Tagged: David Robertson
It’s Early. But, Hey, These Games Still Count
Mark Teixeira blasted a three-run homer, his third three-run homer of the season, and fourth overall homerun, in the first inning of game two of a four game series against the Minnesota Twins at the Stadium that gave the Yanks an early 3-0 lead in this game.
Then, in the second inning, Andruw Jones, making his first start of the season, hit a solo shot that increased the Bombers lead to 4-0.
On the mound, CC Sabathia was strolling along at a very steady and solid pace, allowing no runs, and just two hits and one walk over seven strong innings of work, retiring the final 17 batters he faced.
So after seven innings it looked very good for the Yankees as a victory was clearly in sight, which would move their record to (4-1) after the first five games of the 2011 season. But as is the case in just about 95% of all baseball games throughout the Major Leagues these days, the dreaded “100 pitch-count” would come into play once again when Sabathia threw his 104th pitch that recorded the final out of the top of the seventh.
I made a pledge to myself at the start of this year that I would “try” to “not” talk about, or write about, the pitch-count this baseball season. But as the eight inning started to unravel for the Yanks with Rafael Soriano on the mound, I quickly called my friend on the phone and started to vent with rage about what was happening before our eyes.
Manager Joe Girardi decided his “ace” CC Sabathia was finished for the night because he had thrown 104 pitches. It did not matter that CC had retired 17 Twins in a row, allowed no runs on only two hits and a walk, or that the bullpen could have used a night off, especially since Freddy Garcia is scheduled to pitch the next game and surely will last only about five innings when the bullpen “will” be needed. CC is the Yankees “ace”. And if any starter in the rotation is going to stay on the mound into the eight and even the ninth inning, it is Sabathia who could very easily pitch 120-125 pitches every start. The “pitch-count” should not apply to CC, period !
Now, my opinion is not based on any second-guessing after the fact. When Girardi made the move, as I and most Yankee fans knew he would ’cause this is Girardi’s basic philosophy in regards to the starting pitchers, it annoyed me very much, as it always does when he takes out a starter who is pitching a great game, especially a shutout, and especially when CC Sabathia is on the mound.
As it turned out, Soriano was very ineffective during his time on the mound in the eight, allowing two walks and a hit to load the bases with two outs, before issuing his third walk of the inning that forced home a run to make the score 4-1.
Girardi then brought David Robertson into the game, who allowed a bloop double to right field by Delmon Young that cleared the bases to tie the score 4-4.
Still on the phone with my friend, I also second-guessed the Robertson move by Girardi. At this point I would have brought Mariano Rivera into the game to get a four-out save. But the damage was already done. Robertson did get the final out in the top of the eight inning. And Mariano pitched a scoreless ninth to take the game into extra innings tied at 4-4.
As the game entered the top of the tenth, with Joba Chamberlain not available to pitch on this night, Girardi called Boone Logan in from the bullpen. Logan started the inning by walking Span; then gave up a single to Nishioka and RBI single to Mauer that moved the Twins into a 5-4 lead.
Joe Nathan closed out the victory for the Twins by pitching a scoreless bottom of the tenth, recording his second save of the season. And that was the ballgame.
Reflecting on Rafael Soriano’s poor performance after he left the game, I was willing to give him a pass at the time, and still do give him a pass, because in my view Girardi should have let CC Sabathia pitch the eight inning.
But I do not give Soriano a pass for leaving the clubhouse after the game was over without talking to the media. That kind of action by Soriano will not be received very well by the media or the fans. And if Mr. Soriano continues to think he can just not answer questions after tough performances or losses, it will be a very uncomfortable time in the Bronx for the former Tampa Bay Rays closer.
Also, I do not give Joe Girardi a pass for this loss. A manager cannot always manage strictly by the book. And especially with CC on the mound, it’s time to throw away the “pitch-count”, and just let our “ace” pitch as long as he can in every start.
– Jimmy Curran, “BY&L” – Baseball, The Yankees, and Life …
Bombers Back On Track; CC Tames Tigers 6-2
Thirteen times this season the Yankees faced a starting pitcher they had never seen before, including Max Scherzer (8-9) of the Tigers and Bryan Bullington (1-2) of the Royals, both of whom earned victories against the Yanks in their last two back-to-back losses. In these games against unknown starters the Yanks have a record of (4-9). Interesting numbers with really no explanation as to [why?] this continues to happen.
So in last night’s second game of four against the Detroit Tigers at the Stadium in the Bronx, which featured a battle of both teams aces, Justin Verlander (13-7) vs. CC Sabathia (15-5), one would think with the way the Yanks have been playing of late, they would be greatly challenged to score many runs against Verlander. CC would have to be money [again] for the Yanks to win this game.
This is not to say the Yankees would rather face some rookie pitcher instead of Verlander, or Verlander instead of a rookie starter. They have no control over who pitches against them on the mound. This only talks to the point that the Yankees have not been playing very well lately and really needed a win [a must-win in fact] as they entered this game against the Tigers tied for first place in the AL East with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Well, the first inning provided much drama as Austin Jackson led off the game by hitting Sabathia’s first pitch into the left-field seats for a quick 1-0 Detroit lead. This was the former Yankee’s second homer of the year.
