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Duncan powers Yankees past Devil Rays in first game

Jul 21, 2007 - 9:48 PM BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- Less than 24 hours after missing a game-changing home run, Shelly Duncan left little doubt about his first major league home run.

Duncan's two-run shot capped a five-run bottom of the sixth inning as the New York Yankees posted a 7-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the opener of a day-night doubleheader on Saturday afternoon.

Duncan's contract was purchased on Friday from Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. A 2001 second-round pick, Duncan hit 25 home runs at Scranton, including one on Thursday in Indianapolis - hours before learning from manager Dave Miley that the Yankees had promoted him.

The 27-year-old was in the lineup Friday when Tampa Bay opened the series with a 14-4 rout and he almost changed the course of the game. With two outs in the bottom of the fourth and two on, he narrowly missed a three-run home run that hooked foul in left field and would have made it a one-run game.

After almost homering, he struck out and the Devil Rays scored five two-out runs and officially turned the game into a blowout.

Duncan was back in the lineup and this time he was the one who officially made a it a one-sided game for the Yankees. The Yankees snapped a 2-2 tie on Robinson Cano's RBI single and built a three-run lead on Andy Phillips' two-run base hit.

"It certainly gave us a little (lift) and (we were) feeling good about ourselves," New York manager Joe Torre said. "We didn't do a whole lot and then all of a sudden he hit that home run and that wakes everybody up."

With Kyle Farnsworth warming up for the seventh, New York was looking for more and Duncan delivered. After falling behind 1-2, Duncan deposited the next pitch from Jae Kuk Ryu (1-2) into the left field seats for a 7-2 cushion.

"You have so much adrenaline, (so) your swings are quicker," Duncan said of the difference between his swing Friday and Saturday. "You have to learn how to control it. I'm just really trying to get that feel."

"It was a changeup," Ryu said. "It was amazing. It was a really low ball. He just hooked the ball."

After homering, Duncan received a hug from Phillips, his longtime minor league teammate and was given a curtain call from the crowd.

"It was pretty cool, something I never prepared for," Duncan said. "It's pretty fun when you get to share moments like that with your teammates.

Duncan's blast made a winner out of Luis Vizcaino (7-2), who has been very effective since June 1. Vizcaino struck out two in the sixth and stranded Josh Wilson at second in a tie game.

Farnsworth struck out two in the seventh, Scott Proctor allowed a two-out home run to Raul Casanova in the eighth.

In the ninth, Greg Norton led off with a single, prompting Torre to call on closer Mariano Rivera, who allowed a single and hit a batter.

But with the bases loaded and two outs, Rivera struck out Jonny Gomes, finishing up New York's seventh with in 10 games.

The effectiveness by the bullpen came after Kei Igawa flirted with trouble for five innings. He allowed solo home runs to B.J. Upton and Ty Wigginton among his seven hits but also struck out six and worked out of a few jams.

"He pitched out of trouble and that's something he hadn't been doing," New York pitching coach Ron Guidry said. "All he did today was slow down (with runners on base)."

Igawa threw 94 pitches, which was 21 fewer than Monday's game against Toronto when he also lasted five innings.

"I haven't found my rhythm yet and once I get that going, hopefully I'll get my pitch count down," Igawa said through an interpreter.

Tampa Bay took a 2-0 lead after two innings but left the bases loaded in the third when Delmon Young lined into an inning-ending double play. The Devil Rays also left the bases loaded in the fifth when Wigginton flied out.

"We had opportunities," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "We had their guy on the ropes. We just couldn't deliver the knockout blow."

Jason Hammels made his first start of the season and 10th career. He lasted four innings and allowed a two-run home run to Hideki Matsui in the fourth among three hits.

"Today I felt real good," Hammels said. "I felt like I had a few more (innings) in me. But I didn't want to get hurt on something silly."

After the game, he was optioned back to Class AAA Durham. Since this was a spot start, the Devil Rays sent him back so he could start consistently.

Tampa Bay also lost left fielder Carl Crawford to a sprained left ankle. The All-Star outfielder suffered the injury in the third inning running to first base and was not in the starting lineup for the nightcap.