06/11: Wang Back on Track with 3-1 Victory Over A's
Posted by: Patrick
Chien-Ming Wang threw 7 and 1/3 innings in Tuesday night's 2-1 win over the Athletics in Oakland. He allowed 1 earned run on 7 hits, 2 walks and 2 strike outs and threw 83 pitches in all; 46 for strikes. The ground balls were flowing for Wang as the Yankees turned four double plays during his time on the mound.
It was Wang's first good in almost a month, dating back to May 13 when he threw 7 innings against the Devil Rays, allowing just 1 earned run, but losing. In those last four starts, his ERA was 8.75 and his season ERA had ballooned from 2.90 to 4.57. Somehow, the Yankees managed to win all but one of those games, so his record remained a very good 6-2; 7-2 after last night's win.
The Yankees scored all the offense they needed in the very first inning of the game when A-Rod singled home Derek Jeter. Bobby Abreu was called out at third on the play, but A-Rod advanced to second. The very next batter, Jason Giambi, drove him in. 2-0, Yankees, after 1.
Oakland's lone run was scored in the fourth when a Mark Ellis double scored Jack Cust.
After a long fly out by Jack Hannahan to start the eight, Girardi went to the pen and brought in Jose Veras. After getting Bobby Crosby to ground out, he walked Cust. Rajai Davis pinch ran for him and proceeded to steal second. Veras walked Eric Chavez next, making it first and second for Mark Ellis, who had been 3 for 3 on the day. But, Ellis grounded out to end the threat.
Melky Cabrera gave the team a nice insurance run in the top of the 9th when he hit his seventh home run of the season. Mariano was called upon for the fourth consecutive night and he nailed down the save without much difficulty, bringing his ERA down a notch, to 0.90.
The Yankees offense managed 7 hits and 6 walks along with a hit batsmen. Leading the team was Bobby Abreu (2 for 2, 2 walks) and Alex Rodriguez (2 for 4, 1 run, 1 RBI). Damon had a hit and a walk, Jeter had a run and a walk, Giambi had a hit, RI and a walk, Posada had a walk and Melky had that homer. Wilson Betemit and Robinson Cano combined for an ugly 0 for 8 with no walks.
With the win, the Yankees are back above .500 at 33-32. We're in a three way tie for third in the AL east, 6 games back from the division leading Red Sox. Tonight we'll have another 10:05 PM ET game when Darrell Rasner (3-3, 2.58) goes against Justin Duchscherer (5-4, 2.32) in what could be another pitcher's duel. That said, Mo needs a night or two off, so it'd be nice if the offense came out and ran up the score.
It was Wang's first good in almost a month, dating back to May 13 when he threw 7 innings against the Devil Rays, allowing just 1 earned run, but losing. In those last four starts, his ERA was 8.75 and his season ERA had ballooned from 2.90 to 4.57. Somehow, the Yankees managed to win all but one of those games, so his record remained a very good 6-2; 7-2 after last night's win.
The Yankees scored all the offense they needed in the very first inning of the game when A-Rod singled home Derek Jeter. Bobby Abreu was called out at third on the play, but A-Rod advanced to second. The very next batter, Jason Giambi, drove him in. 2-0, Yankees, after 1.
Oakland's lone run was scored in the fourth when a Mark Ellis double scored Jack Cust.
After a long fly out by Jack Hannahan to start the eight, Girardi went to the pen and brought in Jose Veras. After getting Bobby Crosby to ground out, he walked Cust. Rajai Davis pinch ran for him and proceeded to steal second. Veras walked Eric Chavez next, making it first and second for Mark Ellis, who had been 3 for 3 on the day. But, Ellis grounded out to end the threat.
Melky Cabrera gave the team a nice insurance run in the top of the 9th when he hit his seventh home run of the season. Mariano was called upon for the fourth consecutive night and he nailed down the save without much difficulty, bringing his ERA down a notch, to 0.90.
The Yankees offense managed 7 hits and 6 walks along with a hit batsmen. Leading the team was Bobby Abreu (2 for 2, 2 walks) and Alex Rodriguez (2 for 4, 1 run, 1 RBI). Damon had a hit and a walk, Jeter had a run and a walk, Giambi had a hit, RI and a walk, Posada had a walk and Melky had that homer. Wilson Betemit and Robinson Cano combined for an ugly 0 for 8 with no walks.
With the win, the Yankees are back above .500 at 33-32. We're in a three way tie for third in the AL east, 6 games back from the division leading Red Sox. Tonight we'll have another 10:05 PM ET game when Darrell Rasner (3-3, 2.58) goes against Justin Duchscherer (5-4, 2.32) in what could be another pitcher's duel. That said, Mo needs a night or two off, so it'd be nice if the offense came out and ran up the score.
Seamus wrote: