05/22: Yanks Take Opener in Series vs. Boston
Posted by: Seamus
The Yankees got a grind-it-out performance from Chien-Ming Wang and a few timely hits last night as they took the first game of a crucial three-game set against the Red Sox by a score of 6-2. The victory was the Yankees' second in a row (first two-game winning streak since May 8th and 9th against Texas) and moved them to within 9.5 games of first place.
A-Rod got it started early with his league-leading 18th home run and his 3rd in as many days to put the Yankees up 2-0. The Yanks got two more in the 2nd on a home run by Jason Giambi and an RBI single by Derek Jeter that scored Robinson Cano. Cano himself went 2-4 with a double in the 2nd and capped off the night offensively for the team with a two-run triple in the 5th.
Chien-Ming Wang didn't have his best stuff on the mound but you wouldn't be able to tell from the numbers as he gave up only two runs and struck out 5 in 6 and 1/3. He fell behind a lot of hitters but always seemed to recover and it was good enough to bring his record up to 3-3.
The Red Sox threatened in the 7th but Mike Myers came in to do what he was brought onto this team for, which was retire David Ortiz, albeit on a sac fly which drew the Red Sox within four. Myers would face only one batter and Brian Bruney came in to finish the 7th and struck out Manny Ramirez looking. Boston brought the tying run up in the 8th and with two outs and the bases loaded, Robinson Cano may have saved the Yankees' night with a great play, snatching the ball behind second base and flipping it to Jeter for the out, robbing Julio Lugo of a two-run base hit.
Good to finally see a game where things worked on all cylinders for the Yankees. I felt like Sunday night's win against the Mets could be the type of game that gets this team rolling as the pieces seem to all be slowly falling into place. Cano is hitting better. Abreu still struggles but at least has regained some of his patience. Giambi actually ran the bases without having to be pushed by a zamboni, Damon went 3-4 last night and most of all it's good to see good pitching and good hitting finally coincide with this team. I don't think it's happened for two straight games all year.
Also, just for the record, I don't think any of us should be surprised if when scientists release The Encyclopedia of Life which will document all of the world's species, we see Derek Jeter classified as his own walk of life. This true freak of nature stealthily creeps up on enemy pitchers and is known to be dangerous with runners in scoring position (17-34 .500 AVG) and has an especially deadly bite with RISP and two outs (12-19, 6.32 AVG). This creature is sometimes mistakingly labeled by uneducated scientists as "the most overrated player in baseball."
The Yanks will have their good luck charm at the Stadium tonight (myself, of course) as they go for two in a row and hopefully gain some more ground on the Red Sox. A sweep would put them a somewhat manageable 7.5 games back in late May. Mike Mussina will be going up against Julian Tavarez. Game starts at 7:05 ET.
A-Rod got it started early with his league-leading 18th home run and his 3rd in as many days to put the Yankees up 2-0. The Yanks got two more in the 2nd on a home run by Jason Giambi and an RBI single by Derek Jeter that scored Robinson Cano. Cano himself went 2-4 with a double in the 2nd and capped off the night offensively for the team with a two-run triple in the 5th.
Chien-Ming Wang didn't have his best stuff on the mound but you wouldn't be able to tell from the numbers as he gave up only two runs and struck out 5 in 6 and 1/3. He fell behind a lot of hitters but always seemed to recover and it was good enough to bring his record up to 3-3.
The Red Sox threatened in the 7th but Mike Myers came in to do what he was brought onto this team for, which was retire David Ortiz, albeit on a sac fly which drew the Red Sox within four. Myers would face only one batter and Brian Bruney came in to finish the 7th and struck out Manny Ramirez looking. Boston brought the tying run up in the 8th and with two outs and the bases loaded, Robinson Cano may have saved the Yankees' night with a great play, snatching the ball behind second base and flipping it to Jeter for the out, robbing Julio Lugo of a two-run base hit.
Good to finally see a game where things worked on all cylinders for the Yankees. I felt like Sunday night's win against the Mets could be the type of game that gets this team rolling as the pieces seem to all be slowly falling into place. Cano is hitting better. Abreu still struggles but at least has regained some of his patience. Giambi actually ran the bases without having to be pushed by a zamboni, Damon went 3-4 last night and most of all it's good to see good pitching and good hitting finally coincide with this team. I don't think it's happened for two straight games all year.
Also, just for the record, I don't think any of us should be surprised if when scientists release The Encyclopedia of Life which will document all of the world's species, we see Derek Jeter classified as his own walk of life. This true freak of nature stealthily creeps up on enemy pitchers and is known to be dangerous with runners in scoring position (17-34 .500 AVG) and has an especially deadly bite with RISP and two outs (12-19, 6.32 AVG). This creature is sometimes mistakingly labeled by uneducated scientists as "the most overrated player in baseball."
The Yanks will have their good luck charm at the Stadium tonight (myself, of course) as they go for two in a row and hopefully gain some more ground on the Red Sox. A sweep would put them a somewhat manageable 7.5 games back in late May. Mike Mussina will be going up against Julian Tavarez. Game starts at 7:05 ET.
