| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | ||
| N.Y. Yankees | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 12 | 0 | |
| Chi. White Sox | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 1 |
The Yankees defeated the White Sox tonight 6-4, to win their 3rd straight, and take a series for the first time since the series in Tampa. The Yankees record on the year now stands at 12-10.
Mike Mussina got the start and silenced the critics for at least one night as he pitched magnificently, especially for a guy that every Yankees fan – including myself – spent the last week bashing. In 7 innings he allowed just two runs on 4 hits and a walk, while striking out 3. He mixed his pitches very well, and had great movement on all of his pitches. His only mistakes of the game were solo home runs to Joe Crede and Carlos Quentin.
After the Quentin HR, Joe Girardi came out to the mound, apparently to take out Mussina, but Jorge Posada stopped him just as he was about to signal for the new pitcher. Mussina stayed in the game, and got Crede to line out to end the inning. It was a pretty funny moment, and everyone on the bench seemed to get a kick out of it as well. UPDATE: When Girardi reached the mound he asked Posada how Moose was doing, Posada said, "He's got nothing," but what he meant to say was, "Nothing is wrong." So that's where the confusion came from.
Latroy Hawkins came in to pitch the 8th, after retiring the first batter, allowed a walk to Nick Swisher and a single to Orlando Cabrera, and that would be it for Hawkins. Billy Traber then came in and did not do the job. He came in to get the lefty Jim Thome and gave up an RBI single to cut the Yankees lead to 6-3.
Mariano Rivera then came in for the 5-out save, Paul Konerko hit a sac fly to cut the Yanks lead to 6-4, but then got Jermaine Dye to pop out to Jeter to end the 8th. In the 9th he put the Sox away in order. Mo has been unreal so far this season.
| IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | |
| Mussina (W, 2-3) | 7.0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4.94 |
| Hawkins | 0.1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11.17 |
| Traber | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.86 |
| Rivera (S, 6) | 1.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
WHITE SOX PITCHING
The Yankees scored their first run of the game in the second; after loading the bases with two outs, Melky Cabrera hit an infield RBI single to drive in Robinson Cano who had walked to start the mini rally.
In the 5th Johnny Damon led off with a single, and then after the next two batters were retired, Hideki Matsui singled. Jorge Posada then hit a 2-run double to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead.
The Yanks added 3 more in the 6th on a 2-run double by Posada, and a RBI single by Derek Jeter. Posada was 4-for-5 on the night with 3 doubles and 2 RBI. Jason Giambi had started the rally with a leadoff single making this the first time this year that Giambi has had hits in back-to-back games.
| NY Yankees | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | LOB | AVG |
| Damon, LF | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .253 |
| Jeter, SS | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .277 |
| Abreu, RF | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | .293 |
| Matsui, DH | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .324 |
| Posada, C | 5 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .304 |
| Cano, 2B | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | .165 |
| Giambi, 1B | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | .135 |
| Ensberg, 3B | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | .308 |
| Cabrera, CF | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .292 |
| Totals | 39 | 6 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 20 | |
BATTING 2B: Posada 3 (6, Vazquez, Masset, Jenks), Cabrera (2, Vazquez), Damon (6, Vazquez). TB: Damon 3; Jeter; Matsui; Posada 7; Giambi; Ensberg; Cabrera 3. RBI: Cabrera (8), Posada 2 (8), Damon 2 (12), Jeter (12). 2-out RBI: Cabrera; Posada 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Damon 2; Cano 2; Cabrera; Ensberg 2. GIDP: Posada. Team LOB: 11. BASERUNNING SB: Giambi (1, 2nd base off Jenks/Pierzynski). | ||||||||
WHITE SOX HITTING
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Mike Mussina - 7 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
HONORABLE MENTION: Jorge Posada - 4-for-5, 3 2B, 2 RBI
The Yankees go for the sweep tomorrow night with Phil Hughes on the mound, Gavin Floyd goes for the Sox. First pitch is set for
10 Comments:
Great game, save for the middle relief. Good to see Posada and Damon really tearing the cover off the ball as of late and Giambi slowly coming out of the funk. Now if only Robbie can get going. Hopefully Phil keeps it going tomorrow night. Also showed the Hank Steinbrenners of the world what "Life Without Joba" as Suzyn Waldman calls it, is like.
