Yanks Beat Jays 3-2

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Toronto	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0		2	6	1
N.Y. Yankees	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	1	X		3	6	1

The Yankees defeated the Blue Jays tonight 3-2 to take the series two games to one.

All of the Yankees pitchers did their job tonight. Phil Hughes started and was very good. In 6 IP, he allowed just two runs (one in the 4th and one in the 5th) on four hits and a walk, while striking out four. Billy Traber faced one batter (Lyle Overbay) and struck him out with a nasty breaking ball. Brian Bruney was next out of the pen and retired the two batters he faced. Joba Chamberlain pitched a scoreless 8th inning, striking out one and also picked up his first win of the year. Mariano Rivera allowed the leadoff man to reach, but that was all he allowed as he picked up his second save of the season.

Just for fun, let's look at the first starts of the year for Phil Hughes and Johan Santana:

Hughes - 6 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, BB, 4 K
Santana - 7 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K (against a much worse Marlins lineup)

I'm not trying to compare the two, that wouldn't be fair to Hughes, he's only 21 and is still developing as a pitcher, but they both had very similar outings.

Also can we please stop calling Hughes, Kennedy and Chamberlain "Generation Trey"? Every time I hear Michael Kay refer to them as "Generation Trey" I want to break something. It's stupid, it's by far their worst nickname of them all. "The Big Three," "Trip Aces," "The Three Amigos" are all better choices. So please, no more "Generation Trey."

	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Hughes	6.0	4	2	2	1	4	0	3.00
Traber	0.1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0.00
Bruney	0.2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.00
Chamberlain (W, 1-0)	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0.00
Rivera (S, 2)	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0.00

JAYS PITCHING

For the first five innings the Yankees offense couldn't do anything against Jays starter Dustin McGowan, but in the 6th it looked like he lost something and the Yankees were able to push across a couple runs. Johnny Damon led of the inning with a double, Derek Jeter got hit by a pitch, and Bobby Abreu walked. Then with Alex Rodriguez at the plate, McGowan threw a wild pitched which allowed Damon to score from third. Following a Rodriguez strike out, Jason Giambi drove in the second run with a sac fly.

With the game tied in the bottom of the 8th Melky Cabrera started the game winning rally with a leadoff single, Damon then bunted, but reached safely after an error by Jays pitcher Scott Downs. Then with 1st and 2nd and nobody out Jeter also put down a successful sac bunt - although the ump blew the call at first and it should have been a hit - setting up 2nd and 3rd with one out for Abreu, and on a 2-1 pitched hit a bloop single to score the game's winning run.

One complaint; with 1st and 2nd and nobody out in the bottom of 3rd and Damon up, Girardi allowed Damon to swing away. Damon lined out, and Jeter then hit into a DP to end the inning. I would have liked to see a bunt there. I know it was only the third and you're looking for the big inning, but by doing so the Yankees got nothing. When you're facing good pitching you have to manufacture runs.

	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, DH	3	1	1	0	0	1	2	.182
Jeter, SS	2	1	0	0	0	0	2	.300
Abreu, RF	3	0	2	1	1	1	0	.500
Rodriguez, 3B	4	0	0	0	0	2	5	.273
Giambi, 1B	1	0	0	1	1	0	1	.000
Cano, 2B	4	0	0	0	0	0	5	.091
Matsui, LF	3	0	1	0	0	2	1	.222
Molina, C	3	0	1	0	0	0	1	.333
Cabrera, CF	2	1	1	0	1	0	1	.375
Totals	25	3	6	2	3	6	18
BATTING 2B: Damon (1, McGowan). TB: Damon 2; Abreu 2; Matsui; Molina; Cabrera. RBI: Giambi (1), Abreu (1). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cano 3. S: Damon; Jeter. SF: Giambi. GIDP: Jeter; Cabrera. Team LOB: 6.

JAYS HITTING

The Yankees start a 4-game set with the Tampa Bay Rays tomorrow night at The Stadium. Although, after looking at the weather report it looks like the game could be rained out. If they do play, Ian Kennedy will get the start for the Yanks, and Andy Sonnanstine gets the start for the Rays. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m., and the game can be seen on YES, and heard on WCBS 880.

By the way, I'm sorry if yesterday's game summary was a little too "doom and gloom." The first loss of the year always bothers me, even though it shouldn't bother me at all. Maybe the fact that I froze my ass off at the stadium watching it pissed me off even more. I'll try not to get so down on the team when they lose, although I can't make any promises.