The Yankees withdrew their request that a postponed game with the Devil Rays be forfeited, and Major League Baseball announced the game would be made up as part of a doubleheader Wednesday at 3:05 p.m. in New York, although rain is forecast.
“It was the only option unless you wanted to play it at the end of the regular season,” Yankees manager Joe Torre said Tuesday.
Esteban Loaiza (9-7) will start the first game for the Yankees and Brad Halsey (1-2) the nightcap.
On Monday, the Yankees asked the commissioner’s office to award them a forfeit after the Devil Rays failed to arrive in time for a scheduled doubleheader because of travel problems due to Hurricane Frances.
Commissioner Bud Selig made it clear that he had no intention of awarding a forfeit.
“As the commissioner made clear, it is critical that the outcome of the pennant races be determined on the field,” Bob DuPuy, chief operating officer of the commissioner’s office, said in a statement Tuesday.
The Yankees are 2 1/2 games ahead of Boston in the AL East.
Extra innings
Red Sox outfielder Trot Nixon and second baseman Pokey Reese were activated from the DL. . . . Tampa Bay’s Aubrey Huff singled in his first three at-bats Tuesday. He missed Monday’s game because he could not get from his home to Tropicana Field to accompany the team to New York. . . . The Tigers’ Ivan Rodriguez was back in the lineup after missing Monday’s game to stay in Miami with his family during the hurricane. . . . The Yankees’ Jason Giambi is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Wednesday with Triple-A Columbus.
TUESDAY’S GAMES
RESULTS, SYNOPSIS
Minnesota 3 at Baltimore 1
W: Romero (7-1)
L: Julio (2-4)
S: Nathan (39)
Mike Cuddyer snapped tie with 2-run, 9th-inning HR, J.C. Romero pitched scoreless 8th, extending club-record shutout streak to 34 innings. Matt Riley had blanked Twins on 2 hits through 7.
Tampa Bay 2 at N.Y. Yankees 11
W: Lieber (11-8)
L: Sosa (3-4)
Alex Rodriguez, Hideki Matsui each hit 2-run doubles, Jon Lieber struck out season-high 9 as Yankees won 3rd straight. Devil Rays’ only runs came on Rocco Baldelli’s 2-run HR in 1st.
Kansas City 6 at Detroit 2
W: Serrano (1-1)
L: Robertson (12-8)
Dee Brown homered twice, drove in 4. He has 6 career HRs against Detroit and just 6 against rest of majors. Joe Randa went 3-for-4, scored go-ahead run as Royals won for 5th time in 16 games.
Toronto 2 at Anaheim 5
W: Colon (14-11)
L: Bush (3-4)
S: Percival (27)
Bartolo Colon pitched 7 strong innings (6 H, 7 K, 1 BB), Chone Figgins, Garret Anderson homered. Francisco Rodriguez struck out Orlando Hudson in 8th for 110th K, club record for a reliever.
Boston 7 at Oakland 1
W: Lowe (14-10)
L: Redman (10-11)
Johnny Damon hit leadoff HR in return to lineup (out 4 games, jammed right pinkie). Derek Lowe won 5th straight decision. Oakland had AL West lead trimmed to 1 1/2 games over Angels.
