The Yankees had sixteen hits but like yesterday left men on base all game long. They were helped out in the eighth by walks from Nats reliever Gary Majewski including one to Derek Jeter with the bases loaded to tie the score at five.

Jaret Wright started and as been his case all year long he couldn't get through the sixth inning. He walked the first batter to start the inning and Lee Mazzili pulled him in favor of Scott Proctor. Mazzilli was managing as Joe Torre was serving his one game suspension for the the Randy Johnson ejection the other night vs. the Indians. Johnson has appealed his five game suspension.

Proctor was a victim of the hit and run and surrendered a bloop double down the right field line which scored Nick Johnson and extended the Nats lead to 5-3. Proctor settled down and pitched through the sixth and seventh without giving up any more runs.

Although the Yankees came back and won the story continues to be A-Rod and his utter ineptitude in clutch situations. He struck out three times tonight including the last one against Chad Cordero with the bases loaded in the eighth with the scored tied at five.

Alfonso Soriano hit a two run homer to center early in the game to give the Nats a lead at the time of 3-2. It was his twenty-fourth homer of the season. His offense looks good but his defense does not. He plays way to deep in left and although he has ten outfield assists, most of his throws are way off target.

After the Yankees tied the score in the eighth they put Kyle Farnsworth in the game and he got the first out on a comeback bouncer to the mound but left with back spasms. Rivera replaced him and was given all the time he needed to warm up. He retired both batters in the eighth to keep the score tied.

In the ninth, Bernie Williams led off with a homer off of Nats closer Chad Cordero and the Yankees added another run to extend the lead to 7-5. Rivera worked a perfect ninth to earn the win and move his record to 4-3 on the season. The series resumes tomorrow afternoon with Shawn Chacon going for the Yankees.