When Derek Jeter came out to run his pregame sprints Monday before the first game of a day-night doubleheader against the Rays, fans erupted into cheers. Each time he came to the plate in the nightcap, cameras flashed and chants began.

Good feelings surged through the Stadium and each of Jeter's at-bats was an event. But the Yankee shortstop is not the Yankee Hit King yet. Jeter went 0-for-4 in each game, failing to move any closer to Lou Gehrig's Yankee hit record.

The Yankees enjoyed a productive day anyway, sweeping the Rays. They won the first game in thrilling fashion, breaking an eighth-inning tie and going on to a 4-1 win in front of 47,436. The Yanks broke open Game 2 with an eight-run third inning en route to an 11-1 victory before 45,953. Mark Teixeira hit a three-run homer in the pivotal frame and added a solo shot later in the game, giving him 35 home runs this season.

The Yankees have won 11 of their last 14 games and yesterday added 11/2 games to their lead over the Red Sox in the AL East, giving them a nine-game advantage.

Jeter, who entered Monday with 2,718 hits, needs four in his quest to best Gehrig. While he didn't make a dent in the hit mark, he did reach one milestone, though it's comparatively minor - by playing in both ends of the doubleheader, Jeter passed Yogi Berra for third on the club's games played list with 2,117.

"People are excited for him," said Joe Girardi. "We're all excited for him. People are anticipating every time he comes to bat that he's going to get one closer. It'll happen."

In the second game, Jeter was the only Yankee starter not to get a hit, though he reached on a fielder's choice, knocked in a run and walked. Jeter came out of Game 2 after walking in the sixth inning, replaced by pinch-runner Ramiro Pena.

The Yankees got two effective outings from their starting pitchers, including a much-needed dandy from A.J. Burnett in the second game. After CC Sabathia allowed three hits and one run in seven innings in the first game, Burnett, who had not won since July 27, gave up one run and four hits in six innings in Game 2, raising his record to 11-8.

The Yankees took advantage of Tampa Bay's bullpen in the first game after Matt Garza threw seven superb innings, allowing only an unearned run. Lance Cormier (2-2) gave up three runs in the eighth and Phil Hughes (5-3) and Mariano Rivera threw a scoreless inning apiece for the Yanks. Rivera, who was pitching for the first time since Sept. 1 because of groin soreness, earned his 39th saves - the last 35 in a row, a career-best streak.

Robinson Cano snapped a 1-1 tie with a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning of Game 1. Jorge Posada added an RBI single and Eric Hinske had a sac fly to pad the lead to 4-1.

In Game 2, Melky Cabrera started the big third inning with a single and he and Jose Molina both had two hits in the inning. Jeter made two of the outs, but the Yanks tied a season-high with eight hits in the frame, the fourth time they have had that many.
Teixeira smashed a long drive onto the net that sits over Monument Park out beyond center field for a three-run homer. He also doubled in the fourth inning and homered again in the sixth.

Jeter did not speak between games. He does not seem to be enjoying the hullabaloo over the approaching milestone, but Girardi doesn't think he's getting tense, either.

"I have not seen that really bother him at any point in his career," Girardi said. "This might be the biggest (milestone) he's approaching and there'll be many more in his career. What amazes me is how he's able to relax in big situations. I'm sure he wants to get this behind him so he doesn't have to talk about it or deal with the situation, but I don't think it'll bother him, I really don't."

Jeter did comment before the first game, stressing that he stays focused on what he has to do next, rather than reflecting. He did allow that he enjoys that he's been consistent throughout his career.

"That's all I try to do year in and year out is be consistent," Jeter said. "Sometimes, I think it's overlooked. You ask any player, they are trying to be consistent."