07/29: Joba Dominates Rays in Rubber Game
Posted by: Seamus
The Yankees were able to take the rubber game of their three-game series in Tampa Bay thanks to another sizzling performance by Joba Chamberlain. The 6–2 victory gives the Yankees more breathing room over the Rays, who now trail the bombers by 7.5 games and also puts the Yankees' lead over the Red Sox at 3.5 with the Sawx losing at home to Oakland.
Joba was dominant for the third consecutive start, allowing just three hits in eight shutout innings while throwing a manageable 101 pitches. Chamberlain has allowed a run or less in each of his last three starts.
Offensively, the Yankees scattered six runs, three of which came off of solo home runs (Cano, Cabrera and Teixeira). Johnny Damon was the only Yankee starter without a hit, and four Yankees had two hits or more in the game.
The only bump in the road the Yanks hit was in the ninth inning, when Brian Bruney came in and was immediately knocked around, serving up a triple to Carl Crawford which was followed by a long two-run bomb off the bat of Evan Longoria. After Bruney put Carlos Pena on by allowing a double to right, Joe Girardi was forced to call on Mariano Rivera to close things out. Rivera, as usual, had no problems, striking out two of the three batters he faced to end the game.
From the Rays' perspective, a lot of folks were making a huge deal of this series, the Rays included, but I wouldn't write them off just yet. Yes, picking up 7.5 games is a bit of a long shot, but this team is just too good to sleep on with 60 games still to be played.
The Yankees will be in Chicago tomorrow night to open up a four-game series with the White Sox. The Sox are currently just two games out of first place in the A.L. Central despite their 51–50 record. The most eye-popping matchup of the series won't be until Sunday, when CC Sabathia will be up against Mark Buehrle, who in his last outing flirted with a second consecutive perfect game (he was perfect through 17 batters, but did eventually allow five runs and lost the game). Tomorrow we'll see Andy Pettitte for the Yankees and Gavin Floyd taking the hill for the White Sox. Game starts at 8:11 ET.
Recap records: Patrick: 28–13, Seamus: 27–17, Andrew: 7–9
Joba was dominant for the third consecutive start, allowing just three hits in eight shutout innings while throwing a manageable 101 pitches. Chamberlain has allowed a run or less in each of his last three starts.
Offensively, the Yankees scattered six runs, three of which came off of solo home runs (Cano, Cabrera and Teixeira). Johnny Damon was the only Yankee starter without a hit, and four Yankees had two hits or more in the game.
The only bump in the road the Yanks hit was in the ninth inning, when Brian Bruney came in and was immediately knocked around, serving up a triple to Carl Crawford which was followed by a long two-run bomb off the bat of Evan Longoria. After Bruney put Carlos Pena on by allowing a double to right, Joe Girardi was forced to call on Mariano Rivera to close things out. Rivera, as usual, had no problems, striking out two of the three batters he faced to end the game.
From the Rays' perspective, a lot of folks were making a huge deal of this series, the Rays included, but I wouldn't write them off just yet. Yes, picking up 7.5 games is a bit of a long shot, but this team is just too good to sleep on with 60 games still to be played.
The Yankees will be in Chicago tomorrow night to open up a four-game series with the White Sox. The Sox are currently just two games out of first place in the A.L. Central despite their 51–50 record. The most eye-popping matchup of the series won't be until Sunday, when CC Sabathia will be up against Mark Buehrle, who in his last outing flirted with a second consecutive perfect game (he was perfect through 17 batters, but did eventually allow five runs and lost the game). Tomorrow we'll see Andy Pettitte for the Yankees and Gavin Floyd taking the hill for the White Sox. Game starts at 8:11 ET.
Recap records: Patrick: 28–13, Seamus: 27–17, Andrew: 7–9
