» Rivera Makes Debut Yankees Blog

March 08, 2008

Although the Yankees lost 9-5 to the Houston Astros on Friday, Mariano rivera looked very impressive in his preseason debut. Rivera retired the side on just eight pitches in the third inning, which included a first-pitch groundout sandwiched between two strike outs.
Andy Pettitte started the game, and sat the Astros down in order in the first inning, but he hit Geoff Blum with a pitch to start the second and served up a homer to Diaz two pitches later. Pettitte pitched 2.2 innings giving up 2 earned runs.

Alex Rodriguez was the DH due to a sore shoulder, and he belted a double in the 2nd inning. Jason Lane and Brett Gardner also doubled in the frame to tie the game at 2. Gardner added a leadoff triple in the fifth to finish perfect (2-for-2) at the plate. Wilson Betemit smacked his second homer of the year in the sixth inning to tie the game at 5. Steven White took the loss after he allowed three runs (two earned) over the sixth and seventh innings.

The Yankees are now 3-3 in the preseason, and will face the Rays in a Saturday matchup at 1:15 p.m. ET. Right-hander Mike Mussina (0-0, 18.00 ERA) is scheduled to pitch.

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