Sidney Ponson, RHP (8-5, 5.21)
Yankees (87-72)
Matsuzaka, RHP (18-2, 2.80)
Red Sox (94-66)


Scouting Report:
Yankees: Ponson draws the call as the Yankees shut down Andy Pettitte for the remainder of the regular season. For Ponson, it will be his first start since Sept. 13, when he was rapped for four runs in 3 1/3 innings and removed from the rotation. Ponson had one win in his last seven starts and a 8.18 ERA over that span when the Yankees decided to look elsewhere. He has lost twice to the Red Sox this season as a Yankee -- on July 27 and Aug. 27.

Red Sox: Matsuzaka was scratched on Friday after a long rain delay prolonged the start of the game. He'll pitch Saturday against the Yanks in a final tuneup before the postseason. Matsuzaka has pitched just once against the Yankees this season, taking a no-decision on April 13. In that one, Matsuzaka gave up five hits and four runs over five innings, walking six. In 15 Fenway starts this season, Matsuzaka is 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA.

James Shields, RHP (12-8, 3.64)
Rays (87-57)
Sidney Ponson, RHP (8-5, 5.10)
Yankees (77-69)

Scouting Report:
Rays: Shields earned a no-decision against the Blue Jays in his last start. The right-hander pitched well, allowing just three runs on six hits over eight innings. Shields walked two and struck out three as he was stopped in his effort to win his career-high 13th game of the year. In seven career starts against the Yankees, Shields is 0-6 with a 6.86 ERA. He will look to reverse that in the Rays' first game of a three-game set at Yankee Stadium -- their last visit to the historic ballpark.

Yankees: Ponson got back in the win column on Sept. 6 at Seattle, tossing six innings of three-run, five-hit ball in the Yankees' 7-4 decision over the Mariners -- their only victory of the weekend. The right-hander has been a little rougher over the longer stretch, faring just 1-3 with a 7.89 ERA through his last six starts after going 3-1 with a 4.73 ERA in his first seven starts for New York. He'll be facing the Rays for the third time this season and his second as a Yankee, having hurled six innings of one-run ball in a July 9 no-decision at Yankee Stadium.

Bobby Abreu and Jason Giambi both homered in a 7-4 Yankeee win over the Mariners. Sidney Ponson (gag) improved to 8-5 on the season.

New York Yankees
Hitters	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
J Damon CF	4	1	0	0	1	0	1	.308
D Jeter SS	3	1	1	0	2	0	1	.295
B Abreu RF	4	2	3	3	1	0	0	.302
A Rodriguez 3B	3	1	0	0	1	0	2	.311
J Giambi 1B	5	2	3	2	0	0	3	.249
C Ransom 1B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.750
X Nady LF	5	0	1	1	0	0	2	.280
H Matsui DH	5	0	3	1	0	1	1	.306
R Cano 2B	4	0	0	0	0	1	4	.264
I Rodriguez C	4	0	1	0	0	1	1	.280
Totals	37	7	12	7	5	3	15
BATTING 2B: H Matsui (16, R Rowland-Smith); X Nady (8, R Rowland-Smith); J Giambi (16, R Corcoran) 3B: B Abreu (4, J Thomas) HR: B Abreu (16, 1st inning off R Rowland-Smith 0 on, 2 Out); J Giambi (29, 6th inning off R Rowland-Smith 0 on, 1 Out) RBI: B Abreu 3 (87), J Giambi 2 (89), X Nady (28), H Matsui (45) 2-out RBI: B Abreu, H Matsui GIDP: D Jeter, X Nady Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: A Rodriguez 1, R Cano 2, J Giambi 2 Team LOB: 9
BASERUNNING SB: J Damon 2 (28, 3rd base off S Green/R Johnson, 2nd base off S Green/R Johnson)
FIELDING E: S Ponson (4, interference) DP: 1 (A Rodriguez-J Giambi).

