07/05: Yankees vs. Minnesota Twins, July 5th
Posted by: James
The biggest story of the day actually seemed to happen before the game ever started. The starting line-ups were posted and A-Rod wasn't on it. They sat him today and he went and got an MRI (it came back normal) and apparently, he's starting tomorrow. I'm of the mindset that he definitely should not have started the game right after he strained it - that was just dumb. Joe had already put in his house money lineup and losing A-Rod for that one game probably wouldn't have mattered.
In any case, today's game showcased one thing; whatever it was that Kei Igawa learned in the minors, he has forgotten it already. He started the game by giving up the following: walk, single and another single. The only out so far came at second when Melky threw out Michael Cuddyer at second. Another single from Justin Morneau plated another run before Kei worked out of further trouble but even before the Yankees had gotten some ABs, they were already down 2-0.
That didn't last long however as Twins starter Kevin Slowey lost it in the second. After getting two quick outs, he gave up a homer to Robbie Cano, a double to Andy Phillips, a double to Miggy Cairo, walked Johnny Damon and then Melky took him deep for a three run home run. 5-2 Yankees. Just in case it has escaped anyone's notice, Melky has very quietly taken his average back over .270 and gotten his OPS up over .710. It's not a super impressive line right now but considering how low he started the season, it's a pretty impressive (and consistent) run to get back to a decent line.
At that point, most Yankees fans might have felt comfortable with the lead... and they would have been wrong. Igawa pitched into and out of trouble in the third but ended up giving up the lead in the fourth. He gave up a lead-off double but got the next two guys out... and then lost it. A walk to Nick Punto (NICK PUNTO! He of the .205 average) followed by a double by Jason Bartlett and a single by SI poster boy Joe Mauer tied the game up. 5-5.
It would remain that way until the bottom of the eighth. That's not to say that the Yankees didn't have their chances until then - they just didn't capitalize on them. The team actually ended up with a total 10 men left on base. In any case, in the eighth, Pat Neshek came in and sat down both Johnny Damon and El Leche on strikes before walking Derek Jeter. Up came Hideki Matsui who had been 1-4 for the day and deposited a 3-1 pitch deep in the bleachers to put the Yankees up 8-6 (and get his OPS back up over .800).
While all this was going on, the Yankees pen actually did a very good job in keeping the Twins at bay. Vizcaino, Proctor and Farnsworth all pitched an inning and Proctor was the only one who walked a man. Farnsworth even pitched an inning where he didn't put the leadoff man on base (wonder of wonders). In the ninth, it was Rivera time and while Mo made it interesting by giving up a run and allowing the tying run to reach second, he struck out Michael Cuddyer to end the game and get the Yankees back to two games under .500. A sweep of the Angels to go to the break over .500 sure would be nice, huh? It won't be easy - Colon vs. Pettitte and Santana vs. Wang are certainly doable provided the offense shows up but it'll be the middle game, a Lackey vs. Clemens match-up, that could be a beaut.
In any case, today's game showcased one thing; whatever it was that Kei Igawa learned in the minors, he has forgotten it already. He started the game by giving up the following: walk, single and another single. The only out so far came at second when Melky threw out Michael Cuddyer at second. Another single from Justin Morneau plated another run before Kei worked out of further trouble but even before the Yankees had gotten some ABs, they were already down 2-0.
That didn't last long however as Twins starter Kevin Slowey lost it in the second. After getting two quick outs, he gave up a homer to Robbie Cano, a double to Andy Phillips, a double to Miggy Cairo, walked Johnny Damon and then Melky took him deep for a three run home run. 5-2 Yankees. Just in case it has escaped anyone's notice, Melky has very quietly taken his average back over .270 and gotten his OPS up over .710. It's not a super impressive line right now but considering how low he started the season, it's a pretty impressive (and consistent) run to get back to a decent line.
At that point, most Yankees fans might have felt comfortable with the lead... and they would have been wrong. Igawa pitched into and out of trouble in the third but ended up giving up the lead in the fourth. He gave up a lead-off double but got the next two guys out... and then lost it. A walk to Nick Punto (NICK PUNTO! He of the .205 average) followed by a double by Jason Bartlett and a single by SI poster boy Joe Mauer tied the game up. 5-5.
It would remain that way until the bottom of the eighth. That's not to say that the Yankees didn't have their chances until then - they just didn't capitalize on them. The team actually ended up with a total 10 men left on base. In any case, in the eighth, Pat Neshek came in and sat down both Johnny Damon and El Leche on strikes before walking Derek Jeter. Up came Hideki Matsui who had been 1-4 for the day and deposited a 3-1 pitch deep in the bleachers to put the Yankees up 8-6 (and get his OPS back up over .800).
While all this was going on, the Yankees pen actually did a very good job in keeping the Twins at bay. Vizcaino, Proctor and Farnsworth all pitched an inning and Proctor was the only one who walked a man. Farnsworth even pitched an inning where he didn't put the leadoff man on base (wonder of wonders). In the ninth, it was Rivera time and while Mo made it interesting by giving up a run and allowing the tying run to reach second, he struck out Michael Cuddyer to end the game and get the Yankees back to two games under .500. A sweep of the Angels to go to the break over .500 sure would be nice, huh? It won't be easy - Colon vs. Pettitte and Santana vs. Wang are certainly doable provided the offense shows up but it'll be the middle game, a Lackey vs. Clemens match-up, that could be a beaut.