Not to be left out of this discussion, Curtis Granderson, whom the Yankees received in the trade for Jackson, made two outstanding catches in centerfield in the first. The first catch was made after a long run to just in front of the wall of the right-centerfield bleachers; and the second catch was a great diving play running towards left-center.
In the bottom of the first the Yanks battled right back. Brett Gardner led off with a single, and advanced to second on a walk to Derek Jeter. After Teixeira made the first out, Cano walked to load the bases. Then, Nick Swisher, back in the lineup after sitting out the last game with a right forearm injury, stroked a two-run single to move the Yanks into a 2-1 lead.
Granderson delivered again in the second inning by blasting a solo home run (#12), into the rightfield bleachers. This upped the Bombers lead to 3-1.
Justin Verlander (L,13-8), threw a lot of pitches in the early innings, and was finished at the end of the fifth. He tossed 114 pitches while allowing three runs, on five hits, five walks, and five strikeouts.
The Yankees did exactly what Joe Girardi talked about before the game. They got to Verlander, who had a 7.12 ERA in the first inning of his starts this season, early on in this game. Girardi said, “They [the lineup] did a great job. When Justin gets on a roll, he’s really difficult. We put some runs on the board early and made them stand up.”
Schlereth replaced Verlander. And in the sixth, the Yanks scored again on a two-out double by Gardner (2-for-3, with a walk, and run), which was followed by a RBI single by Jeter to give the Yanks a 4-1 lead.
In the top of the seventh, Brandon Inge hit a homer (#8), to cut the score to 4-2.
Then in the bottom of the seventh, Robinson Cano also homered (#22); and, Pena drove home a run on a sac-fly to right to increase the Yankees lead to 6-2.
CC Sabahia (W,16-5), the first 16-game winner in the American League, struggled in the first few innings, but settled down nicely to pitch seven soild innings, throwing 115 pitches, while allowing two runs, on five hits, three walks, and nine strikeouts.
Money !!!
David Robertson pitched a scoreless eight. And Mariano Rivera closed out this 6-2 victory by pitching a scoreless ninth.
A must-win game, “Won” by the New York Yankees !!!
* Historic Note: In the fifth inning, Jorge Posada stroked a single to center, his 1,558th career hit, which tied Posada with Thurman Munson on the all-time hit list.
* Injury Report: – Alex Rodriguez (strain of left calf), listed as day-to-day.
– Lance Berkman (sprained right ankle), listed as day-to-day.
– Andy Pettitte (left groin strain), injured July 18th …
(Probably will not be back until the middle of September)
* And, Yogi Berra was back at Yankee Stadium for the first time since he suffered an injury as a result of a fall at his home. Yogi was not able to attend this year’s Yankees Old Timers’ Day celebrations on July 17th. Also, he could not attend the Hall of Fame inductee events about a week after Old Timers’ Day. Welcome back Yogi.
– Jimmy Curran “BY&L” – Baseball, The Yankees, and Life …
Yanks Keep Rolling; CC Wins 15th In K.C.
The first place in the AL East New York Yankees traveled to Kansas City to play a four-game series against the last place in the AL Cenral Royals, in a series that certainly will lack the playoff atmosphere of the last two series’ against the Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers. But all games are important. And the Yankees must continue to treat each series as if it were a playoff series; playing every game as if it was the last game of the World Series.
The Yankees built up an easy 3-0 lead through the first four innings.
A RBI single by Curtis Granderson in the second inning started the scoring in this game, putting the Yanks on the scoreboard first with a 1-0 lead. In the third, Mark Teixeira hit a sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead. And in the fourth, Austin Kearns belted his first homer as a Yankee [his ninth this season], that upped the lead to 3-0.
Teixeira was back in the lineup after remaining in New York to be with his wife Leigh for the birth of their third child, a son, named Will. Our prayers and best wishes go out to the Teixeira family on this happy occasion.
Mark did not want to miss the two games the Yankees played in Texas, but he said, “I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I missed my child’s birth or if anything happened. There was no question in my mind [being with Leigh for the birth].”
Mark Teixeira also had praise for the great series Marcus Thames had in Texas, batting third in the lineup in both games. Teixeira said, “That’s what a team is all about, twenty five guys. At some point in the season, everyone is going to chip in and step up in a big way.”
Kansas City scored a run in the bottom of the fourth to cut the Yanks lead to 3-1.
The Royals starter Bruce Chen (L,7-6), lasted five innings, in which he tossed 92 pitches, while allowing three runs, on eight hits, two walks, and two strikeouts.
CC Sabathia was pitching another solid game for the Yanks, who increased their lead to 4-1 on a RBI by Alex Rodriguez in the seventh inning.
This game was moving right along. And it looked like Sabathia just might take the mound in the ninth inning with a chance to earn his third “complete game” of the season. He already had the Yankees only two complete games so far, back-to-back actually, against Texas on April 16th, a rain-shortened victory; and, in Oakland on April 22th, an eight-inning pitched loss to the A’s.
Through eight innings in this contest CC had thrown only 100 pitches. So, yes, Joe Girardi decided to send Sabathia to the mound in the bottom of the ninth to complete the game, and close out the victory.
