08/26: Pettitte Bounces Back with Strong 7, Run Support in 9-2 Win Over Rangers
Posted by: Patrick
Andy Pettitte's last outing wasn't great - but it didn't matter because the Yankees offense was on fire. Today, the offense was powerful, as well, but Pettitte was just as good.
He held the Rangers to 2 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks over 7 innings, picking up win number 11 and lowering his ERA to 4.18.
The Yankees would provide him with all the runs he'd need in the second when Jorge Posada connected on a 3-run shot that scored Alex Rodriguez and Hideki Matsui. A solo homer from Jerry Hairston Jr. in the fourth would add another.
The Rangers would finally answer back with 1 run in each of the 5th and 6th innings, leaving the score at 4-2 heading to the bottom of the seventh. But, this is when the Yankees would put the game out of reach.
They went 6 batters before making an out, collecting 5 runs to stretch the lead to 7. Derek Jeter singled in Robinson Cano and Hairston Jr., Nick Swisher doubled in Melky Cabrera and Mark Teixeira singled home both Jeter and Swisher.
Every Yankee starter, except for Cabrera, had at least one hit, but Melky did score a run, of course. Matsui and Cano both had 2 hits and Hairston walked twice to go along with his homer. Posada had 3 RBIs to lead the team and Hairston's 2 runs did the same as 7 guys scored 1 run.
Brian Bruney and Phil Coke pitched back to back scoreless innings to end the game. Bruney loaded the bases with 1 out, but got Ivan Rodriguez to ground into an inning ending double play. Coke went 1-2-3.
The win allows New York to keep pace with the Red Sox, holding a 6 game lead. Tomorrow, at 1:05 PM ET, A.J. Burnett (10-7, 4.08) will go against Dustin Nippert (4-2, 3.95) in game 3.
Recap records: Seamus: 36–22, Patrick: 34–15, Andrew: 9–10
He held the Rangers to 2 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks over 7 innings, picking up win number 11 and lowering his ERA to 4.18.
The Yankees would provide him with all the runs he'd need in the second when Jorge Posada connected on a 3-run shot that scored Alex Rodriguez and Hideki Matsui. A solo homer from Jerry Hairston Jr. in the fourth would add another.
The Rangers would finally answer back with 1 run in each of the 5th and 6th innings, leaving the score at 4-2 heading to the bottom of the seventh. But, this is when the Yankees would put the game out of reach.
They went 6 batters before making an out, collecting 5 runs to stretch the lead to 7. Derek Jeter singled in Robinson Cano and Hairston Jr., Nick Swisher doubled in Melky Cabrera and Mark Teixeira singled home both Jeter and Swisher.
Every Yankee starter, except for Cabrera, had at least one hit, but Melky did score a run, of course. Matsui and Cano both had 2 hits and Hairston walked twice to go along with his homer. Posada had 3 RBIs to lead the team and Hairston's 2 runs did the same as 7 guys scored 1 run.
Brian Bruney and Phil Coke pitched back to back scoreless innings to end the game. Bruney loaded the bases with 1 out, but got Ivan Rodriguez to ground into an inning ending double play. Coke went 1-2-3.
The win allows New York to keep pace with the Red Sox, holding a 6 game lead. Tomorrow, at 1:05 PM ET, A.J. Burnett (10-7, 4.08) will go against Dustin Nippert (4-2, 3.95) in game 3.
Recap records: Seamus: 36–22, Patrick: 34–15, Andrew: 9–10
