Rivera Stumbles But Melky Wills Yanks to Victory

Monday's game began with the Yanks honoring Alex Rodriguez's induction into the 500 club, but the night belonged to Melky Cabrera.

Melky scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth and did everything except sell peanuts and water the infield as the Yankees edged the Baltimore Orioles 7-6 at The Stadium.  Chien-Ming Wang battled back from a rocky first inning but struggled, the Yanks overcome an early 3-0 deficit only to see Rivera blow his first save opportunity since April, but the Bombers scratched out a run in the final frame for their fourth victory in a row and ninth in ten games.

Melky Cabrera.  This may have been Melky's best all-around performance in pinstripes.  The Melk Man was an offensive and defensive whirlwind on Monday night.  Cabrera made a snazzy catch on a sinking line drive in the second inning to save a run and probably kept the struggling Wang in the game.  Then he ripped a two-out RBI double in the fourth to give the Yanks a 5-3 advantage and extend his hitting streak to 18 games.  In the ninth with the Yanks clinging to a 6-5 lead, Melky unleashed a rocket from center on a base hit and gunned out Melvin Mora at home.  The O's would eventually tie the game, but with one out in the bottom of the ninth, Melky was drilled by a pitch, advanced to third on Giambi's pinch-hit single, and then motored home on the game-winning infield dribbler by Derek Jeter.  This is a case where the box score doesn't tell you the whole story, but those who watched Monday night's game know Melky did a lot more than just go 1 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored. 

Wilson Betemit.  Betemit must really like being in the pinstripes.  The husky switch-hitter blasted his second homer since being acquired at the trade deadline and is batting .333 as a Yank.  His two-run bomb in the second inning turned a 3-2 Oriole lead into a 4-3 Yankee advantage.  Betemit finished 1 for 2 with a walk, a run scored and 2 RBIs. 

Joba Chamberlain.  Chamberlain made his first appearance in front of the home folks on Monday and didn't disappoint.  Joba showed off his overpowering fastball and broke off a few more of those sick sliders.  The Orioles didn't have a chance.  It's still very early, but so far it looks like the Yanks made the right move in placing him in the bullpen.  Joba's line: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K.

The Bad:

Chien-Ming Wang.  Wang didn't have it early and looked like he was headed for another early exit, but he regrouped and made it into the seventh inning.  Every starter has stretches like this where they just don't pitch well so I'm not too concerned about the Wanger.  Still, it was his second straight shaky performance and his ERA now stands at a un-Wang-like 4.09.  Wang's no decision: 6+ IP, 8 H, 5 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 1 WP.

Mariano Rivera.  The Sandman didn't exactly get lit up in the ninth, but he did blow the save.  In fact, if it wasn't for Melky's terrific play in the ninth, the Yanks could have been looking at a deflating loss.  Still, I can't go too crazy on Rivera.  It was only his third blown save of the season and his first in 19 opportunities so I can't rip into him too much.  He makes it into my "bad" section and I'll just leave it at that.

Whoopsie!  The Yankees showered A-Rod with gifts before Monday night's game.  They were honoring Rodriguez becoming the fastest player ever to reach the 500 homer plateau.  A-Rod received two pieces of artwork, a silver tray and the home plate from his historic game.  However, the show-stopper came when artist Peter Max pulled too hard on the covering of his bat and ball sculpture and sent everything tumbling to the ground.  An omen?  I hope not.

The Yanks will try and keep the good times rolling on Tuesday night as they send Jeff Karstens out to the mound.  Karstens will be filling in for the suspended Roger Clemens.  It will be Karstens' first start since April 28 when he broke his leg against the Red Sox.  The O's will trot out hard-throwing Daniel Cabrera who is 0-1 against the Yanks this year with a 5.95 ERA.  Cabrera has good stuff, but is extremely inconsistent.

Which makes him the very opposite of the Yankees' Cabrera.