Sabathia retired the first batter Betancourt on a grounder to third. Gordon then singled to center. And Mike Aviles followed with a bloop hit to right that created a first and second situation with one out. Mitch Maier was up next and grounded into a force play (3-4) at second base. There were now two outs with runners at first and third.
At this point, with right-haned batter Willie Bloomquist up next, Girardi decided to call David Robertson into the game for the save. It seemed Mariano Rivera had this night off.
Sabathia ended up throwing 110 pitches over eight and two-third innings, allowing one run, on ten hits, two walks, and only three strikeouts. Both runners on base were CC’s responsibility, though. And it was Robertson’s job to keep them from scoring.
Bloomquist worked the count to (2-0), then hit a line drive two-run double to rightfield cutting the score to 4-3. This is not what is expected from the bullpen.
Wilson Betemit was the next batter, and dribbled a (1-2) pitch in front of the plate on the third base side that Robertson tried to field but could not get a grip on the ball, which resulted in an infield hit. It was now first and third with two outs with Jason Kendall coming up to the plate.
Robertson and the Yankees [now] had to really earn this victory.
The first pitch to Kendall was a ball. Then, a strike, to even the count at (1-1). The next pitch was in the dirt when Kendall swung and missed for strike two. Foul ball, still (1-2). High and inside, up by Kendall’s head (2-2). Foul ball, count remained (2-2).
Then, Robertson delivered a perfect breaking ball, “maybe the best pitch he has thrown this season”, said, Ken Singleton and John Flaherty on the YES television broadcast, that Kendall swung right through, missing the ball for strike three.
Yankees win !!!
This was Robertson’s first save this season.
CC Sabathia is now 15-5, with a 3.14 ERA.
The Yankees held on for a 4-3 win, in a game that looked like they would get an easy victory. But in the end, they really had to earn this win.
At this time of the year, all games are important, just like playoff games.
– Jimmy Curran “BY&L” – Baseball, The Yankees, and Life …
Moseley “Dust-in-Time”. Replaces A.J.; Beats Sox 7-2
A.J. Burnett was supposed to start Game Three of the four-game series against the Boston Red Sox; but, Burnett suffered some back stiffness in a throwing session before the game. So, Joe Girardi decided to scratch the struggling starter, and move up Dustin Moseley one day in the rotation to replace A.J. and start the ESPN Sunday Night Game vs. the Sox.
This move also affected Phil Hughes, who will also be moved up in the rotation to start the final game of this series on Monday afternoon. Burnett is expected to start Tuesday’s game against the Rangers when the Yanks begin a six-game road trip in Texas [two games vs. the Rangers; and, four games against the Kansas City Royals].
There were many story lines in this game, but the brillant pitching performance by Moseley was the lead story.
Dustin Moseley (2-1), delivered a solid six and a third innings on the mound, allowing two runs, on six hits and two walks, while striking out five. Boston scored their runs on a fifth inning solo homer by Bill Hall (#13), off Moseley; and, a pitch-hit RBI single by Mike Lowell in the seventh off reliever Joba Chamberlain.
Joba was not effective in his outing, as he also walked a batter before a not-too-happy manager Joe Girardi replaced him with Boone Logan who got out of the late-inning jam.
The Yankees took a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Lance Berkman doubled, and scored on an infield hit by Brett Gardner, that included an error by second-baseman Hall, which allowed the first run to score. And, then, Derek Jeter stroked a solid line drive RBI single to center that plated Gardner with the Yanks second run.
This was Jeter’s 2,874th career hit, which passed the great Babe Ruth on the all-time hit list, positioning the captain in 39th place on the historic list. The New York Giants Mel Ott is next on the list, as Jeter continues on his path to becoming the first Yankee player to reach 3,000 lifetime hits, and many more, depending on how long Jeter decides to play for the Bronx Bombers.
With the score 2-1 as the Yanks entered the bottom of the fifth, the Bombers exploded for five runs to break this game wide open.
Mark Teixeira led off the the inning with his 25th homer, making Teix only the fourth Major League player to hit at least 25 homeruns in each of their first eight seasons in the bigs. The other players to achieve this rare stat were Eddie Mathews, Darryl Strawberry, and Albert Pujols. Very cool, indeed !!!!
The Yankees then scored the rest of their runs in the fifth when Robinson Cano crossed the plate on an error by catcher Kevin Cash on an attempted pickoff throw; A RBI double by Berkman who was (3-for-4) in the game, finally breaking through with the production the Yankees expect from him; And, a two-RBI double by Jeter, that capped the five-run inning, giving the Yanks a 7-2 lead, which completed the scoring in this contest.
Red Sox starter Josh Beckett (L,3-2), was knocked out of the game in the bottom of the fifth, after a very poor showing in this game. The Yanks pounded out 11 hits, and walked twice, in route to scoring their seven runs off Beckett, which increased his ERA to 6.21.
The bullpen was effective the rest of the way for the Sox, as Delcarmen ended the fifth inning with a strikeout. And, Tim Wakefield delivered three scoreless innings in the 7th, 8th, and 9th. But, the Sox could not produce a comeback rally, and the score stayed at 7-2 in favor of the Yanks.
