On the Yankees beat

Yankees (74-64) vs. Rays (84-52)

Carl Pavano (2-0) 3.27 ERA 6 SO vs. Edwin Jackson (11-8) 3.81 ERA 90 SO

The Yankees are still clinging to playoff hope as they go for the sweep in Tampa. The Red Sox won again today, so a New York win will only keep them where they are.

Carl Pavano goes for his third straight win. He delivered six impressive innings Friday night to pick up his second win of the season in as many attempts, and his first at Yankee Stadium since 2005. He quieted the Blue Jays' bats, holding them to one run and just three hits. He recorded one walk and one strikeout. The strikeout came against the final batter he faced before exiting after 72 pitches. Pavano said he had to work throughout the game to keep the ball low, but he retired 18 of the 22 batters he faced, including 12 straight hitters. He has not faced Tampa Bay this season.

Jackson picked up his career-high 11th win of the season Thursday night against the Blue Jays when he allowed just one run in seven innings. Jackson threw 70 of 106 pitches for strikes and scattered six hits with two strikeouts for his sixth win in seven games. The young flamethrower is at his best when he is locating his 97 mph fastball, which sets up an array of other pitches, particularly his slider.

Joseph Staszewski is here to take you through all of tonight's action.

YANKEES 8, RAYS 4

Bottom of the Ninth: Veras is in to pitch. Gross draws a one out walk and moves to second on defensive indifference. Iwamora doubles to score Gross. YANKEES 8, RAYS 4

Top of the Ninth: Troy Percival come on for the Rays. Abreu works a two-out walk and then steals second. A-Rod hits a line drive two-run homer off the foul pole. Instant replay is used to confirm the home run. Salas replaces Percival. YANKEES 8, RAYS 3

Bottom of the Eighth: Bruney replaces Coke after Floyd is replaced by Zobrist. Bruney makes quick work of the Rays.

Top of the Eighth: Yankees do not manage a base runner.

Bottom of the Seventh: Coke again gets the Rays in order.

Top of the Seventh: Balfour is the new pitcher for the Rays. A-Rod walks, but is thrown out on a strike him out, throw him out double play.Nady strike out to end the inning.

Bottom of the Sixth: Phil Coke comes in to pitch a 1-2-3 inning.

Top of the Sixth: Yankees go in order.

Bottom of the Fifth: Upton singles to start the inning and then Pena walks. Edawar Ramirez replaces Pavano and gives up a single of the glove of Cano to Floyd. Aybar lines out to Cano, who steps on second for the double play. Hinske pops out to end the inning.

Top of the Fifth: Howell comes in for the Rays and sets the Yankees down 1-2-3.

Bottom of the Fourth: Navarro doubles over Damon's head in center with two outs. Gross hits a long homer into the back row in right field. YANKEES 6, RAYS 3

Top of the Fourth: Damon leads off with a single and then steals second. Jeter singles. Abreu pops out with runs on first and third for the first out. Chad Bradford is brought in to face A-Rod, who singles in Damon. YANKEES 6. RAYS 1

Bottom of the Third: Pavano sets the Rays down in order.

Top of the Third: Abreu hustle outs a double with one out. A-Rod double to left center to score Abreu. Giambi follows with a long double off the top of the left center field wall to bring home A-Rod. Matsui singles up the middle with two outs. Giambi trots home. Cano singles, but Pudge grounds out to end the inning. YANKEES 5, RAYS 1

Bottom of the Second: Gross singles with one out and steals second. That is all the Ray can manage.

Top of the Second: Nady walks with one out. Cano follows by doubling off the glove of a diving Hinske in left to score Nady. Pudge dunks a double down the right field line to bring home Cano. YANKEES 2, RAYS 1

Bottom of the Second: B. J. Upton double to center. Damon dove for it, but could not come up with it. Floyd doubles to score Upton. RAYS 1, YANKEES 0

Top of the First: Abreu reaches on an error with two outs and then steals second. A-Rod looks at a call third strike to end the inning.