Yanks Clinch Playoff Spot Behind Lieber’s Solid Start

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The New York Sun

After clinching another postseason trip, there were no high-fives or celebratory handshakes in the Yankees’ clubhouse. It was business as usual – except for all the rookies dressed in Elvis outfits.


Derek Jeter hit a leadoff home run, Jon Lieber pitched into the eighth inning and the Yankees clinched their 10th consecutive playoff berth with a 7-3 win over the Devil Rays yesterday.


John Flaherty also homered for the Yankees (96-57), who are assured of no worse than a wild-card spot. They’re guaranteed of finishing among the top two in the AL East, and no team can finish second in the AL Central or AL West with more than 95 wins.


“We don’t come in here saying, ‘Let’s get to the postseason,’ ” Jeter said. “We’ve made the postseason before. We want to win the division.”


The Yankees increased their lead in the AL East to 4 1 /2 games over the second-place Red Sox, who lost to Baltimore last night. The Yankees go to Fenway Park for a three-game series this weekend.


While most of the Yankees were putting on suits for the trip to Boston, rookies such as Andy Phillips, Scott Proctor, Brad Halsey and Bubba Crosby were slipping into sparkly different-colored Elvis outfits – complete with wigs and sunglasses – while classic tunes from The King played over the loudspeaker as part of a team hazing ritual.


The Yankees, given a standing ovation by fans following the final out, have the second-longest streak of consecutive trips to the playoffs, trailing only Atlanta, which is on the verge of clinching its 13th straight division title.


The Yankees took a low-key approach instead of celebrating clinching a playoff spot.


“We just don’t do that,” manager Joe Torre said. “If you’re sitting in first place and celebrate just getting into the playoffs, you’ve already taken a psychological dip.”


Lieber (13-8) allowed three runs and 11 hits in 7 1 /3 innings. Tom Gordon got two outs in the eighth, and Paul Quantrill finished with a perfect ninth.


Yesterday’s game was a makeup of an April 13 rainout, which at first was supposed to be played as part of a Labor Day doubleheader but got pushed back again because Tampa Bay was delayed traveling due to a hurricane.


Aubrey Huff went 4-for-4 with an RBI for Tampa Bay, which has lost five of six. The Yankees finished the season 15-4 against the Devil Rays, including 10-0 at home.


Jeter, hitting a season-high .293 after going 3-for-4 with a walk, put New York ahead in the first. He hit his second leadoff homer of the season and 13th of his career, a drive into the Yankees’ bullpen in left-center field off Todd Ritchie (0-2). Jeter’s 23rd homer was the Yankees’ major league-leading 231st of the season, the second-highest total in franchise history.


Yankees starter Kevin Brown had the pins removed from his broken left hand, and will throw a bullpen session today. Torre hasn’t announced who will start Sunday’s game against Boston, and didn’t completely rule out Brown.


The New York Sun

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