Alex Rodriguez returned to the lineup playing third base for the Yanks. And showed no ill effects from the batting practice ball that was hit off his left ankle before Saturday’s game. A-Rod was (1-for-3), with a walk and run scored, and, also, a stolen base, the 300th of his career.
David Robertson recorded the first two outs of the ninth, including walking a batter, which inspired Girardi to bring in Mariano Rivera to get the final out in this very important game, even though it was not a save situation.
The Great Mariano delivered once again by throwing one pitch which resulted in out number three, preserving another Yankees victory.
And, so it goes.
The Yankees (69-41) remain in first place in the AL East by 2.5 games over the Tampa Bay Rays (67-44), who lost 1-0 yesterday against the Toronto Blue Jays, in a game in which the Blue Jays starter Brandon Morrow had a no-hitter with two-outs in the ninth inning that was broken up by an infield single by Evan Longoria. Morrow stayed in the game after the hit to earn a 1-0 complete game shutout, which is just as rare as a no-hitter these days in baseball. The three-game sweep by Jays continued a five-game losing streak by the Rays.
With their loss in the Bronx, the Red Sox (63-49) stay in third place, seven games behind the Yankees, and five games behind the Rays.
The Yankees now look to win this series from the Red Sox with a victory in Game Four at the Stadium, Monday afternoon, in the Beautiful Bronx, New York.
– Jimmy Curran “BY&L” – Baseball, The Yankees, and Life …
First Place Yankees Still On Winning Path
After being shutout 3-0 in the first game against the Oakland A’s, the NY Yankees quickly returned to the winning track by taking the next two games, 7-2 and 3-2, that increased their record to 5-2 on this current ten-game road trip which now leads the Bronx Bombers into Boston for a three-game weekend showdown vs. the Red Sox at Fenway Park.
The Yankees (76-45) lead the second place Red Sox (69-51) by six and a half games in the AL East.
In the middle game vs. the Oakland A’s, CC Sabathia (14-7), delivered another fine performance on the mound for the Yanks, throwing 94 pitches over eight solid innings, while allowing two runs, both on solo homers; five hits; one walk; and seven strikeouts in route to his 14th win this season. As the regular season starts to wind down, Sabathia is more and more in the American League Cy Young Award conversation.
Sabathia gave up a solo homer to Kurt Suzuki (#10) in the first inning, and another solo homer to Tommy Everidge (#2) in the second inning; and, the Yankees scored a run on an error in the second, and a run in the third on a RBI double by Jorge Posada that tied the score 2-2 at the time.
A’s starter Vin Mazzaro lasted five good innings, giving up the two runs (one earned), on seven hits, three walks, and two strikeouts.
Then, the Yankees blew this game wide open with a big five-run sixth inning off A’s relievers Jay Marshall (L,0-1), and Santiago Casilla, that capped the scoring in this game.
The Yankees rally in the top of the sixth started with a one-out double by Nick Swisher who advanced to third on a passed ball. Melky Cabrera was then hit by a pitch, and Derek Jeter (3-for-5), hit a RBI single that scored Swisher that moved the Yanks into a 3-2 lead.
Johnny Damon was up next and stroked a RBI double that drove home Melky with the Yankees fourth run. This set-up a second and third situation for Mark Teixeira who was intentionally walked to load the bases. Alex Rodriguez was the next hitter, and A-Rod also walked that forced home the fifth Yankees run.
Hideki Matsui then singled to score another run; and, Poasda hit a sac fly that drove home the seventh and final Yankee run of their 7-2 victory.
CC Sabathia tossed only 94 pitches through eight innings, and this would have been a perfect opportunity to let CC go for the complete game win and give the bullpen a full day of rest. But, Joe Girardi stayed true to form with the whole “pitch count” philosophy that is now in-vogue and brought David Robertson into pitch the ninth.
Robertson did close out the game, though, after walking two batters, and striking out two. But, in the middle of the inning Mariano Rivera was stirring around in the Yankees bullpen, in a game that CC could have easily completed with no relievers having to warm-up. Anyway, just my view of certain pitching strategies involving the starters and bullpen.
This win over the A’s was a very solid 7-2 Yankees victory.
In the final game of this three-game series, Mark Teixeira provided the Yankees with all the runs they would need in their 3-2 victory.
Teixeira drove home Derek Jeter on a RBI ground-out, after Jeter led off the game with a single, stole second, and advanced to third on a grounder, in the top of the first inning; and, then, after Johnny Damon led off the fourth inning with a single, Teixeira blasted a two-run homer (#31), off A’s starter Brett Anderson, that gave the Bombers a 3-0 lead at the time.
The Yankees received an excellent effort from Chad Gaudin who made his first start for the Yanks in this game.
Gaudin lasted 4.1 innings, giving up only one hit, while walking five and striking out five. But, it was in the fourth that Gaudin had some trouble when he loaded the bases on two walks and an error by Robinson Cano.
The Cano error really hurt Gaudin’s chances of pitching the full five innings required for the starter to get a possible win in this game. The error occurred when Jeter fielded a grounder at short and then on the short throw to second for a force, the ball was tossed slightly behind Cano who could not make the catch as the ball deflected off his glove. It was a ball that looked like Cano should have caught.
