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Godzilla Leads Yanks Over Jays
Now that's the way you end a road trip!
CC Sabathia pitched eight solid innings, Derek Jeter contributed an RBI-single in his return from a strained right oblique muscle and Hideki Matsui (back from a tight right hamstring) drilled the eventual game-winning homer in the eighth as the Yanks edged the Blue Jays 3-2 in Toronto. Johnny Damon picked up an extra-base hit and a run scored for the 10th consecutive game and Mariano zipped through the ninth to record his seventh save of the season.
This was a fun game to watch and had a little bit of everything -- good defense (Brett Gardner gunning out Rod Barajas at the plate in the fifth), gutsy play-calling (Francisco Cervelli delivering on a hit-and-run with Gardner on first and nobody out in the seventh) and clutch pitching (Sabathia working out of a leadoff double and later a bases loaded situation in the seventh). The Yankees ended the road trip at 4-2 and moved back to .500 with the win.
The Good:
CC Sabathia. It wasn't the dominating performance he had his last time out in Baltimore, but it was plenty good enough. Sabathia was staked to an early 1-0 lead and looked poised to cruise to an easy victory. That is, until the fourth. Alex Rios turned on a CC fastball and deposited it over the center field fence for his fourth homer of the season to knot the score at 1-1. A leadoff walk to Scott Rolen did Sabathia in in the fifth (those leadoff walks usually do) as Barajas doubled him home to give the Jays a temporary 2-1 lead. But the hefty lefty held serve and gave the Yanks a chance to make their comeback. Sabathia battled through a sweaty seventh and gave up three hard-hit balls in the eighth (all outs), but didn't allow a Blue Jay to cross home plate. And that's how you win ballgames, Susan. Sabathia evened his record to 3-3 with this: 8 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 5 K, 1 HR.
Hideki Matsui. Godzilla sure has a knack for the dramatic. Matsui was pulled from Tuesday's game after one at-bat with a tight hamstring and missed Wednesday night's game all together, but he was back in the lineup Thursday night. Good thing. Matsui led off the eighth inning with a solo shot to right, his fourth dinger of the season, to give the Yanks their margin of victory. It's shaping up to be a rough season for Matsui (bad hamstring, bum knee), but he still knows how to deliver in the clutch. Hopefully, he'll be in the lineup more often than not this year. Matsui finished 1 for 3 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI.
Derek Jeter. Speaking of clutch, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention The Captain. Jeter returned to the lineup after missing the past two games and also delivered a big hit. Gardner and Cervelli set the table for Jeter in the seventh and No. 2 brought home the groceries (does that make any sense? I'm going to say no.) with a bloop single over second to tie the game at 2-2. Jeter also made a pretty play on a ground ball that was headed up the middle to end the sixth. Good to have you back, Cap. Jeter finished 1 for 5 with a ribbie.
The Bad:
Alex Rodriguez. This is a bit unfair because A-Rod had some pretty good swings against the Blue Jays, but he still came away empty in the box score. Rodriguez was the only Yankee starter who didn't reach base with either a hit or a walk Thursday night. A-Rod flew out to the warning track in right in the first inning and was robbed of an extra-base hit on a snazzy diving stab by Rolen at third in the sixth. But this is a results business and the results weren't good. I'm sure A-Rod understands. Rodriguez finished 0 for 5.
The Ugly:
Piece by piece. This news is a few days old, but in case you missed it, you (yes, you!) can own a piece of the old Yankee Stadium. Just remember to bring your wallet. The Bombers have started an auction on items such as dirt, sod and used stadium seats. "These are treasures which can be passed on from generation to generation," Yankees chief operating officer Lonn Trost said. I guess. Freeze-dried grass is going for $80, ceremonial bricks from Monument Park for $149 and a single bleacher seat is going for $399. Seems like everything is for sale. Maybe even your soul!
The Yanks head home and will begin a four-game weekend wraparound set versus the Minnesota Twins beginning Friday night. Francisco Liriano (2-4, 5.75 ERA) will go against Phil Hughes (1-2, 8.49 ERA) in the opener. Liriano had a horrible April (0-4, 6.04 ERA), but has rattled off two wins so for in May. The 25-year-old lefty was touched up for five runs over five innings his last time out, but picked up a win in the Twins' 9-6 victory over the Seattle Mariners. Liriano has made only one career apearance against the Bombers, giving up one walk and striking out one in 1 2/3 innings pitched. Hughes was terrible in his last start against the Baltimore Orioles, surrendering eight runs on eight hits in just 1 2/3 innings. This will be Hughes' first look at the Twinkies. Delmon Young (2 for 5) and Brendan Harris (0 for 2) are the only two players on Minnesota with any lifetime numbers against Hughes.
Let's see if the Yanks are ready to go on a run.
CC Sabathia pitched eight solid innings, Derek Jeter contributed an RBI-single in his return from a strained right oblique muscle and Hideki Matsui (back from a tight right hamstring) drilled the eventual game-winning homer in the eighth as the Yanks edged the Blue Jays 3-2 in Toronto. Johnny Damon picked up an extra-base hit and a run scored for the 10th consecutive game and Mariano zipped through the ninth to record his seventh save of the season.
