Rays-Yankees: No Luck for New York in Ian Kennedy's First Start

Bronx, N.Y. - The Yankees were smashed around and beat up for nine innings as the Rays crushed the Yankees 13-4 in the stadium on Friday night.

Ian Kennedy got his first start of the season, and he was missing his spots the entire night.  In what seemed to be a tight strike zone, Kennedy wasn't getting any calls going his way.  He surrendered an RBI single to Floyd in the first and then game blew wide open in the third.  B.J. Upton knocked in Iwamura on an RBI single to start the inning and then Shawn Riggens pinch hit for Navarro who left the game with a cut on his right hand.  Riggens made a quick impact, with a double that cleared the bases which were loaded.  Alabeladejo came in relief of Kennedy.  Hinske then finished the inning with an RBI double that scored Riggens to make it 6-0 Rays.

Alabeladejo rebounded nicely afterwards, throwing two more innings of shutout ball before giving the game up to Ohlendorf in the sixth.

The Yankees rebounded quickly after giving up six runs, by scoring four of their own in the third.  A solo home run by Matsui off of the foul pole in right got things started and then an RBI triple by Jeter scored Molina.  Abreu and Giambi also added RBI's, making the game 6-4. That was as close as it got.

Sonnanstine settled down, going six strong  and only giving up four runs.  He also had four strikeouts and no walks.  The Rays bullpen did the rest of the job, shutting down the Yankees until the final out.

The Yankee bullpen on the other hand, wasn't so solid.  After Ohlendorf and Traber pitched one inning each without giving up a run, things went downhill in a hurry.

LaTroy Hawkins made his season debut, wearing a different number then he wore this spring.  He dawned the number 22 during spring action which was of course Robinson Cano's old number, or most recently the jersey number of Clemens.  He decided to pay homage to the late Roberto Clemente, and were the number 21.  Fans quickly got on his case, chanting "Paul O'Neil, Paul O' Neil!" when LaTroy didn't do so well.  After a solo shot to Cliff Floyd, LaTroy Hawkins surrendered six runs and didn't even manage to pitch the entire inning.  Kyle Farnsworth, whom struggled at times last season, came in relief of LaTroy, gave up a three-run bomb to Carlos Pena, the first batter he faced.  After the seven-run eighth inning, the game was now 13-4 and thats where it would stay.

Bench coach Rob Thompson managed for the Yankees for the first time ever, due to Joe Girardi being under the weather.  Girardi watched the loss from the clubhouse.

Every position player on the Rays manage to get a hit, except for Navarro who left the game in the third.  The Rays finished off the night with 15 hits.

Ian Kennedy, 23, didn't have much command on his pitches tonight, only landing 32 strikes in 70 pitches thrown.  This is exactly why some writers have the Yankees missing the playoffs this season.  Though its early and Ian could settle down, this still isn't a good sign.  The Yankees are relying on three young pitchers this season in Phillip Hughes, Ian Kennedy and Joba Chamberlain.

Andy Pettitte will get the nod in tomorrow's afternoon game and the hard throwing Edwin Jackson will start for the Rays.  Both pitchers are making their first start of the season.  Pettitte is making a later start then normal in the rotation due to a sore back this spring.  Pettitte is coming off a rough off season, in which he was named in the Mitchell Report along with his close friend and former teammate Roger Clemens.  Pettitte had to testify in front of a grand jury as well.  He is ready to take the mound and think about baseball and baseball only.

The Yankees are now 2-2 on the season and look to even up the four-game series with the Rays on Saturday in the Bronx.