Anyway, with one out and the bases loaded, Girardi made the right move, in my view, and replaced Gaudin with Alfredo Aceves.
Aceves got out of the jam by getting Kurt Suzuki to hit an easy grounder to the mound, in which Aceves started a 1-2-3 double play that ended the A’s threat.
Alfredo Aceves (8-1), allowed both A’s runs on a solo homer by Jack Cust (#17) in the sixth inning; and, a run in the seventh that was built on a Rajai Davis single, who then stole second base, and scored on a RBI single by Mark Ellis that cut the Yanks lead to 3-2.
But, after Aceves finished his 2.1 innings of work, Phil Coke and Phil Hughes paved a solid bridge to Mariano who closed out this 3-2 Yankees victory with a scoreless ninth inning, recording his 36th save.
Now, the Yankees travel to Boston for another huge three-game weekend series against the Red Sox at Fenway Park [August 21-22-23, 2009].
More “Playoff Baseball In August” in the great Yankees vs. Red Sox rivalry.
“A Season Within A Season” continues …
— Jimmy, “BY&L”
Yanks “Sting” Rays 11-4
The New York Yankees started a nine-game road trip on the same winning track as their just completed successful 9-1 homestand with a 11-4 victory over the Rays in Tampa Bay.
The Bronx Bombers stung the Rays with 15 hits, including four homeruns, in route to a big win in the first game of this three-game series against the third place team in the AL East. The Rays are now seven and a half games behind the first place Yankees.
The “battle royal” in the AL East continues, as the Boston Red Sox won their game 8-3 over the Oakland A’s to stay two and a half games behind the Bombers in second place.
The Yankees took an early 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning, on a single by Hideki Matsui; a RBI double by Jorge Posada; a RBI triple by Robinson Cano; and, a RBI by Nick Swisher on a fielder’s choice groundout to second base.
In the sixth inning the Yanks increased their lead to 5-0 on back-to-back homers by Cano (#15), and Swisher (#15).
This knocked Rays starting pitcher James Shields (L,6-7) out of the game after only 5.1 innings on the mound, in which he allowed nine hits that led to five Yankee runs.
In the meantime, Yankees starter A.J. Burnett was pitching a solid game throughout the first five innings.
The Rays scored their first run (which was unearned), on an infield double play in the sixth inning.
A.J. Burnett (10-4) finished his work for the night after tossing 114 pitches over seven innings, allowing the one unearned run, on only two hits, two walks, and five strikeouts. With this win, his 10th, Burnett is 6-1 with a 1.84 ERA since June 9th.
The Yankees scored two more runs in the eight inning that moved their lead to 7-1, on a two-RBI double by Alex Rodriguez, on a shot that just missed going out of the park when it hit the top of the leftfield wall. Today was A-Rod’s birthday, and if he homered it would have been his seventh homerun hit on the day of his birthday throughout his career.
Tampa Bay cut the lead to 7-3 with two runs in the bottom of the eight against reliever Jonathan Albaladejo who was not very effective [at all] in his two-thirds of an inning of work. I’m sure manager Joe Girardi had hoped Albaladejo would have pitched the final two innings to give the bullpen a full day of rest. But, Girardi was forced to bring in David Robertson, and even had Mariano Rivera starting to warm up.
Robertson retired the final batter, and the game entered the top of the ninth with the Yanks leading 7-3.
The Bronx Bombers were not finished scoring yet, as they added four insurance runs on the board in the 9th, on a solo homer by Nick Swisher (#16), his second homerun of the game, and the ninth time in his career that he hit a homerun from both sides of the plate in the same game; and, a three-run homer by Johnny Damon (#17), which was Damon’s 200th career homer.
The Rays scored a run in the bottom of the 9th on a Pat Burrell homer (#7), off Robertson, to cut the Yankees lead to 11-4. But, David Robertson closed out the inning without any further damage, and preserved the Yankees victory recording his first save of the year.
* Nick Swisher was (2-for-5) with two HR’s; two runs; three RBI’s.
* Robinson Cano was (2-for-3) with a homer; two runs; two RBI’s.
* Johnny Damon was (1-for-5) with a three-run homerun; two runs; three RBI’s.
* Derek Jeter was (3-for-5) with two runs; raising his batting average to .325
* Melky Cabrera had two hits, and scored one run.
* Mark Teixeira had two hits.
* Alex Rodriguez had two RBI’s.
* Jorge Posada had one run, and one RBI.
* Hideki Matsui scored one run.
The New York Yankees (61-38) have now won 10 of their last 11 games; and 23 of their last 29 games, and remain in first place in the AL East.
To view boxscore of this game, click on: Yanks 11, Rays 4
— Jimmy, “BY&L”
Bad Medicine As Doc Halladay Dazzles Yanks, 14-3
Yankees starting pitcher, Sidney Ponson, just did not have anything in the two plus innings he pitched, in the Yankees 14-3 loss to the Blue Jays yesterday. “Sir Sid” allowed seven earned runs, on eight hits, one walk, and no strikeouts before being removed from the game in the third inning, after six batters reached base withount any outs.