New York Yankees
Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	PC-ST	ERA
S Ponson (W, 8-5)	6.0	5	3	3	1	1	1	66-43	5.10
B Bruney	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	12-8	2.25
J Chamberlain	0.2	3	1	1	0	1	0	22-16	2.67
M Rivera (S, 33)	1.1	0	0	0	0	1	0	13-9	1.43
Totals	9.0	8	4	4	1	4	1	113-76
PITCHING Batters faced: S Ponson 23; B Bruney 3; J Chamberlain 5; M Rivera 4 Ground Balls-Fly Balls: S Ponson 14-3; B Bruney 1-1; J Chamberlain 0-1; M Rivera 3-0

Scoring Summary
			NYY	SEA
	1st	B Abreu homered to center.	1	0
	6th	J Giambi homered to right.	2	0
	6th	R Ibanez homered to right, J Reed and A Beltre scored.	2	3
	7th	B Abreu tripled to deep right, J Damon and D Jeter scored.	4	3
	7th	J Giambi hit a ground rule double to deep left center, B Abreu scored, A Rodriguez to third.	5	3
	7th	X Nady grounded out to third, A Rodriguez scored, J Giambi to third.	6	3
	7th	H Matsui singled to center, J Giambi scored.	7	3
	8th	R Ibanez singled to center, J Reed scored, A Beltre to third.	7	4

Sidney Ponson, RHP (7-5, 5.13)
Yankees (74-64)
Ryan Rowland-Smith, LHP (4-2, 3.56)
Mariners (54-84)

Scouting Report:
Yankees: Ponson had his fourth consecutive subpar outing in a 13-9 win over Detroit on Sept. 1 at Comerica Park. He was handed an 11-2 lead but couldn't get an out in the fourth inning, allowing seven runs (six earned) and nine hits in three-plus innings with a walk and a strikeout. He said he lost the strike zone, got behind 2-0 and got hit hard when he threw the ball down the middle. He was also hit in the pitching hand by the leadoff hitter in the fourth but said that had nothing to do with his inability to get another out.

Mariners: The Australian left-hander picked up his second consecutive win with another quality start on Sunday against the Indians. Rowland-Smith allowed two runs (one earned) in 6 1/3 innings to help the Mariners sweep the Indians. He struck out just two and walked one, primarily forcing the Indians to pound the ball into the ground. In his past two outings, Rowland-Smith has allowed four runs over 13 1/3 innings. In three relief appearances against the Yankees this season, Rowland-Smith is 0-0 with a 4.91 ERA over 3 2/3 innings. Last season, he picked up a win against the Bronx Bombers after throwing four scoreless innings of relief.

Alex Rodriguez has 4 RBIs and Sidney Ponson got shelled, but the Yankees were able to keep their heads above water winning 13-9.

A-Rod, Abreu, and Damon each had three hits while Jeter, Nady, and Matsui each drove in two runners.

New York Yankees
Hitters	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
J Damon CF	4	3	3	1	2	0	0	.316
D Jeter SS	3	3	2	2	3	0	0	.296
B Abreu RF	5	2	3	1	1	1	2	.302
A Rodriguez 3B	6	2	3	4	0	0	3	.309
J Giambi 1B	4	0	0	1	1	1	6	.249
C Ransom 1B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.600
X Nady LF	5	0	1	2	0	2	2	.300
H Matsui DH	5	0	2	2	0	1	3	.304
R Cano 2B	5	1	1	0	0	0	3	.268
I Rodriguez C	5	2	2	0	0	1	0	.281
Totals	42	13	17	13	7	6	19
BATTING HR: J Damon (12, 2nd inning off J Verlander 0 on, 1 Out) RBI: A Rodriguez 4 (85), J Giambi (85), H Matsui 2 (42), J Damon (58), X Nady 2 (25), B Abreu (84), D Jeter 2 (62) SF: X Nady, J Giambi 2-out RBI: H Matsui 2, X Nady, D Jeter 2 GIDP: H Matsui Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: B Abreu 1, A Rodriguez 2, R Cano 1, H Matsui 1 Team LOB: 11
BASERUNNING SB: B Abreu (16, 2nd base off J Verlander/B Inge)
FIELDING E: R Cano (13, ground ball)

