’s monument in Monument Park.

UPDATE, 1:58 p.m.: Clean-up hitter bunting for a hit with two outs and a runner at third? If it doesn’t work, it’s the work play ever, but Adam Jones laid down a beauty and the Orioles have tied the game at 1.

UPDATE, 2:55 p.m.: Chris Tillman walked four in the fourth inning, including Brett Gardner with the bases loaded. The Yankees also got an RBI single from Curtis Granderson and they’re leading 3-1. That’s it for Tillman (obviously).

UPDATE, 3:07 p.m.: So far so good for Pettitte, who’s allowed just one run through four innings. As usual he’s allowed some base runners, but the Orioles haven’t hit him hard and he seems in command through 55 pitches. Girardi said he’d be thrilled with six innings from Pettitte, and that looks possible right now.

UPDATE, 3:41 p.m.: That might be all for Pettitte, and what a return. He’s through six innings, having retired the last 11 batters he faced. It’s a 3-1 Yankees lead and Joba Chamberlain is loose in the Yankees bullpen.

UPDATE, 3:53 p.m.: Chamberlain got his man, now Boone Logan is in to face the pinch hitter Luke Scott. This really doesn’t feel like a two-run game. Feels like the Yankees are running away with this thing, and maybe they should be with eight runners left on base.

UPDATE, 4:16 p.m.: This thing has taken a bit of a turn. The Orioles have closed the gap to 3-2 on three straight singles — beginning with a very good bunt by Corey Patterson — here in the eighth inning. There’s one out, the tying run is at third, the go-ahead run is at second and Kerry Wood is facing the 2 and 3 hitters.

UPDATE, 4:35 p.m.: The bad news is, Mariano Rivera just allowed a game-tying home run in the ninth. The good news is, Koji Uehara is warming for the Orioles.

UPDATE, 5:11 p.m.: The crowd here is booing like crazy, but walking the bases loaded to let a lefty pitch to Lance Berkman is the logical move for the Orioles. Meanwhile, the Yankees have burned through an entire regular season roster to make this inning happen.

UPDATE, 5:13 p.m.: Berkman is here to hit against righties, not lefties. That’s a bad missed opportunity. Meanwhile, Teixeira is staying in to play first, Nunez is staying in to play third, Thames is staying in to play left and Colin Curtis is in to play right. Robertson is still pitching.

Joe Girardi created today’s lineup with an eye toward next week. The Yankees come home to a four-game series against the Rays, and then a three-game set against the Red Sox. Girardi did not want to play Alex Rodriguez 13 days in a row, and he wanted to give Mark Teixeira as much of a break as possible. Today, he said, seemed like the best day to give them a break, even though it meant losing two big bats at once.

“You have to be able to separate each guy,” Girardi said. “If you get caught up in not being able to separate each guy, that’s how you can get into trouble. You look at each case individually. Sometimes you have to do it. It’s hard, but as I said all along, you have to be smart about this and make sure these guys are healthy.”

Teixeira has been hurt for a long time now, and Girardi said it’s actually the bruised hand more than the broken toe that worries him.

“I’m hoping to not have to miss any more,” Teixeira said. “I think that’s why we’re giving it today.”

Rodriguez came off the disabled list exactly two weeks ago. You could argue that Rodriguez is hitting really well, which means Girardi is being too cautious. Or you could argue Rodriguez is hitting really well, which means Girardi’s plan is working.

“My thought process is we need him to be healthy, so we have to be smart about it,” Girardi said. “It’s hard to sit him because you want to see him out there every day, but right now that’s not something we can do, and we understand that. The big thing is that we keep him productive when he’s in there, and healthy.”

• Nick Swisher has another game at DH. “We’ll shoot for getting him in the outfield some time this week,” Girardi said.

• Andy Pettitte is scheduled for 80 to 85 pitches. “If we can get six innings out of him I would be thrilled,” Girardi said.

• With Pettitte back, the Yankees seem to have their five-man rotation for the rest of the year. “We’ll let the season dictate what we’re going to do,” Girardi said.

• As of right now there are “no plans” to have Phil Hughes skip another start.

• Although he’s been able to mix-and-match at the back of the bullpen, Girardi acknowledged what was becoming fairly obvious: He has a new setup man. “They’ve kind of settled in a little bit,” Girardi said. “We’ve been using Woody mostly in the eighth. The other guys are kind of interchangeable in the sixth and seventh, including Boone in there.” Girardi said he Kerry Wood as his eighth inning guy will “probably” continue from here on out.

Associated Press photo of Rodriguez