Staten Island, NY – The Yankees failed to hold on to a five-run lead and committed four errors as they lost a rain-soaked game, 11-8, tonight to the Pittsfield Astros.  The Astros creep to 3.0 games behind the Yankees with the win.

Tied at seven in the top of the ninth, Chris Russ let up four runs (three earned) on four hits, failing to register a single out and facing five batters.  Ryan Gill came in and retired the three batters he faced, ending the inning with a strikeout.  The Yankees committed two errors in the inning.

The Yankees jumped to a 5-0 lead in the third inning.  After scoring one in the second, the Baby Bombers put a four-spot in the third, on RBI doubles by Andy Cannizaro and Aaron Rifkin and an RBI single by Jason Turner.  Cannizaro was 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and one RBI, while Rifkin was also 2-for-4 with a double, home run, three RBI and one run scored.  Turner had three hits in four at-bats, scoring twice.

Pittsfield came to within two, scoring three in the top of the fifth before putting up four runs in both the seventh and ninth innings.

Staten Island will begin a home-and-home series tomorrow with Brooklyn.  Jason Anderson (2-0) will take the mound for the Yankees.

                                    1      2      3      4      5      6      7      8      9              R      H      E

Astros                         0      0      0      0      3      0      4      0      4              11    13    0

Yankees                      0      1      4      0      0      0      1      1      1              8      12    4

W: Wood (4-0)                        L: Russ (1-2)

Time: 3:04                                Attendance: 4,209

NOTES:  Tomorrow, the Yankees will be hosting a try-out at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark at St. George.  It is by invitation only, for high school and college students in the five boroughs.  Joe Arnold will be one of the scouts there.  Tryouts will begin at 8:00 a.m.

After the NY Yankees announced that Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez will make a rehab start with Staten Island on Thursday, tickets have been selling fast.  As of game time (5:05 p.m.), over 2,000 tickets were sold, in addition to the 3,000 that was already sold for the game.  There are still tickets available.