05/29: Pettitte Leaves with Back Issues; Pitching Staff Lights Out in 3-1 Victory Over Indians
Posted by: Patrick
Andy Pettitte went up against Indians ace Cliff Lee on Friday night and the pitching was pretty much as good as advertised. There was only one extra base hit in the entire game (a double, by Jorge Posada, who collected 2 hits in his first game since May 4).
The Yankees did well against Lee, getting on him early with a 2 spot in the second. Derek Jeter singled in Nick Swisher and Mark Teixeira grounded out to bring in Brett Gardner. Swisher again played a role in the third, when he hit a sacrifice fly that allowed Robinson Cano to score.
Those three runs were all they would score off of Lee in six innings of work. But, considering that he entered the game with a 3.04 ERA, that is pretty good. They had 9 hits and 2 walks off of him.
Pettitte was great through five, holding the Indians scoreless on 5 hits and 4 walks. He allowed a single and a walk to start the 6th and was removed for Alfredo Aceves, who allowed just one run to score in that inning. Pettitte was dealing with stiffness in his lower back, according to Peter Abraham.
Aceves pitched great, allowing just 1 hit in 3 innings of work. Meanwhile, the Yankees offense was stymied by Matt Herges (2 innings) and Rafael Perez (1 inning). And so, the game went to the bottom of the 9th with the Yankees holding a 3-1 lead.
Mariano entered the game and, after allowing a single to pinch hitting Shin-Soo Choo, struck out Asdrubal Cabrera and Grady Sizemore and got Victor Martinez to ground out to end the game.
In addition to Posada, Jeter was the only other Yankee to have 2 hits. But, everyone in the lineup except for Matsui collected at least one.
Tomorrow, CC Sabathia (4-3, 3.42) will pitch in Cleveland for the first time as a New York Yankee. He will go against Fausto Carmona (2-4, 6.42).
Recap records: Patrick: 14–7, Seamus: 11–9, Andrew: 3–4.
The Yankees did well against Lee, getting on him early with a 2 spot in the second. Derek Jeter singled in Nick Swisher and Mark Teixeira grounded out to bring in Brett Gardner. Swisher again played a role in the third, when he hit a sacrifice fly that allowed Robinson Cano to score.
Those three runs were all they would score off of Lee in six innings of work. But, considering that he entered the game with a 3.04 ERA, that is pretty good. They had 9 hits and 2 walks off of him.
Pettitte was great through five, holding the Indians scoreless on 5 hits and 4 walks. He allowed a single and a walk to start the 6th and was removed for Alfredo Aceves, who allowed just one run to score in that inning. Pettitte was dealing with stiffness in his lower back, according to Peter Abraham.
Aceves pitched great, allowing just 1 hit in 3 innings of work. Meanwhile, the Yankees offense was stymied by Matt Herges (2 innings) and Rafael Perez (1 inning). And so, the game went to the bottom of the 9th with the Yankees holding a 3-1 lead.
Mariano entered the game and, after allowing a single to pinch hitting Shin-Soo Choo, struck out Asdrubal Cabrera and Grady Sizemore and got Victor Martinez to ground out to end the game.
In addition to Posada, Jeter was the only other Yankee to have 2 hits. But, everyone in the lineup except for Matsui collected at least one.
Tomorrow, CC Sabathia (4-3, 3.42) will pitch in Cleveland for the first time as a New York Yankee. He will go against Fausto Carmona (2-4, 6.42).
Recap records: Patrick: 14–7, Seamus: 11–9, Andrew: 3–4.
