(AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann/Ed Zurga and REUTERS/Dave Kaup)
CC Sabathia was dominating tonight in Kansas City; throwing seven and two-thirds scoreless as the Yanks rolled to a 6-1 win over the Royals. He allowed just six hits, struck out six, and did not walk a batter, and of his 108 pitches, 73 of them were strikes. It was a great rebound performance after the stinker he threw on opening day.
Whatever Dave Eiland did to fix his mechanics in between starts sure seemed to work. Sabathia had command of all of his pitches and unlike his first start he was able to put his fastball wherever he wanted it. His velocity was also very good with his fastball regularly clocking in at 94-96 MPH and topping out at 97. He maintained his velocity very well as the game went on, hitting 95 and 96 in the seventh and eighth innings. The left-hander got into a couple minor jams along the way, but was always able to get that big strikeout or double play ball when he needed it. This is the CC Sabathia Yankee fans were expecting when the Yankees threw that big contract his way.
Jose Veras relieved CC with two outs in the eighth and picked up the final four outs to finish off the game. He struck out Billy Butler to end the eighth but was a little shaky in the ninth. He allowed a run on a hit and a walk, but was able get out of it without allowing any more damage.
Guess who’s not letting Joe Girardi take him out of the lineup?
Nick Swisher continues his torrid first week, going 2-for-3 with a homer, a triple, two walks, three RBI, and three runs scored. He’s now hitting .538/.625/1.385, with 2 home runs and 9 RBI.
For the second straight day Jorge Posada got the Yankees off to an early 2-0 lead when he lined a two out, two-run double in the first inning off Royals starter Horacio Ramirez.
The Yankees added two more runs off Ramirez in third and fifth innings. Derek Jeter led off the third with a single and stole second, Swisher tripled to score Jeter, and Posada drove in his third run of the game with a double, the runs in the fifth came on Swisher’s two-run homer.
I know it’s early, but Cody Ransom might be playing himself out of the starting lineup. He’s hitting just .056 at the dish and in the field he’s been mediocre at best. Today he went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and committed a throwing error – the Yankees first of error of the season. Ramiro Pena is great with the glove, and it’s just a guess, but I think he can hit better than .056. I'm not saying Girardi should make a switch now, but if Ransom has a few more games like this I think a move will be necessary.
***Mark Teixeira Wrist Update***
During his postgame interview Joe Girardi said that Tex has minor tendinitis just below the wrist and is day-to-day. He also said he plans on playing him tomorrow since the Royals have a righty going and he's only having problems swining the bat right-handed.| AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | LOB | AVG | |
| Jeter, SS | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .273 |
| Pena, SS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Damon, LF | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | .263 |
| Swisher, 1B | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .538 |
| Matsui, DH | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | .111 |
| Posada, C | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 | .313 |
| Cano, 2B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .444 |
| Nady, RF | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .294 |
| Cabrera, M, RF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| Ransom, 3B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | .056 |
| Gardner, CF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .235 |
| Totals | 35 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 19 | |
| BATTING 2B: Posada 2 (3, Ramirez, H, Ramirez, H), Matsui (1, Ramirez, H). 3B: Swisher (1, Ramirez, H). HR: Swisher (2, 5th inning off Ramirez, H, 1 on, 1 out). TB: Jeter; Damon; Swisher 7; Matsui 2; Posada 4; Nady 2. RBI: Posada 3 (6), Swisher 3 (9). 2-out RBI: Posada 3. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cano 3; Damon. GIDP: Gardner. Team RISP: 3-for-11. Team LOB: 8. BASERUNNING SB: Jeter (2, 2nd base off Ramirez, H/Olivo). FIELDING E: Ransom (1, throw). DP: 2 (Ransom-Cano-Swisher, Cano-Jeter-Swisher). | ||||||||
ROYALS OFFENSE
| IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | |
| Sabathia (W, 1-1) | 7.2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4.50 |
| Veras | 1.1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2.70 |
ROYALS PITCHING
The Yankees go for the sweep tomorrow afternoon when they send Joba Chamberlain to the mound. Gil Meche will make the start for the Royals. First pitch is set for 2:10 p.m. and the game will be on YES and if you're not by a TV set you can listen on WCBS 880.
14 Comments:
gotta love Yankee baseball baby
nop
Damn right. Especially when it looks like it has over the past three games. Timely hitting, great starting pitching, solid relief work. Can't write it up better than it has been. Now they just have to build on it and sustain it for the long haul. And if this pitching staff can stay healthy I think that's exactly what they will do.
CC did great. Thats the pitcher that I wanted to see.
Great game all around for our boys. I'm so happy to see them playing well. I was getting a little nervous after those first two games.
Same here Larry, I got nervous tonight when CC was pitching, but after the first I knew that he would be fantastic.
That was a great game by Swish and CC. But what I especially love was the postgame comments by Swish. "Get to hit in the three-hole for the New York Yankees! I was real excited about that," said Swisher. "This just feels great. I'm coming to the ballpark every day with the mindset I want to do whatever I can to help the team." I wish we had a whole team of these type of guys!
"I wish we had a whole team of these type of guys!"
I couldn't agree more. Great quotes.
Swisher is on fire which is a real blessing. The Yankees are not having any trouble putting up runs even without ARod in the lineup. Even in the losses to Baltimore, they put up plenty of runs. I would be shocked if Swisher hit near .300 for the year, so this hot streak couldn't come at a better time.
The first two games were obviously throwaways, we're now seeing what the starting rotation will look like day in day out - dominant! The Yankees should lose very few series this year, and only the series against Boston and LA and TB will be the big challenges.
Will,
You're right, his hot streak could not have come at a better time.
As for the pitching, I think this staff could be great, but as we all know, and as I've said many times, it's all about staying healthy.
I'm very interesting in seeing how Joba does tomorrow.
CC did great, maybe now the Post is gonna let him alone for a while (you're right, until he allows a homer in the Stadium Opening or gives up 2 runs).
Pay attention Gary, the game starts at 1:10 pm CT, so 2:10 eastern.
Love your job on this blog, you can post Marie Olbermann links anytime. :)
Fixed it Vinsanity.
Thanks, glad you like the site, but my name is Greg.
Sorry Greg, didn't pay attention.
Great blog anyway!
No problem Vinsanity.
Thanks again dude.
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