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Melky, Pena Lead Yanks Past Angels
Three in a row!
A.J. Burnett persevered through seven, Melky Cabrera snapped a 4-4 tie with an RBI-single in the eighth and Ramiro Pena followed with a two-run double as the Yanks bested the Angels 7-4 at the Stadium. Johnny Damon ripped a homer to right, Robinson Cano extended his hitting streak to 17 straight games and Hideki Matsui stretched his to a not-too-shabby 10 straight. Phil Coke earned his first win of the season in relief and Mariano Rivera tied a bow on things to earn his fifth save of the year.
This was fun to watch and the Bombers received contributions from almost everyone. Let's do a quick roundup.
The Good:
Melky Cabrera. No matter what a player says, it's gotta sting when a team intentionally walks the batter hitting in front of you. Even if it makes strategic sense. With the score tied 4-4, Angels skipper Mike Scioscia issued a free pass to Nick Swisher to load the bases for Cabrera with one out in the eighth. And the Melk-Man delivered -- ripping a base hit to right to give the Yanks a 5-4 lead. It wasn't long ago that Melky was an afterthought on this team. Brett Gardner was starting in center, Swisher was off to a hot start and Xavier Nady was still healthy. Things can really change in a few weeks. I don't know if Joe Girardi ever officially named Cabrera the center fielder, but it will be near impossible to justify putting Gardner back in as the starter now. Melky finished 2 for 4 with a stolen base and a run batted in.
Ramiro Pena. You always remember your first and Pena did it in style by plating two at once. I'm talking about RBIs. Pena rifled a two-run double in the eighth for his first two career runs batted in to give the Yanks a 7-4 advantage. The kid also legged out an infield single in the fourth which turned out to be big (see: Derek Jeter). I was surprised when Girardi opted for Pena to be the utility man out of the spring, but it looks like he knew what he was doing. Pena finished 2 for 4 with a run scored and 2 RBIs.
Derek Jeter. Captain Clutch was at it again. Jeter entered Thursday's game 5 for 8 with 2 home runs and 7 ribbies with runners in scoring position and two outs this season. Those numbers improved when Jeter followed Pena's hustle base hit in the fourth with an RBI-single to right to tie the score at 3-3. Former Yank Bobby Abreu booted the ball and that allowed Pena to score all the way from first (thanks for the help, Bobby). I guess some guys just have a knack for getting big hits. Jeter finished 2 for 4 with a walk and an RBI.
The Bad:
Mark Teixeira. The newly acquired first baseman is having a rough go so far and the fans in the Bronx voiced their displeasure Thursday night. Tex doubled in his first at-bat and scored the Yankees first run when Matsui singled him in, but he came up small on two separate occasions later in the game. With the scored knotted at 4-4 in the seventh, Teixeira stepped up with runners on first and second and one out. He grounded into a double play to end the threat. After the Yanks took a 7-4 lead in the eighth, Teixeira had a chance to blow things wide open, but struck out looking with the bases loaded to end the inning. The boo birds were in full force. Hang in there, Mark. Teixeira finished 1 for 4 with a walk and a run scored.
The Ugly:
Back in the news. Alex Rodriguez is still busy rehabbing in Tampa, but that wasn't the reason his name was all over the media Thursday. Some details in Selena Roberts' upcoming book about A-Rod, creatively titled "A-Rod," were leaked and it didn't exactly paint Rodriguez in a positive light. In it, Roberts alleges A-Rod was using steroids in high school and was using human growth hormone while he was a member of the Yankees -- a claim he has denied. Yes, I can hear all of you groaning. But the biggest revelation (if that's the right word -- probably not) for me was that A-Rod would tip pitches to players on opposing teams during blowouts and expected the same in return. I've never heard of that one before. I'm sure pitchers on his team really appreciated that. Still, I'm not interested in A-Rod's sexcapades, his bitch tits or his obsession with Jeter. I just want him to come back and hit and play defense. Does that make me a bad person? Probably.
The Halos will send Jered Weaver (2-1, 2.45 ERA) to the hill Friday night. Andy Pettitte (2-1, 2.96 ERA) will toe the rubber for the Bombers. Weaver twirled a gem in his last start against the Seattle Mariners. The 26-year-old righty tossed seven scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and striking out five in an 8-0 Angels victory. Weaver is 3-1 in four career starts against the Yanks, but boasts an unimpressive 6.14 ERA. Pettitte had one bad inning against the Boston Red Sox in his last start and it was enough to earn him his first loss of the season. But the 36-year-old lefty has been a horse so far -- he's gone at least six innings in all four of his starts in 2009. Pettitte struggled mightily against the Angels last season, though -- finishing 0-2 with a 7.94 ERA in three stars.
Let's see if we can stretch this baby to four.
A.J. Burnett persevered through seven, Melky Cabrera snapped a 4-4 tie with an RBI-single in the eighth and Ramiro Pena followed with a two-run double as the Yanks bested the Angels 7-4 at the Stadium. Johnny Damon ripped a homer to right, Robinson Cano extended his hitting streak to 17 straight games and Hideki Matsui stretched his to a not-too-shabby 10 straight. Phil Coke earned his first win of the season in relief and Mariano Rivera tied a bow on things to earn his fifth save of the year.
