Latest to be pied: Nick Swisher

A.J. Burnett doesn’t have 13 wins, but he has pied 13 Yankees in the face. His most recent victim: Nick Swisher (this time with shaving cream). Swisher lined his second homer of the game in the ninth inning to give his Yankees (90-50) the 3-2 win over the Rays (72-67).

Quick ‘Cap:
Swisher’s first home was a solo shot in the second inning to give the Yanks an early lead. An RBI single from Alex Rodriguez made it 2-0, and starter Chad Gaudin had cruised through six innings. Gaudin allowed a leadoff homer to Evan Longoria in the seventh, and let two more batters reach before leaving the game (only 76 pitches).

Damaso Marte, Brian Bruney and Phil Coke each recorded one out in the seventh, setting the stage for Phil Hughes and Mariano Rivera to do their things. Jason Bartlett had other plans, as he greeted Hughes’ first pitch with the barrel of the bat and it landed in the left field stands to tie the game at 2. Swisher’s walk-off gave Rivera his second win of the season. Full box score here.

Thoughts:
I can’t believe the Yanks won on another walk-off. I can’t believe Hughes gave up a run. I can’t believe Derek Jeter is 0 for his last 12. That’s it.

Line of the Night:
Gaudin: 6 IP, 6 H, R, ER, 2 BB, 6 K. Easily his best start as a Yankee.

Up Next:
The Yankees will look to sweep tomorrow night, and hand the Rays their eighth loss in a row. Jeff Niemann (12-5, 3.67) will face Joba Chamberlain (8-5, 4.41).