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Yankee Pen Ruins Comeback
After another hard-luck start for Phil Hughes ended in the bottom of the fifth, the Yanks found themselves in a 4-0 hole. Mark Teixeira brought them all the way back with 4 RBI spread over two at bats. The Wanger hung three zeroes on the board to get the game to the ninth tied. Then things took a tragic turn for the Bombers.
In the top of the ninth, Matsui led off with a walk, Swisher promptly bunted him over to second. Gardner then legged out an infield single, moving Pena (who had pinch run for Matsui) over to third. The table was set for Jorge Posada, first and third, one out. Posada did the one thing he couldn't do in that situation, he banged into an inning-ending double play. If you're going to hit into a double play in that situation, at least have the common courtesy to strike out and give Jeter a chance to win it. Seriously, though. I would've given some serious thought to stealing Gardner early in the count to remove the possibility of a double play.
The bottom of the ninth was pretty much a foregone conclusion when Phil Choke took the hill. Coke and Robinson only needed 21 pitches to blow the game on a walk-off single down the line by Jhonny Peralta.
Now, about the enigma that is Phil Hughes. I swear the kid pitched a great game today. He went 5 innings, threw 95 pitches, 66 of them for strikes. He only gave up 5 hits. The Indians really only hit three balls hard the entire game, and one of them should've been caught (Gardner badly misjudged an easy opportunity in center, which led directly to the fourth run). He struck out 6. The first two runs scored on a bloop to right by Peralta, one of those runners was on base due to a bloop of his own to right. The other two runs scored on sacrifice flies. I can't figure out how a guy can pitch like that and run into such bad luck. He probably didn't help his case by beaning two batters on 0-2 pitches, but overall, I think his solid string of starts continued today. We'll have to wait and see how he reacts in his next start, against Tampa.
So the dream of a sweep of this four-game series went up in smoke, but the Yanks can still wrap up their road trip with a spectacular 5-2 record if Joba can avoid the midges in tomorrow night's finale. The only silver lining from this game was Pavano being denied his sixth win in the month of May by Cleveland's shoddy bullpen work.
Player of The Game: Teix
Team Record: 29-21
Up Next: Game 4 of the series in Cleveland. Joba vs. Sowers
I caught a bit of the Yankee postgame and Gardner said he was told to steal in the ninth. He said he didn't get a good jump and blamed himself.
Excuses, excuses, excuses. He should've been benched tonight if that was the case.
Harsh. It wasn't an act of defiance. Gardner messed up and took accountability.
Bad managing by Girardi. Wang should have pitched the ninth. If not him Rivera. He had not pitched since Friday. Joey Jr does not know how to manage the 'pen either
Is this what we are reduced too. I pitcher goes 5 innings and it is still consider a hard luck start?? He pitched well but if you cant go more than 5 you didn't do your job...
He didn't do his job, but he did pitch well. Seems like he can't catch a break...jesus, I sound like Mike now making excuses for everyone. Nevermind, Hughes blows.
Guh!