Pettites 200th Pulls Yanks Within One
If the New York Yankees catch the Boston Red Sox in the AL East, the suicide rate in Massachusetts might skyrocket in the month of October. On May 29, the Bronx Bombers trailed their archirivals by 14.5 games in the division. But thanks to Andy Pettites 200th career victory last night, that lead now stands at[ just one].
The Yankees [defeated the Baltimore Orioles 2-1] behind seven and two-thirds strong innings from Pettite, and closer Mariano Rivera nailed down the win by pitching out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth. Just 45 seconds before the final out, the Blue Jays finished off [their sweep of the Sox](http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270919114), causing the loudest uproar of the evening from the 53,857 in attendance.
Baltimore starter Brian Burres mostly handcuffed the potent New York lineup, holding the Bronx Bombers to just five hitsfour of which were singles. But the non-single was a line-drive, solo home run by Hideki Matsui, and in the sixth, Doug Mientkiewicz scored another run on a wild pitch, which was all Pettite needed. Four months ago, nobody gave us credit. And now we're close to winning the division, Rivera said. Translation: The Boston morgues might want to start preparing for a body surge come the end of the season.