The Yankees were down, 7-0, in this game, at the end of three innings. Basically, the game was over at this point, as Blue Jays starter, Roy Halladay, was totally baffling the Yankee batters with his wicked breaking pitches that were literally taking four foot drops after arriving at the plate, then sailing into catcher, Rod Barajas’ glove, as the Yankee hitters kept swinging right through the pitches without making any contact.
Roy Halladay, (15-9), produced seven strikeouts in his first five scoreless innings of work, while his teammates in the Blue Jays lineup pounded three Yankee pitchers, Sidney Ponson, (7-4), David Robertson, and Billy Traber, with 16 hits, for a 13-0 lead at the end of the 5th.
Hideki Matsui hit a three-run homerun in the top of the 7th, to break up the shutout, and put the Yankees on the board, 13-3.
Halladay, who has 8 Complete Games his season, was finished after the 7th inning, as the Jays bullpen closed out the game, pitching two scoreless innings in the 8th and 9th.
The Blue Jays scored one more run in the bottom of the 8th inning to complete the scoring in their 14-3 victory.
The Yankees lost two of the three games in this series against the Blue Jays. Not much more to say about that, other than, this is not exactly what the Yankees had in mind when they arrived in Toronto at the start of this very important three-game series.
There is a pennant race going on in the AL EAST. Winning games is the only thing that matters if the Yankees expect to make the playoffs this season.
“The Rookie” Brett Gardner Leads Yanks In 3-2 Win
In a game that dragged on for almost five hours in front of a sold-out Stadium crowd that seemed more quiet than being at a wake, the Yankees pulled a 3-2 victory out of a hat, winning on a walk-off, RBI single by Brett Gardner, in the bottom of the 13th inning against the K.C. Royals.
Again, the Bronx Bombers did not live up to their name, as they hit (2-for-15) with runners in scoring position, including leaving the bases loaded two times; hitting into four double plays; and, stranding 13 runners.
But, another solid effort by Yankees starting pitcher, Sidney Ponson, followed by 6 2/3 shutout innings by six relievers out of the bullpen, created the magic for the Bombers in this game, as the Yankees pitching held the score at, 2-2, until Gardner’s heroic game winning hit, off Royals reliever, Jeff Fulchino (0-1), in the 13th.
Ponson allowed only two runs [a solo homerun by Alex Gordon in the 2nd inning; and a sac-fly RBI by Esteban German in the 6th] over his 6 1/3 innings of work. Then, the Yankees bullpen shut down the Royals the rest of the way, including two scoreless innings by Mariano Rivera in the 10th and 11th innings; and, a solid performance by David Robertson, (3-0), who closed out the game by pitching scoreless innings in the 12th and 13th, to earn his third win of the year.
The Yankees tied the score, 2-2, in the bottom of the 7th, when Alex Rodriguez started the inning off by advancing to second base on two errors by Royals third baseman, Alex Gordon. Then, after a walk to Jason Giambi, and Xavier Nady grounding into a double play, Robinson Cano smashed a triple that plated A-Rod; and, then Cano scored the tying run on a wild pitch by Royals starter, Zack Greinke.
This was a tough break for Greinke because up to this point he was pitching a good game; and, without the two errors by Gordon maybe the Yankees would not have scored their two [unearned] runs, and Greinke’s shutout would have continued.
But, Zack Greinke’s bad fortune, was good luck for the Yankees, as they held on for the “Very Big Victory”.
Brett Gardner was (3-for-5) with a walk, and the game winning RBI.
Robinson Cano, also delivered “big” in this game, going (2-for-6), with a RBI, and two runs scored.
The Yanks are now (65-58), and with only 39 games remaining they have to play each game as if it was the last game of the World Series. Winning one game at a time, and putting together a long “winning streak” is the formula for the New York Yankees to make the playoffs this season.
For inspiration, the Yankees can look to the 2007 Colorado Rockies, who won 20 of their final 21 games to get into last year’s NL Playoffs. It has been done before, and for the Yankees to make it into the 2008 AL Playoffs, the Bombers are going to have to go at least, 28-11, over their final 39 games. The only way it can be done, is to win one game at a time.
Lucky 13 For Joba, As Yanks Cage Orioles
Joba Chamberlain delivered another great start for the Yankees yesterday afternoon, as he led the Bombers to a very big victory against the Baltimore Orioles, 13-3, at the Stadium, that ended a three-game Yankee losing streak. This tremendous performance by Chamberlain continues to bring Joba, closer, and closer, to moving into the “high-rent” district of starting pitchers, as the “ace” of the Yankees pitching staff.
Chamberlain was “dealing” once again yesterday, throwing 98 pitches, over a solid six innings, allowing only two runs (one earned), on five hits, no walks, while striking-out six.
Joba’s record is now, 4-3, with a 2.24 ERA; but, more importantly, Chamberlain is becoming a true “stopper”, as the Yankees have now won [8 of the 11] games that Joba has started. Also, Joba is starting to be more of a “pitcher”, mixing up his pitches, throwing more slidrers and change-ups, along with his almost unhittable 98 mph fastball. All this, and his great control – not walking many batters, are descriptions of an “ace” starting pitcher.