This was fun to watch and the Bombers received contributions from almost everyone. Let's do a quick roundup.
The Good:
Melky Cabrera. No matter what a player says, it's gotta sting when a team intentionally walks the batter hitting in front of you. Even if it makes strategic sense. With the score tied 4-4, Angels skipper Mike Scioscia issued a free pass to Nick Swisher to load the bases for Cabrera with one out in the eighth. And the Melk-Man delivered -- ripping a base hit to right to give the Yanks a 5-4 lead. It wasn't long ago that Melky was an afterthought on this team. Brett Gardner was starting in center, Swisher was off to a hot start and Xavier Nady was still healthy. Things can really change in a few weeks. I don't know if Joe Girardi ever officially named Cabrera the center fielder, but it will be near impossible to justify putting Gardner back in as the starter now. Melky finished 2 for 4 with a stolen base and a run batted in.
Ramiro Pena. You always remember your first and Pena did it in style by plating two at once. I'm talking about RBIs. Pena rifled a two-run double in the eighth for his first two career runs batted in to give the Yanks a 7-4 advantage. The kid also legged out an infield single in the fourth which turned out to be big (see: Derek Jeter). I was surprised when Girardi opted for Pena to be the utility man out of the spring, but it looks like he knew what he was doing. Pena finished 2 for 4 with a run scored and 2 RBIs.Derek Jeter. Captain Clutch was at it again. Jeter entered Thursday's game 5 for 8 with 2 home runs and 7 ribbies with runners in scoring position and two outs this season. Those numbers improved when Jeter followed Pena's hustle base hit in the fourth with an RBI-single to right to tie the score at 3-3. Former Yank Bobby Abreu booted the ball and that allowed Pena to score all the way from first (thanks for the help, Bobby). I guess some guys just have a knack for getting big hits. Jeter finished 2 for 4 with a walk and an RBI.
The Bad:
Mark Teixeira. The newly acquired first baseman is having a rough go so far and the fans in the Bronx voiced their displeasure Thursday night. Tex doubled in his first at-bat and scored the Yankees first run when Matsui singled him in, but he came up small on two separate occasions later in the game. With the scored knotted at 4-4 in the seventh, Teixeira stepped up with runners on first and second and one out. He grounded into a double play to end the threat. After the Yanks took a 7-4 lead in the eighth, Teixeira had a chance to blow things wide open, but struck out looking with the bases loaded to end the inning. The boo birds were in full force. Hang in there, Mark. Teixeira finished 1 for 4 with a walk and a run scored.
The Ugly:Back in the news. Alex Rodriguez is still busy rehabbing in Tampa, but that wasn't the reason his name was all over the media Thursday. Some details in Selena Roberts' upcoming book about A-Rod, creatively titled "A-Rod," were leaked and it didn't exactly paint Rodriguez in a positive light. In it, Roberts alleges A-Rod was using steroids in high school and was using human growth hormone while he was a member of the Yankees -- a claim he has denied. Yes, I can hear all of you groaning. But the biggest revelation (if that's the right word -- probably not) for me was that A-Rod would tip pitches to players on opposing teams during blowouts and expected the same in return. I've never heard of that one before. I'm sure pitchers on his team really appreciated that. Still, I'm not interested in A-Rod's sexcapades, his bitch tits or his obsession with Jeter. I just want him to come back and hit and play defense. Does that make me a bad person? Probably.
The Halos will send Jered Weaver (2-1, 2.45 ERA) to the hill Friday night. Andy Pettitte (2-1, 2.96 ERA) will toe the rubber for the Bombers. Weaver twirled a gem in his last start against the Seattle Mariners. The 26-year-old righty tossed seven scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and striking out five in an 8-0 Angels victory. Weaver is 3-1 in four career starts against the Yanks, but boasts an unimpressive 6.14 ERA. Pettitte had one bad inning against the Boston Red Sox in his last start and it was enough to earn him his first loss of the season. But the 36-year-old lefty has been a horse so far -- he's gone at least six innings in all four of his starts in 2009. Pettitte struggled mightily against the Angels last season, though -- finishing 0-2 with a 7.94 ERA in three stars.
Let's see if we can stretch this baby to four.
So happy to see Melky playing so well. I agree that he has to start as long as he's performing. It was a matter of time before Teixeira got booed. He'll come around.
That A-Rod book is total garbage. Who cares at this point?
It looks like Gardner is shaping up to be the late-inning defensive replacement in center and pinch-runner. That should help out the team -- as long as Melky keeps hitting.
From what I heard, the AROD book plays out like an issue of the Enquirer, very few credible sources.
However I do agree with you, the biggest thing to me was the tipping pitches. Of course all the headlines were about steroids... Who Cares at this point, he admitted taking them, does it really matter how often or when now?? Next, you will hear that he was shooting up in T-Ball.
Doesn't everyone start using steroids in T-Ball?
Anyone else take great pleasure in seeing Abreu kill someone besides the Yanks with his glove?
Lay off Abreu! I'd take him on my team any day.