This was a fun game to watch and had a little bit of everything -- good defense (Brett Gardner gunning out Rod Barajas at the plate in the fifth), gutsy play-calling (Francisco Cervelli delivering on a hit-and-run with Gardner on first and nobody out in the seventh) and clutch pitching (Sabathia working out of a leadoff double and later a bases loaded situation in the seventh). The Yankees ended the road trip at 4-2 and moved back to .500 with the win.
The Good:
CC Sabathia. It wasn't the dominating performance he had his last time out in Baltimore, but it was plenty good enough. Sabathia was staked to an early 1-0 lead and looked poised to cruise to an easy victory. That is, until the fourth. Alex Rios turned on a CC fastball and deposited it over the center field fence for his fourth homer of the season to knot the score at 1-1. A leadoff walk to Scott Rolen did Sabathia in in the fifth (those leadoff walks usually do) as Barajas doubled him home to give the Jays a temporary 2-1 lead. But the hefty lefty held serve and gave the Yanks a chance to make their comeback. Sabathia battled through a sweaty seventh and gave up three hard-hit balls in the eighth (all outs), but didn't allow a Blue Jay to cross home plate. And that's how you win ballgames, Susan. Sabathia evened his record to 3-3 with this: 8 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 5 K, 1 HR.
Hideki Matsui. Godzilla sure has a knack for the dramatic. Matsui was pulled from Tuesday's game after one at-bat with a tight hamstring and missed Wednesday night's game all together, but he was back in the lineup Thursday night. Good thing. Matsui led off the eighth inning with a solo shot to right, his fourth dinger of the season, to give the Yanks their margin of victory. It's shaping up to be a rough season for Matsui (bad hamstring, bum knee), but he still knows how to deliver in the clutch. Hopefully, he'll be in the lineup more often than not this year. Matsui finished 1 for 3 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI.
Derek Jeter. Speaking of clutch, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention The Captain. Jeter returned to the lineup after missing the past two games and also delivered a big hit. Gardner and Cervelli set the table for Jeter in the seventh and No. 2 brought home the groceries (does that make any sense? I'm going to say no.) with a bloop single over second to tie the game at 2-2. Jeter also made a pretty play on a ground ball that was headed up the middle to end the sixth. Good to have you back, Cap. Jeter finished 1 for 5 with a ribbie.
The Bad:
Alex Rodriguez. This is a bit unfair because A-Rod had some pretty good swings against the Blue Jays, but he still came away empty in the box score. Rodriguez was the only Yankee starter who didn't reach base with either a hit or a walk Thursday night. A-Rod flew out to the warning track in right in the first inning and was robbed of an extra-base hit on a snazzy diving stab by Rolen at third in the sixth. But this is a results business and the results weren't good. I'm sure A-Rod understands. Rodriguez finished 0 for 5.
The Ugly:
Piece by piece. This news is a few days old, but in case you missed it, you (yes, you!) can own a piece of the old Yankee Stadium. Just remember to bring your wallet. The Bombers have started an auction on items such as dirt, sod and used stadium seats. "These are treasures which can be passed on from generation to generation," Yankees chief operating officer Lonn Trost said. I guess. Freeze-dried grass is going for $80, ceremonial bricks from Monument Park for $149 and a single bleacher seat is going for $399. Seems like everything is for sale. Maybe even your soul!
The Yanks head home and will begin a four-game weekend wraparound set versus the Minnesota Twins beginning Friday night. Francisco Liriano (2-4, 5.75 ERA) will go against Phil Hughes (1-2, 8.49 ERA) in the opener. Liriano had a horrible April (0-4, 6.04 ERA), but has rattled off two wins so for in May. The 25-year-old lefty was touched up for five runs over five innings his last time out, but picked up a win in the Twins' 9-6 victory over the Seattle Mariners. Liriano has made only one career apearance against the Bombers, giving up one walk and striking out one in 1 2/3 innings pitched. Hughes was terrible in his last start against the Baltimore Orioles, surrendering eight runs on eight hits in just 1 2/3 innings. This will be Hughes' first look at the Twinkies. Delmon Young (2 for 5) and Brendan Harris (0 for 2) are the only two players on Minnesota with any lifetime numbers against Hughes.
Let's see if the Yanks are ready to go on a run.
Great win and a big winning streak is desperately needed.
Four wins away from that half a dozen!
Yes it was a good win, however Girardi was forced to send CC out there for the 8th even after a shaky 7th. He is not going to be so lucky with the other starters. This bullpen is horrible. It has to tell you something when your best relief pitcher is Phil Coke and the fact that everyone is looking at Bruney as a savior when he returns. Hopefully they can sell Cashman at the auction with the rest of the dirt.
And Phil Coke was out because of a stiff back. Girardi probably would have turned to Coke if he was available. Read into that whatever you want. And how much would you bid for Cashman?