The O’s jumped out to a quick lead in the top of the 1st, when Roberts led off the game by getting on base on an error by Robinson Cano, on a hard hit ground ball, that looked like Cano should have caught. Two batters later, Huff hit a RBI single that drove Roberts home with the first run of the game. Chamberlain retired the next batter, Mora, on a grounder back to the mound, for the final out, as the Orioles took a, 1-0, lead into the bottom of the first.
The Yankees came right back in this game, scoring three runs in the first off Baltimore’s starting pitcher, Dennis Sarfate, who was making his first major league start.
Sarfate started off good by striking-out leadoff hitter, Johnny Damon; but, maybe the New York native was a little nervous pitching in front of his hometown family, and friends, as he then issued back-to-back walks to, Derek Jeter and Bobby Abreu, that brought Alex Rodriguez up to the plate.
A-Rod singled home both runners, with Abreu’s run coming on a nice slide at the plate, that at first Bobby thought the home plate umpire, Mark Wegner, had called him out, and was ready to argue the call. But, Abreu was clearly safe, scoring the second run. Rodriguez also scored in the inning, for the 3-1 Yankee lead.
This was the start of a big day for Bobby Abreu, as he had three hits in four at-bats, and a walk, that included, two homeruns, a double, three RBI’s, and, scoring four runs. Abreu leads the Yankees in RBI’s with 71, and raised is batting average to .288.
In my view, it is very important that the Yankees make every effort to re-sign Abreu to a new three-year contract when the season ends. His bat is just “too valuable” to let walk away after 2008; plus, the fact, that he is a very popular player in the Yankees clubhouse, and a fan favorite. Many will say, “it all depends on how much money it will take to re-sign Abreu”. As they say, “follow the money”. But, I suggest, “follow the numbers”, regarding Bobby Abreu. How will the Yankees replace the consistent “great” numbers that Abreu puts up each year? You just don’t let a great player, like Bobby Abreu, leave your team, especially, “only because of money”.
In my opinion, the Yankees should never let money be an issue when signing players. Look to the past, [because, it also applies to the present, and future], and take the lead of the great Yankees owner, George M. Steinbrenner. He always knew, it takes money to build a winning team; and, Mr. Steinbrenner never let money be an issue when bringing the best players in the game, here to New York. It will be money “well spent”, whatever the cost to re-sign, Bobby Abreu !!!
The Yankees took a 5-2 lead, into the bottom of the 6th, when they exploded for four more runs, on a leadoff double by Abreu; and, then, after A-Rod lined out to left, a RBI single by Jason Giambi; a singe by Cano; a RBI, grounds-rule double by Nady; a walk to Melky Cabrera, that loaded the bases; and, finally, a walk to Damon that forced home the fourth run of the inning, upping the Yanks lead to 9-2.
Joba Chamberlain’s day was finished, as manager Joe Girardi turned to the bullpen to hold the lead, and preserve the great pitching performance by Joba.
So, in the top of the 7th, Edwar Ramirez replaced Joba, and created a little drama in this game, by throwing his first pitch over the head of Kevin Millar.
Now, maybe, Ramirez was just trying to pitch inside to Millar [as the Yankees have done all series] because he has hit the Yankees hard – all season. Maybe, it was retaliation for Alex Rodriguez being hit by Orioles starter, Daniel Cabrera, in the second game of this series. Or, maybe, it was just Edwar Ramirez taking the advice of Crash Davis from the movie, “Bull Durham”, when he went to the mound in the game that Nuke was pitching great, and Crash told Nuke to “hit the bull”. Davis just wanted to put a little fear into the batter at the plate, and it worked, as Nuke did get him out.
Who knows what was on the mind of Ramirez in this situation? But, in an interview after the game, Edwar did look very sincere in saying he wasn’t throwing at Millar, and even offered an apology, for the high throw over Millar’s head.
Hopefully, it is over between both these clubs [as well as, the same kind of drama, between the Yankees and Red Sox] because, it is a very “dangerous business”, having a 90 mph, plus, fastball, thrown at a batters head.
It is good to see, though, that the Yankee pitchers are much more aggressive this year, protecting the Yankee batters, when they are thrown at by other teams. It’s okay to pitch, high, and inside – that’s good “old-fashioned” baseball. But, no one wants to see a pitched-ball thrown at someone’s head, possibly causing a career ending injury or worse.
Edwar Ramirez was ejected from the game, but no warnings were given, as the Yankees now brought David Robertson in to pitch.
Robertson got hit hard in the first game of this series, so this was a very important outing by the outstanding Yankee rookie.
David walked Millar, then made a great impression, by striking-out the next three hitters, Quiroz, Fahey, and Roberts, to end the top of the 7th.
The Yankees were not finished scoring yet, as they put four more runs up on the board in the bottom of the 7th. Bobby Abreu, led off the inning with his second homerun of the game, number 13 on the year, for Bobby, to make the score, 10-2.
Alex Rodriguez was up next, and, also, hit a homerun. To be honest, I was not very exicited by this homer, as once again, A-Rod hit a homerun in a non-pressure situation, that made the score, 11-2.