New York Yankees
Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	PC-ST	ERA
S Ponson	3.0	9	7	6	1	1	2	76-43	5.13
E Ramirez	1.1	2	2	2	3	1	1	40-22	3.68
B Bruney (W, 2-0)	1.2	1	0	0	1	3	0	30-14	2.42
P Coke	1.0	1	0	0	0	2	0	20-12	0.00
D Marte	1.0	0	0	0	0	2	0	18-10	7.11
C Britton	1.0	0	0	0	1	0	0	18-9	3.78
Totals	9.0	13	9	8	6	9	3	202-110
PITCHING WP: P Coke Batters faced: S Ponson 20; E Ramirez 9; B Bruney 7; P Coke 4; D Marte 3; C Britton 4 Ground Balls-Fly Balls: S Ponson 5-3; E Ramirez 0-3; B Bruney 0-2; P Coke 0-1; D Marte 0-1; C Britton 1-2

Scoring Summary
			NYY	DET
	1st	A Rodriguez singled to center, J Damon and D Jeter scored, B Abreu to third.	2	0
	1st	J Giambi hit sacrifice fly to left, B Abreu scored, A Rodriguez to second.	3	0
	1st	H Matsui singled to center, A Rodriguez scored.	4	0
	1st	M Ordonez doubled to left, C Granderson scored.	4	1
	2nd	J Damon homered to right.	5	1
	2nd	A Rodriguez safe at first on error by third baseman J Larish, D Jeter scored.	6	1
	2nd	X Nady singled to left, B Abreu scored, A Rodriguez to second.	7	1
	2nd	H Matsui singled to right, A Rodriguez scored, X Nady to third.	8	1
	2nd	G Sheffield homered to left center.	8	2
	3rd	B Abreu singled to left, I Rodriguez scored, J Damon to third, D Jeter to second.	9	2
	3rd	A Rodriguez singled to left, J Damon scored, D Jeter to third, B Abreu to second.	10	2
	3rd	X Nady hit sacrifice fly to left, D Jeter scored.	11	2
	4th	B Inge homered to left, J Larish scored.	11	4
	4th	P Polanco safe at first on error by second baseman R Cano, R Santiago scored, C Granderson to third.	11	5
	4th	M Ordonez hit sacrifice fly to right, C Granderson scored.	11	6
	4th	M Cabrera homered to right, P Polanco scored.	11	8
	5th	M Ordonez singled to left, C Granderson scored, P Polanco to second.	11	9
	6th	D Jeter singled to right, R Cano and I Rodriguez scored, J Damon to third.	13	9

Sidney Ponson, RHP (7-5, 4.80)
Yankees (72-63)
Justin Verlander, RHP (10-14, 4.53)
Tigers (65-70)

Scouting Report:
Yankees: Ponson couldn't bounce back from a rough first inning on Wednesday night against the Red Sox. He gave up two early runs and four runs total to lose his third straight decision. He exited after 4 2/3 innings, and he allowed seven runs with four walks. It marked the second game in a row that Ponson did not complete five innings. He racked up 28 pitches in the first inning alone and threw 89 in his short night. Ponson has not faced Detroit this season.

Tigers: A couple of broken-bat line drives and an ill-placed fastball that resulted in a Kelly Shoppach two-run homer sent Verlander to defeat in his last start Wednesday against Cleveland. The loss prompted manager Jim Leyland to talk about the need for Verlander to shore up his fastball command, which has been inconsistent all season. Whether Verlander takes that to heart in his remaining starts this season remains to be seen. He beat the Yankees in both of his meetings with them last year, scattering three runs over 12 1/3 innings.

