Teixeira Homers Twice, Yanks Make it 6 in a Row

(Kathy Willens and Ray Stubblebine)

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
MIN	2	0	0	1	0	1	0	1	1		6	13	1
NYY	6	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	X		7	13	0

Winning pitcher - Andy Pettitte (4-1)
Losing pitcher - Glen Perkins (1-3)
SV - Phil Coke (1)

No walk-off but it was another nice victory in the Bronx for the Yankees as they defeated the Twins 7-6 tonight at the new stadium. The win completed their four-game sweep of Minnesota and was their sixth in a row overall, and they are now a season high four games over .500.

Andy Pettitte started for the Yankees and struggled through 6.2 innings. He allowed four runs on 12 hits, walked one, and struck out three. Of his 105 pitches, 71 of them were strikes. He said on the post game show that he didn't have his cutter tonight, and that could be one reason he struggled. He allowed two runs in the first inning and individual runs in the fouth and sixth. He also failed to get through the seventh, leaving runners on first and second with two out. I know there are people who are going to say he battled, and I guess he did, but I'd like to see a better performance from Pettitte. Either way, the Yankees gave him enough runs and he picked up his fourth win in a row.

Most of those runs came in the bottom of the first when the Yankees sent eleven men to the plate and scored six. Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon started the inning with back-to-back singles. That was followed by back-to-back homers from Mark Teixeira - a three-run shot - and Alex Rodriguez - a solo shot. The Yankees would add two more on RBI singles by Melky Cabrera and Francisco Cervelli. Teixeira added a solo homer in the bottom of the seventh for what turned out to be the winning run.

It's a good thing Brian Bruney is coming back tomorrow, because it was another rocky day for the bullpen. Jose Veras walked the first batter he faced in the top of the seventh to load the bases with two out. He got Carlos Gomez to pop out to end the inning, but the guy can't throw strikes. Edwar Ramirez could only get through two-thirds of an inning. He gave up a solo homer to Denard Span to cut the Yanks lead to 7-5, and two batters later walked Joe Mauer before being taken out of the game for Phil Coke. Coke got a huge out when he was able to strike out Justin Morneau to end the eighth, but had a very shaky ninth inning, allowing a run and putting the tying run on base before picking up his first save. All night it seemed the Yankees pitchers were one pitch away from giving up the lead.

Even with the bullpen problems the Yankees have been doing a lot of good things that they can build on. They're starting to hit better in clutch situations, Teixeira is hitting like an All-Star, A-Rod has homered in three straight days, the younger players are contributing, they're playing very good defense, and they're playing fundamental baseball. I know it could all change with one bad week, but as of right now this team playing very good baseball. The return of Brian Bruney should also be a nice boost.

The Baltimore Orioles come to town for a three-game set starting tomorrow night at the new stadium. After shutting the Orioles out eleven days ago CC Sabathia will get the ball in the series opener for the Yanks, with Brad Bergesen getting the ball for the O's.

	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Jeter, SS	5	1	2	0	0	1	4	.275
Damon, LF	4	1	1	0	1	1	5	.322
Teixeira, 1B	4	2	2	4	0	0	1	.239
Rodriguez, A, DH	3	1	1	1	1	1	0	.188
Swisher, RF	4	0	0	0	0	0	1	.236
Cano, 2B	4	1	2	0	0	0	1	.301
Cabrera, M, CF	4	1	2	1	0	1	1	.317
Pena, 3B	4	0	1	0	0	0	1	.263
Cervelli, C	2	0	2	1	0	0	0	.375
Totals	34	7	13	7	2	4	14
BATTING 2B: Cano (10, Perkins). HR: Teixeira 2 (10, 1st inning off Perkins, 2 on, 0 out; 7th inning off Ayala, 0 on, 0 out), Rodriguez, A (4, 1st inning off Perkins, 0 on, 0 out). TB: Jeter 2; Damon; Teixeira 8; Rodriguez, A 4; Cano 3; Cabrera, M 2; Pena; Cervelli 2. RBI: Teixeira 4 (28), Rodriguez, A (8), Cabrera, M (14), Cervelli (2). 2-out RBI: Cervelli. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Damon 4. S: Cervelli 2. GIDP: Jeter. Team RISP: 3-for-9. Team LOB: 7. BASERUNNING CS: Cano (1, 2nd base by Dickey/Mauer).

	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Pettitte (W, 4-1)	6.2	12	4	4	1	3	1	4.18
Veras (H, 2)	0.1	0	0	0	1	0	0	6.61
Ramirez, E (H, 1)	0.2	1	1	1	1	0	1	5.19
Coke (S, 1)	1.1	0	1	1	2	1	0	4.76

TWINS STATS

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Mark Teixeira (2-for-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 R)

HONORABLE MENTION: Francisco Cervelli (2-for-2, RBI, 2 sac bunts)

Yankees vs. Orioles
Game Time: 7:05 p.m. | TV/Radio: MY9, WCBS 880
CC Sabathia LHP (3-3, 3.70 ERA) vs. Brad Bergesen RHP (1-1, 5.27 ERA)