(AP Photo/Paul J. Bereswill)
WP - Sergio Mitre (3-1)
LP - Jose Contreras (5-13)
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | ||
CWS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | |
NYY | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | X | 10 | 14 | 0 |
WP - Sergio Mitre (3-1)
LP - Jose Contreras (5-13)
The story of today's game was the pitching, and specifically the outstanding performance by Sergio Mitre. In 6.1 innings pitch the sinker-baller held the White Sox scoreless on just one hit an a walk, and struck out two. He was perfect through the first four and a third, but Jim Thome broke up the perfect game with a liner past Mark Teixeira at first. A play earlier Alex Rodriguez saved the perfecto with a fantastic diving play at third, Teixeira just missed making another spectacular play. And who knows what would have happened if he did because that was the last hit the White Sox would get all day.
Mitre caught a bad break in the top of the 7th when A.J. Pierzynski lined a ball off his right forearm. His arm quickly swelled up and he had to leave the game. Luckily X-rays came back negative and he could make his next start. Either way it was by far his best game as a Yankee. I doubt we'll see many more one-hitters from him, but he's improved each time out so maybe he's starting to figure things out.
Chad Gaudin replaced Mitre and picked up right where he left off, throwing 2.2 no-hit innings to close out the one-hitter that White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen later called "embarrassing." Gaudin struck out four and walked one.
On the offensive side the Yankees had their best game since their 20 run outburst in Fenway last week, pounding White Sox pitching for 10 runs and 14 hits. They scored four in the second and another four two innings laster to build up an 8-0 lead after four.
Derek Jeter picked up three more hits to move to within 13 hits of Lou Gehrig on the Yankees all-time hits list. He also laid down a sac-bunt with runners on first and second and nobody out in the Yanks four-run second. I was not bothered by the bunt at all, but Michael Kay in the booth seemed a bit peturbed. Kay's point was that Jeter is so hot that he had to swing away, which is a perfectly valid argument, but I think Jeter did the right thing. Here's what the captain had to say:
“It was the right thing to do. We had a couple guys on base. With nobody out, you move them over and you have a lot of different ways to score a run with guys on second and third as opposed to first and second. I’ve done it before and I’m sure I’ll do it again,” Jeter said. “I don’t care who knocks ‘em in. I’m just trying to win games. At that point, it was, what, 2-0. We’re trying to get some runs for Serg.”I agree with Jeet. What people forget sometimes is that no matter how well these guys are playing they're going to fail more than they succeed. Jeter's bunt set up Johnny Damon's two-run single and led to a big inning. If he hits a rocket at one of the infielders and they turn two who knows how the inning plays out.
Robinson Cano followed up his 10th inning walk-off homer yesterday with a three-hit game today. Alex Rodriguez picked up two hits, including his 23rd homer of the year, a solo shot of Sox reliever Tony Pena in the 8th.
A-Rod, Johnny Damon, Cano, and Jerry Hairston Jr. had two RBI each. And five Yankees had multi-hit games. Overall it was a great day for the Yanks in the Bronx.
The Yankees are now a season-high 33 games over .500, but Boston won again tonight so the Yanks lead remains at 6 games. But another day has been knocked off the schedule so that's a good thing. The Yanks go for the sweep tomorrow afternoon with Joba Chamberlain on the mound. It's a pretty big start for Joba who looks to put his recent struggles behind him. Freddy Garcia will get the ball for the White Sox.
AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | LOB | AVG | |
Jeter, SS | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 |
Gaudin, P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .036 |
Damon, LF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .289 |
Teixeira, 1B | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 | .283 |
Cabrera, Me, CF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .268 |
Rodriguez, A, 3B | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .269 |
Matsui, H, DH | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .271 |
a-Hinske, PH-DH-RF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .255 |
Swisher, RF-1B | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .243 |
Cano, 2B | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .315 |
Hairston, J, CF-RF-SS | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | .261 |
Molina, J, C | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .232 |
Totals | 38 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 22 | |
a-Struck out for Matsui, H in the 8th. | ||||||||
BATTING 2B: Cano (37, Contreras), Hairston, J (21, Contreras), Damon (30, Contreras), Matsui, H (21, Contreras). HR: Rodriguez, A (23, 8th inning off Pena, To, 0 on, 0 out). TB: Jeter 3; Damon 2; Rodriguez, A 5; Matsui, H 3; Swisher 2; Cano 4; Hairston, J 2. RBI: Hairston, J 2 (36), Damon 2 (71), Rodriguez, A 2 (70), Matsui, H (72), Swisher (68), Cano 2 (70). 2-out RBI: Cano. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Matsui, H; Rodriguez, A; Molina, J; Hairston, J. S: Jeter. GIDP: Damon. Team RISP: 6-for-17. Team LOB: 9. BASERUNNING SB: Jeter (23, 2nd base off Contreras/Pierzynski). |
IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | |
Mitre (W, 3-1) | 6.1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5.65 |
Gaudin | 2.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4.90 |
Pitches-strikes: Mitre 73-48, Gaudin 36-24.