In the second game of this series, A-Rod struck-out, in the 9th inning, with two runners on, no out, the Yankees down, 7-4, in the middle of a major comeback. Giambi followed A-Rod by getting a two-RBI single, to cut the lead to, 7-6. Cano and Betemit also struck-out, stranding the two runners on base, and the Yankees lost, 7-6. But, A-Rod is the cleanup hitter, and is being paid the “most money in baseball” to hit in the clutch. Rodriguez also failed in a similar, clutch situation in the recent Red Sox series. He “struck-out” in that a-bat, also. So, excuse my “lack of excitement” of what I consider, a “tack-on homer”, on the career homerun totals of Alex Rodriguez.
I did get excited, though, when Richie Sexson singled, and Xavier Nady hit a RBI double in the inning, as the Yankees scored two more runs, that put the lucky number 13 on the scoreboard.
David Robertson pitched the top of the 8th, and gave up a homerun to pinch-hitter, Castro, that completed the 13-3 score.
Dan Giese pitched a scoreless 9th inning, to close out this victory or the Yankees.
This was a big win for the Yankees, as it prevented them from being swept by the Orioles.
The Red Sox lost last night, 9-2, that completed a three-game sweep by the Angels over the Sox.
So, with the Yankees win; and, the Red Sox loss, the Yanks are now tied in the loss column with Boston, and remain four games behind the Tampa Bay Rays [63-44] who won their game yesterday.
The Yankees [59-48] now head into a “major” four-game series against the AL WEST leading, L.A. Angels [67-40], at Yankee Stadium, in the Bronx, starting tonight, Thursday, July 31th.
The Yankee have “only” 55 games left on the schedule, and the four games against the Angels, are only “four of ten” games the Yankees have remaining with the Angels. The Yanks still have to travel out to the west coast [two times] to play “two” three-game series’ against the team with the best record in baseball. So, it goes without saying, “All these games are huge” !!!
Both the Yankees and Angels are playing very well right now, and this four-game series could be a preview of the 2008 American League Championship.
It should be fun. I look forward to a great series. Go Yankees !!!
Not A Good Night For The Yankees
Well, the best news of the night was the fact that the Boston Red Sox lost to the L.A. Angels, 7-5; and, the Tampa Bay Rays lost to the Toronto Blue Jays, 3-1, for a “draw” in the AL EAST on this day, with the New York Yankees still in third place, [three games behind the Rays, and two games behind the Red Sox], even after their, 13-4, loss to the Baltimore Orioles, at the Stadium last night.
Mike Mussina, who was, 3-1, with a 1.41 ERA over his last five starts, just didn’t have his best stuff tonight, as the Orioles pounded him for eight hits, that scored six runs in Mussina’s five innings pitched. The loss dropped his record to, 13-7.
After a good first inning by Mike Mussia, in which he walked lead off batter, Roberts, [the first walk Mussina has allowed in four starts]; struck-out the next batter, Adam Jones; had a run prevented on a beautiful 7-6-2 [Nady-Jeter-Molina] relay, that gunned down Roberts at the plate, trying to score on a double by Nick Markakis; and, finally, getting the last out of the inning by striking-out, Aubrey Huff, the Orioles did most of their damage in the top of the second.
Mussina allowed back-to-back singles to Melvin More and Luke Scott, at the start of the 2nd inning that set the stage for a big three run homer by Kevin Millar, giving the O’s a quick, 3-0 lead. Then, the next batter, Ramon Hernandez, also went deep, going back-to-back with Millar, to tack on the Orioles 4th run, and silence the sold-out Yankee Stadium crowd.
Baltimore scored two more runs in the top of the 5th, on a lead off double by Roberts, a RBI triple by Jones, and a sac-fly by Huff, to up the Orioles lead to, 6-0. Mussina completed the inning without giving up any more runs, but his night was finished.
David Robertson replaced Mussina in the top of the 6th, and suffered his first real bad outing since being called up from the minors. Robertson only lasted only one-third of an inning, as Baltimore hit him hard.
The O’s blasted Robertson for five runs, on four hits, and two walks, including the first homerun he has ever given up in professional ball, a grand slam by Adam Jones. Robertson faced one more batter, Markakis, after the homer, and issued a walk, before he was taken out of the game by manager Joe Girardi, leaving the mound with the Yankees losing, 11-0.
Baltimore starter, Jeremy Guthrie, (W, 7-8), pitched a good game, throwing 102 pitches over 6 1/3 innings, giving up only one run, on three hits, and two walks, including Xavier Nady’s first homerun as a Yankee.
Nady’s homer, in the 7th inning, was a long shot over the centerfield wall, which broke up the shutout, and ended Guthrie’s night.
The Yanks got three more runs in the 7th, when Johnny Damon hit a three-run homerun off reliever, Lance Cormier, which cut the Orioles lead to, 11-4.
The final runs by the Orioles came in the next inning when Aubrey Huff, hit a long two-run homer off Kyle Farnsworth, to cap off the scoring on the night, and complete the Orioles, 13-4, victory.
Not a good game for the Yanks, but they didn’t lose any ground in the AL EAST. So, let’s put this loss behind us, and look to the next game to get back on the winning track.
Baseball, The Yankees, and Life... 