You hit the nail on the head.
As for life without Joba, you know I think he should be a starter eventually, but for right now, and until they find a replacement, he's where he should be.
God I hate when people that are essentially wrong, are right.
But yeah, Joba is key at this point, and the players think so too.
Im one to say that he does make an impact more helping win 3 games out of 5 as opposed to 1, but Greg is right. Later on, the kid has to start. I cant wait for us to have a 8-11 K starter every five days.
Greg,
Gotta agree with you...sure we'd all like to see Joba start, but not at the expense of seeing what the 7th and 8th would look like without him!
I'm surprised by how many fans don't think he should remain in the bullpen...are they watching the same games I am?
Until someone can find a good replacement for him in his current role, he must stay where he is.
For now, it's the only logical choice.
The Yanks have plenty of replacements for Joba in the bullpen, and more on the way in another year. When the time is right (later in the year) he should definitely be in the starting rotation. You don't waste valuable starters in the bullpen. The pen is for people who can't hack it in the rotation, because of a lack of 4 good pitches, a lack of endurance, or injury problems. Guys who can't handle the starting rotation get moved to the bullpen. Guys who can't handle the bullpen get sent home, not moved to the rotation. If you can start, you do.
I dunno Jeff last night the Yankees tried 2 pitchers who managed to get only one out and let two runs in between them. They forced Mariano to get the 5 out save proving that the bridge between the starter and Mo takes them from a comfortable 6-2 lead where we don't need Mo, to a spot where the game could be tied with one swing.
Joe - I'm not a fan of Hawkins or Farnsworth and think the Yanks should try to trade both of them and bring up guys like Albaladejo or Ramirez. There are a few others in the minors who will be ready in another year to take over the closer and set-up duties. So other than Hawkins and Farnsworth, the Yankees have decent guys in the bullpen other than Joba.
Jeff,
I agree that in the end, and even next year Joba must start. You're exactly right when you say you can't waste that talent in the bullpen.
But for right now I wouldn't move him yet. If Hughes, Kennedy or Mussina can't cut it in the next two months, then I would consider moving him into the rotation this year.
As for his replacements; We all know how bad Farnsworth and Hawkins are, although the Yankees did win 97 games in 2006 with Farnsworth as their setup man.
Edwar's fastball isn't going to cut it in this league. He's never going to dominate in the pros. Albaladejo, on the other hand, has a chance to be a decent setup guy.
Then there are guys in the minors like Patterson, Melancon, Sanchez, J.B. Cox, among others who could fill that role later in the year.
Greg - Yeah I agree that it's too soon to move Joba. He needs to stay where he is until June or so because of theoretical innings limits.
I'm not jumping on the Patterson bandwagon yet. He looked good in Spring training but has been struggling since. I need to see him pitch a full year at AAA before I felt confident to bring him up. I think he'll be fine in the end, but needs a year at AAA.
Melancon has the stuff to be a quality set up man or closer. It wouldn't surprise me to see him in NY toward the end of the season or if not, next year definitely.
I just threw Patterson's name out there, I would have liked to seen him make the team out of spring training but he's struggled a bit so I agree with you he needs time in AAA.
I also am with you on Melancon, he's the guy that I see replacing Joba eventually.
One thing that bothers me a lot is the plan to stretch Joba out (innings wise) in the minors. I feel that's completely unnecessary.
Why not just extending his inning vs. pro hitters? Pitch him every fifth day starting with a 2 inning appearance, then 3, then 4, and then finally 5. Now you have a starter. He can even start one or two of those games so he gets a feel for starting. Just make sure you have a long man in the pen to replace him.
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