08/20: Teixeira's Blast Ends up Being the Difference vs. A's
Posted by: Seamus
The Yankees finally finished up their west coast trip Wednesday night, capping off a 5–2 trip with a 3–2 victory over the Athletics. Mark Teixeira drove in all three Yankee runs, and Chad Gaudin kept his team in the game in his spot start as the Yankees remain 7 games ahead of Boston in the standings.
The Yankees jumped ahead with a little small ball early on, as Derek Jeter's leadoff single (12-18 on the current road trip) was followed up by a stolen base, a ground ball to the right side by Johnny Damon that moved Jeter to third, and an RBI ground out by Teixeira that put the Yanks ahead 1–0 in the first. Teixeira added a two-run blast to left in the 4th inning that made it 3–0 and also capped off the Yankee offense for the night.
Three runs were all they would need, however, as Chad Gaudin and company were for the most part pretty effective. Gaudin was only able to pitch into the 5th inning and he did walk 5 batters, but he allowed only one hit and kept the A's off the board in his first Yankee start. Both of Oakland's runs were scored off Alfredo Aceves, who was actually the winning pitcher in this one (8–1) as he finished out the 5th inning in relief of Gaudin.
The rest of the bullpen (Coke, Hughes, Rivera) pitched 2 and 1/3 scoreless innings, including a key ground out induced by Coke, who relieved Aceves with the tying run at second in the 7th inning. Phil Hughes got himself out of a little trouble in the 8th and Mariano Rivera set down the A's in order to pick up his 36th save.
The Yankees will have the day off today as they'll travel back across the country for a three-game set beginning tomorrow night in Boston. Andy Pettitte and Brad Penny will face each other in the opener.
Recap records: Seamus: 35–22, Patrick: 32–14, Andrew: 9–9
The Yankees jumped ahead with a little small ball early on, as Derek Jeter's leadoff single (12-18 on the current road trip) was followed up by a stolen base, a ground ball to the right side by Johnny Damon that moved Jeter to third, and an RBI ground out by Teixeira that put the Yanks ahead 1–0 in the first. Teixeira added a two-run blast to left in the 4th inning that made it 3–0 and also capped off the Yankee offense for the night.
Three runs were all they would need, however, as Chad Gaudin and company were for the most part pretty effective. Gaudin was only able to pitch into the 5th inning and he did walk 5 batters, but he allowed only one hit and kept the A's off the board in his first Yankee start. Both of Oakland's runs were scored off Alfredo Aceves, who was actually the winning pitcher in this one (8–1) as he finished out the 5th inning in relief of Gaudin.
The rest of the bullpen (Coke, Hughes, Rivera) pitched 2 and 1/3 scoreless innings, including a key ground out induced by Coke, who relieved Aceves with the tying run at second in the 7th inning. Phil Hughes got himself out of a little trouble in the 8th and Mariano Rivera set down the A's in order to pick up his 36th save.
The Yankees will have the day off today as they'll travel back across the country for a three-game set beginning tomorrow night in Boston. Andy Pettitte and Brad Penny will face each other in the opener.
Recap records: Seamus: 35–22, Patrick: 32–14, Andrew: 9–9
