AP News
(2010-07-17 07:25:23)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New York Yankees battled to a 5-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday, padding their division lead to three games on the night they paid tribute to owner George Steinbrenner.
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Nick Swisher stroked a walk-off, line drive single to right field that scored Curtis Granderson to win the match-up of the two best teams in the major leagues this season.
"The agenda tonight was to win, that was what Mr Steinbrenner wanted us to do," Swisher told reporters after the Yankees celebrated the emotional win on the outfield grass.
"On a day like tonight, when we celebrate his life, we've got to take him out on a 'W'"
The Yankees had battled back from a 3-1 deficit with their trademark power attack, getting back-to-back homers from Robinson Cano and Jorge Posada in the sixth.
After Tampa regained a 4-3 lead in the seventh, Swisher's eighth-inning home run shot into the second deck in right field tied the game again at 4-4.
In the ninth, Swisher came through one more time by lashing a single off reliever Lance Cormier, the third Rays pitcher of the inning, and received a cream pie in the face as has become customary after a game-ending hit for New York.
Taking the win was closer Mariano Rivera (3-1), who before the game placed roses on home plate during a poignant ceremony honoring Steinbrenner who died on Tuesday at 80.
The Yankees improved to 57-32, while the Rays, in second place behind New York in the AL East, dropped to 54-35.
"There was a lot of talk today about Yankees-Rays, first place-second place, right out of the (All Star) break," Swisher said. "I think we need to put all that aside today because today was Mr Steinbrenner's day.
"We went out there and played that game as best we could for him today."
Between innings, video snippets of Steinbrenner's 37 years at the helm of Major League Baseball's most successful team were played along with comments from former Yankees.
Emotions built through the game, reaching a crescendo with Swisher's game-winner.
"It was one of those moments," said Yankees captain Derek Jeter, who introduced a moment of silence before the game for Steinbrenner and long-time Yankees public address announcer Bob Sheppard, who also died this week after 55 years as voice of the Yankees.
Said Swisher: "It's because of him (Steinbrenner) that I was brought over here. I thank my lucky stars every day. This is baseball heaven."
(Editing by Patrick Johnston)
