Rays tip NY in 10th

Clemens held out, won't go this week

September 26, 2007|Fred Goodall, Associated Press

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Hold the champagne. Another big home run by Alex Rodriguez wasn't enough to help the New York Yankees clinch a 13th straight playoff appearance.

Jorge Velandia hit a grand slam for his first career homer and Dioner Navarro added a walkoff solo shot in the 10th inning to lead the Tampa Bay Devil Rays over New York, 7-6, and prevent the Yankees from clinching a playoff berth last night.

New York fell three games behind the first-place Red Sox in the AL East with five games to play. The Yankees lead Detroit by 4 1/2 games in the wild-card race, and their magic number to clinch a playoff berth remained at one.

Velandia's grand slam off Brian Bruney finished a six-run sixth and offset a Rodriguez grand slam (his 53d homer of the season) that gave New York a 5-0 lead in the third. Navarro, who had an RBI double in the sixth, hit the winner on a 2-0 pitch from Jeff Karstens (1-4).

The Yankees will continue their playoff push without Roger Clemens, who was scratched from last night's start because of a lingering left hamstring injury and won't pitch for the remainder of the regular season. Clemens could throw in a simulated game.

Clemens is "confident" he will be ready for the opening round of the postseason if the Yankees qualify. "I fully expect to be out there," he said.

Kei Igawa started in Clemens's place last night, going five scoreless innings. Tampa Bay broke through against Edwar Ramirez and Bruney in the sixth.