Sidney Ponson, RHP (7-3, 4.19)
Yankees (66-58)
Roy Halladay, RHP (14-9, 2.64)
Blue Jays (64-60)

Scouting Report:
Yankees: Ponson gave the Yankees another quality start on Saturday against the Royals, holding Kansas City to two runs and seven hits through 6 1/3 innings. It marked his fourth straight start of at least six innings. He worked himself out of jams and effectively used his sinker to come up with groundouts. Ponson kept his team in the game long enough to come away with a no-decision. The righty has not allowed more than four earned runs in each of his past four starts, but he has been the victim of a lack of run support, as the Yankees have not scored more than three runs in any of those outings.

Blue Jays: Halladay was in top form on Saturday, limiting the Red Sox to one run on seven hits en route to his Major League-leading eighth complete game of the season. The lone run Halladay surrendered came via a solo homer by Boston's Dustin Pedroia in the ninth inning. Halladay finished with four strikeouts, one walk and 12 outs via ground ball in the 109-pitch effort. Dating back to June 30, Halladay is 6-3 with a 1.81 ERA in nine starts, during which he's amassed 59 strikeouts and 13 walks across 69 2/3 innings. Halladay is 12-5 with a 2.88 ERA in 29 career games against the Yankees.

Here's your daily Yankee History Trivia. Bet your friends, they'll never know any of this info.

Today's first gem is a personal favorite, having to do with River Avenue Whipping Boy, Sidney Ponson:

8/19/06 Designated RHP Sidney Ponson for assignment; Optioned RHP Brian Bruney to Triple-A Columbus; Recalled OF Aaron Guiel and RHP Jeff Karstens from Triple-A Columbus.

We had to reach back into the archives for this one, involving one of the game's greatest third basemen, Wade Boggs:

8/19/97 At Anaheim Stadium, Yankee third baseman Wade Boggs makes his pitching debut in a 12-4 loss to the Angels. The future 3000 hit club member hurls a scoreless eighth inning, giving up no hits, walking one, and striking out another.

Sidney Ponson, RHP (6-2, 4.23)
Yankees (61-50)
Tommy Hunter, RHP (0-0, 10.80)
Rangers (58-54)

Scouting Report:
Yankees: Though he earned a no-decision, Ponson stuck with the Angels' Ervin Santana on Friday and matched him zero for zero through seven innings. Making his sixth start this season since joining the Yankees, Ponson turned in his best performance, shutting the Angels' potent lineup out on two hits with four walks. In 16 career starts against Texas, Ponson is 8-2 with a 5.22 ERA.

Rangers: Hunter's Major League debut was one he should have no problem improving upon. At home against the Blue Jays, Hunter allowed six runs on eight hits and two walks and he struck out four. He found out the hard way just how easily balls can fly out of Rangers Ballpark, allowing a three-run home run to Scott Rolen in the second and a two-run home run to Lyle Overbay in the third. Now that Hunter knows what to expect from his home park and Major League hitters, he'll brave the hitter-friendly elements of Ranger Ballpark again in his next start against a Yankees lineup that doesn't figure to be pitcher-friendly.

Ervin Santana, RHP (11-5, 3.57)
Angels (67-40)
Sidney Ponson, RHP (6-2, 4.59)
Yankees (59-48)

Scouting Report:
Angels: Santana suffered his second consecutive loss in his last outing on Sunday in Baltimore. The right-hander has only lost back-to-back starts one other time this season, May 17 and 22. In the first loss of the two most recent, however, Santana was not ineffective -- allowing just three earned runs to the Indians -- but on Sunday he was a bit more accountable, giving up five runs to the Orioles, four within the first three innings. A consistent starter all year, with an 11-5 record, Santana has an overall ERA this season of 3.57 but a slightly higher mark on the road at 3.77. The right-hander has not faced the Yankees yet this season.

Yankees: The righty looks to rebound after his roughest outing in pinstripes. Ponson was tagged for 10 hits and seven runs, all earned, in just four innings, taking the loss in a 9-2 setback to the Red Sox on Sunday night. The four innings matched his shortest stint of the season while it marked the second time he's allowed seven earned runs in five starts with New York. He had not allowed more than nine hits in four previous starts with the Yankees. The loss snapped a personal three-game winning streak, two of which came with the Yankees. He is 7-2 lifetime against the Angels with a 4.67 ERA in 11 career starts, including four complete games and a shutout.