WHITE SOX STATS
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Sergio Mitre (W, 6.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K)
HONORABLE MENTION: Robinson Cano (3-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI)
Tomorrow's Game
Yankees vs. White Sox
Game Time: 1:05 p.m. TV/Radio: YES, TBS WCBS
RHP Joba Chamberlain (8-4, 4.34) vs. RHP Freddy Garcia (0-1, 6.75)
RHP Joba Chamberlain (8-4, 4.34) vs. RHP Freddy Garcia (0-1, 6.75)
It's looking like Jeter will probably break Gehrig's club record for hits in Toronto. Hell, the way he's been hitting, I wouldn't be shocked if he did it in Baltimore.
ReplyDeleteI have tix for the night game @ Yankee Stadium on Labor Day and if Jeter was on the verge of the record, I was going to go to both games.
The Yanks are playing some damn good ball.
Jeter's bunt was ABSOLUTELY the correct move in that situation, against Contreras. The Yankees recent losses (not that there have been many) have come in my opinion due to not being able to score some extra early runs and wasting early opportunities.
ReplyDeleteSo when Jeter stepped up with 1st and 2nd and no outs, sure, letting him swing away wouldn't be a stupid thing to do. However, it is the higher risk move. While the reward is higher, the potential detriment if Jeter hits into a DP is much larger than the potential gain of the "big" inning. You want to put the pressure on the opposing pitcher, and we know how Contreras has handled pressure in the past (not well). Pushing the runners to 2nd and 3rd does a better job of assuring you of at least one more run, making it a 3-0 game early. Heck, forcing Contreras to field a bunt might even be a better way to reach base than actually swinging away, as his fielding has been hideous.
So yes, Jeter might get a hit 30%-40% of the time in that situation, but the risk of a double play or not advancing the runners and letting Contreras off the hook is far too dangerous of an outcome to risk at that point. Move the runners over, let Damon do his thing and at least get one run in with a ground out or sac fly.
I'm generally ok with hitting away, and I know that the "stats" often suggest bunting is a waste of an out, but there are things that stats don't take into account... this is a human game played by humans, and putting added pressure on a guy like Contreras by laying down the bunt is the much safer way to go, rather than potentially letting him of the hook if Jeter makes an unproductive out, or worse a DP.
Can you imagine is Mitre pitched like this all the time? He only had 70-some pitches in the 7th and was looking filthy.
ReplyDeleteKeep it up, Serg! You just might find yourself on the playoff roster.
I like the Jeter bunt play. First of all it wasn't a true scrafice bunt. He was trying to bunt for a single at worst he would of moved the runners up. Molina is not scoring from 1st base unless its a homerun. Jeter is not a homerun hitter. People are assuming Jeter would get a hit what happens if he would of grounded into a double play. Molina scoring was because Jeter got him to second great play.
ReplyDeleteI dont understand people like Kay and Abraham. They complain that the yankees are too homerun reliant and dont play enough small ball. But when they do bunt then they complain too. You cant have it both ways.
That's true, Teejay, Jeter is always bunting for a hit with the sac being the worst case scenario.
ReplyDeleteA lot of people are against bunting early in games, mainly because they probably heard somewhere that it's a waste of an out like Chris said.
I personally like small ball and bunting as long as the guy knows how to bunt, and Jeter is one of the best out there.
I will be there too CF, it's my birthday that day. Always love being at the stadium (new or old) for my b-day.
ReplyDelete