Derek Jeter will have to wait another day or two in his quest to tie and overtake Lou Gehrig as the all-time New York Yankees hit leader, He failed to record a hit in both games of a day-night Labor Day doubleheader at Yankee Stadium Monday as his team swept the twin bill taking the day game 4-1 and easily winning game two 11-1.
“We won the two games and that’s the most important thing,” said Jeter who needs three hits to tie Gehrig’s record of 2,721 hits. It marked the first time in his career he went hitless in both games of a doubleheader.
Left hander CC Sabathia allowed one run in seven innings and recorded a no decision in the first game and Phil Hughes (6-3) came in from the pen and got the win. Alex Rodriguez went 3-for-3 and Mariano Rivera recorded his 39th save in 40 opportunities in the first game win.
“Kind of interesting that he did not get a hit tonight,” said Yankees manager Joe Girardi about Jeter. “The guys are really pulling for him. It will save us a little energy when he gets over this,” he commented about the Yankee captain who went a combined 0-for-8 in both games.
.There appears to be no pressure though with Jeter as close as he is to surpassing a Yankees legend in the record books. To him wins are more important. “What can you do it’s one of those days. We come back and play tomorrow.”
New York improved to a season high 39-games over .500 their highest mark since the final day of the 2004 season when they were 40 games over. The Yankees 7-9 hitters in the second game went 8-for 11 with three runs, a double, and four ruins batted in.
“We still have a long ways to go to what we want to accomplish,” added Girardi who saw his Yankees increase their division lead to a season high 9.0 games ahead of Boston in the American League East. The Yankees scored eight runs on eight hits in the third inning in their second game win helping starter A.J. Burnett (11-8) to an easy win.
Mark Teixeira recorded his third multi-home run game of the season helping Burnett in that third inning and later hit his 35th home run of the season in the sixth inning. “I have felt good here for quite a while and hit a nice line drive out of there,” said Teixeira about the first home run in the third inning to deep center.
Game three of the series with Tampa is Tuesday evening at the Stadium. Tampa, the defending American League champions with slim playoff hopes will send (7-7) David Price to the mound opposing right hander Chad Gaudin (1-0) of the Yankees.
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