05/09: Great Bullpen, Late Rally Not Enough to Save Yankees from Igawa's Hit Parade
Posted by: Patrick
Kei Igawa's first Major League start of 2008 was, in a word, ugh-tastic. The lefty lasted only 3 innings, allowing 11 hits and 6 earned runs. He didn't walk anyone, but he didn't strike out anyone, either. He left the game in the 4th, down 6-1, with runners on first and second with no outs.
It means absolutely nothing, but it's a shame the game couldn't just start at this point. Jon Albaladejo came in and immediately threw his body on top of the grenade. Somehow, his stomach defused the threat, thanks to a double play and a strike out. Six runs is all that the Tigers would end up with in this game as the bullpen was lights out.
Albaladejo allowed 2 hits and 1 walk over 2 and 1/3 innings pitched, allowing no runs. However, his stint ended badly when hye left the game due to an elbow injury. He was in obvious pain. Argh. Hopefully, he's alright. LaTroy Hawkins threw 1 and 2/3 innings of hitless baseball and Edwar threw an inning of that variety, as well. Bullpen total: 5 innings pitched, 2 hits, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts and 0 earned runs.
Thanks to the ninth inning, the Yankees offense had an OK game overall. But, you would hope for more than five runs over nine innings when facing the trio of Kenny Rogers (6.27 ERA coming in), Zach Miner (9.33) and Todd Jones (2.77). And Todd Jones was the one that they scored a majority of their runs off of.
They scored one in the second thanks to a Jason Giambi solo shot. In the seventh, Chad Moeller singled in Robinson Cano to make it 6-2, Yankees.
The Yankees put together a nice rally in the ninth, but it came up just short. To start the inning, Wilson Betemit doubled to left and then took third on a wild pitch. Robinson Cano grounded out to shortstop, scoring Betemit. Johnny Damon provided a pinch hit single and then advanced to second on a wild pitch (Todd Jones was apparently having some trouble). Melky Cabrera grounded out for the second out of the inning, moving Damon to third.
With two outs, the Captain singled to left, scoring Damon. He took second on fielder's indifference before Bobby Abreu doubled him home to cut the deficit to one. The Tigers elected to walk the 0 for 4 (but red hot coming in) Hideki Matsui to put runners at first and second for Shelley Duncan. Shelley could not keep the rally going, flying out to center to end the game. Yankees lose, 6-5, and drop 1 game below .500.
There were some encouraging signs in this one from Jason Giambi, Wilson Betemit and Robinson Cano. Giambi and Betemit, of course, have been mired in big time slumps. Giambi was 2 for 4 with 1 solo home run. In his last three games, he's 4 for 10 with 3 runs, 1 double, 2 home runs, 5 RBIs and 1 walk. Cano was also 2 for 4, to go along with a double, 1 run and an RBI. Over his last five games, he's 7 for 19 with 4 runs, 1 double, 2 home runs and 4 RBIs. Betemit who, to be fair, hasn't seen much action this year due to injury, was 2 for 4, as well. One of those hits was a double and he scored a run. In his three games since leaving the DL, he is 4 for 11 with 2 runs, 1 double, 1 home run and 1 RBI. Hopefully, this trio has turned the corner - especially Giambi and Cano.
Tomorrow, Darrell Rasner (1-0, 3.00) will make his second start of the season, against Jeremy Bonderman (2-3, 4.17).
It means absolutely nothing, but it's a shame the game couldn't just start at this point. Jon Albaladejo came in and immediately threw his body on top of the grenade. Somehow, his stomach defused the threat, thanks to a double play and a strike out. Six runs is all that the Tigers would end up with in this game as the bullpen was lights out.
Albaladejo allowed 2 hits and 1 walk over 2 and 1/3 innings pitched, allowing no runs. However, his stint ended badly when hye left the game due to an elbow injury. He was in obvious pain. Argh. Hopefully, he's alright. LaTroy Hawkins threw 1 and 2/3 innings of hitless baseball and Edwar threw an inning of that variety, as well. Bullpen total: 5 innings pitched, 2 hits, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts and 0 earned runs.
Thanks to the ninth inning, the Yankees offense had an OK game overall. But, you would hope for more than five runs over nine innings when facing the trio of Kenny Rogers (6.27 ERA coming in), Zach Miner (9.33) and Todd Jones (2.77). And Todd Jones was the one that they scored a majority of their runs off of.
They scored one in the second thanks to a Jason Giambi solo shot. In the seventh, Chad Moeller singled in Robinson Cano to make it 6-2, Yankees.
The Yankees put together a nice rally in the ninth, but it came up just short. To start the inning, Wilson Betemit doubled to left and then took third on a wild pitch. Robinson Cano grounded out to shortstop, scoring Betemit. Johnny Damon provided a pinch hit single and then advanced to second on a wild pitch (Todd Jones was apparently having some trouble). Melky Cabrera grounded out for the second out of the inning, moving Damon to third.
With two outs, the Captain singled to left, scoring Damon. He took second on fielder's indifference before Bobby Abreu doubled him home to cut the deficit to one. The Tigers elected to walk the 0 for 4 (but red hot coming in) Hideki Matsui to put runners at first and second for Shelley Duncan. Shelley could not keep the rally going, flying out to center to end the game. Yankees lose, 6-5, and drop 1 game below .500.
There were some encouraging signs in this one from Jason Giambi, Wilson Betemit and Robinson Cano. Giambi and Betemit, of course, have been mired in big time slumps. Giambi was 2 for 4 with 1 solo home run. In his last three games, he's 4 for 10 with 3 runs, 1 double, 2 home runs, 5 RBIs and 1 walk. Cano was also 2 for 4, to go along with a double, 1 run and an RBI. Over his last five games, he's 7 for 19 with 4 runs, 1 double, 2 home runs and 4 RBIs. Betemit who, to be fair, hasn't seen much action this year due to injury, was 2 for 4, as well. One of those hits was a double and he scored a run. In his three games since leaving the DL, he is 4 for 11 with 2 runs, 1 double, 1 home run and 1 RBI. Hopefully, this trio has turned the corner - especially Giambi and Cano.
Tomorrow, Darrell Rasner (1-0, 3.00) will make his second start of the season, against Jeremy Bonderman (2-3, 4.17).