Sindey Ponson lasted only four innings and was tagged for seven runs. Dan Giese was the lone shining light, as he pitched the remaining four innings and only gave up two runs. Jon Lester struck out eight Yankees, en route to his ninth win of the season.

New York Yankees
Hitters	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
J Damon DH	4	0	2	0	0	1	0	.315
D Jeter SS	4	0	1	1	0	1	2	.285
W Betemit SS	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.250
B Abreu RF	3	0	1	1	1	1	1	.280
A Rodriguez 3B	4	0	2	0	0	0	4	.326
X Nady LF	4	0	0	0	0	1	5	.000
R Cano 2B	4	0	0	0	0	0	4	.268
R Sexson 1B	4	0	1	0	0	2	1	.217
M Cabrera CF	4	1	1	0	0	2	1	.250
J Molina C	3	1	2	0	0	0	0	.228
C Moeller C	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.229
Totals	35	2	10	2	1	8	18
BATTING 2B: B Abreu (26, J Lester); A Rodriguez (22, J Lester) RBI: D Jeter (48), B Abreu (67) GIDP: D Jeter, X Nady Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: B Abreu 1, A Rodriguez 1, R Sexson 1, R Cano 2 Team LOB: 7
FIELDING Outfield Assist: M Cabrera (M Lowell at 2nd base).

New York Yankees
Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	PC-ST	ERA
S Ponson (L, 6-2)	4.0	10	7	7	1	1	1	77-48	4.59
D Giese	4.0	5	2	2	1	0	0	65-37	2.86
Totals	8.0	15	9	9	2	1	1	142-85
PITCHING IBB: J Drew (By S Ponson) Batters faced: S Ponson 22; D Giese 18 Ground Balls-Fly Balls: S Ponson 6-4; D Giese 0-12

Scoring Summary
			NYY	BOS
	1st	M Ramirez doubled to right center, K Youkilis scored, D Ortiz to third.	0	1
	1st	M Lowell singled to center, D Ortiz and M Ramirez scored, M Lowell tagged out at second attempting to advance on play.	0	3
	2nd	D Pedroia hit sacrifice fly to center, A Cora scored.	0	4
	3rd	J Varitek doubled to left, M Ramirez scored, J Drew to third.	0	5
	4th	D Ortiz homered to right, D Pedroia scored.	0	7
	5th	D Jeter reached on infield single to third, M Cabrera scored, J Molina to third, J Damon to second.	1	7
	5th	B Abreu walked, J Molina scored, J Damon to third, D Jeter to second.	2	7
	6th	D Ortiz hit sacrifice fly to right, J Ellsbury scored, K Youkilis to second.	2	8
	6th	M Ramirez singled to left, K Youkilis scored.	2	9

Sidney Ponson (6-1) 4.02 ERA
Jon Lester (8-3) 3.20 ERA

Red Sox: Lester continues to be a consistent force for the Red Sox. In his last start, he mowed down the Mariners with 7 1/3 shutout innings, striking out six, and did not issue a walk. Lester has held the opponent scoreless in six of his 21 starts on the season. His only previous start against the Yankees this season was a shutout on July 3 at Yankee Stadium. In 10 Fenway starts, Lester is 4-1 with a 2.93 ERA. He is holding opponents to a .259 batting average.

Yankees: Ponson is set to make the fifth start of his Yankees season on Sunday against the Red Sox, looking to help keep New York undefeated in his efforts since he switched uniforms from the Texas Rangers. Ponson has not been lights-out in a Yankees uniform, but he is 2-0 with a 4.37 ERA since donning pinstripes, having defeated the Twins his last time out on July 21 with 5 2/3 innings of three-run, nine-hit ball. Ponson will be facing Boston for the first time this season and is 2-4 with a 7.16 ERA in nine career starts at Fenway Park.