(REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton)| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | ||
| BOS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |
| NYY | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | X | 3 | 7 | 0 |
WP - CC Sabathia (19-7)
LP - Daisuke Matsuzaka (3-6)
SV - Mariano Rivera (43)
CC Sabathia was spectacular today as the Yanks made it two in a row over the Red Sox with a 3-0 win in the Bronx. In 7 shutout innings the big left-hander held the Red Sox to just one hit -- a Mike Lowell single -- and one walk, while striking out eight on his way to his MLB best 19th win of the season. He threw 96 pitches on the day, with 57 finding the zone. This was CC at his best, pounding the zone with 94-96 MPH fastballs, and had great movement and command of his changeup and slider. The way he threw the ball today Boston didn't stand a chance.
Boston starter Daisuke Matsuzaka was also very good, although he seemed to be flirting with disaster all day. But as soon as the Yankees had a threat he buckled down and held them off the board over the first five.
The Yanks had two on and one out the first, second, and third, each time failing to score. Then they put two on with nobody out in the fourth, but once again Matsuzaka kept them from scoring. In the fifth they had their best opportunity after loading the bases with nobody out, but Alex Rodriguez grounded into a force, Hideki Matsui popped out to the catcher, and Nick Swisher popped out to Mike Lowell in foul territory to end another Yankee threat.
They'd finally get on the board when Robinson Cano hit an opposite field solo homer to lead off the sixth, his 24th homer of the year.
After a scoreless seventh, the only 1-2-3 inning of the day for Red Sox pitching, the Yanks added two more insurance runs off Billy wagner in the eighth. Swisher led off with a walk, and Brett Gardner pinch ran for him. Then after Cano struck out, Melky Cabrera was hit by a pitch and Jose Molina wlaked to load the bases. After Derek Jeter struck out for out number two you figured this was just going to be another dead rally with nothing to show for it. But after working the count to 3-2, Johnny Damon hit a broken bat bloop single into right to drive in Gardner and Cabrera.
The inning probably would have ended without any runs had it not been for Chris Woodward's crucial error. With runners on first and third and Molina at the plate, Wagner threw one in the dirt, it skipped away, but not far enough and Gardner was hung up between third and home. He got into a rundown and the Sox played it well, but when Victor Martinez threw to Woodward he rushed to make the tag and forgot the ball. Gardner was safe and Melky was now at second.
It wasn't a good day for the Yankees offense, who were just 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position, and left 12 men on base. But a win is a win, and a win against the Red Sox is an even better win, so who cares.
After CC left the game Phil Hughes came in a threw a perfect eighth, picking up two K's along the way. Then after the Yanks score those two insurance runs, Mariano Rivera came in, got into a little bit of trouble allowed the tying run to come to the plate, but was able to strikeout Lowell for the final out of the game, and his 43rd save of the year.
The Yanks go for the sweep, win no. 100, and the division tomorrow afternoon in the Bronx with Andy Pettitte on the mound. Veteran right-hander Paul Byrd will get the ball for Boston. The game will be on ESPN and first pitch is set for 1:05 p.m.
Put 'em away fellas.
| AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | LOB | AVG | |
| Jeter, SS | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | .332 |
| Damon, LF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | .284 |
| Teixeira, 1B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | .293 |
| Rodriguez, A, 3B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | .286 |
| Matsui, H, DH | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .280 |
| Swisher, RF | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | .249 |
| 1-Gardner, PR-CF | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .279 |
| Cano, 2B | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | .321 |
| Cabrera, Me, CF-RF | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .270 |
| Molina, J, C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | .216 |
| Totals | 30 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 32 | |
1-Ran for Swisher in the 8th. | ||||||||
BATTING HR: Cano (24, 6th inning off Matsuzaka, 0 on, 0 out). TB: Jeter 2; Damon; Teixeira; Matsui, H; Swisher; Cano 4. RBI: Cano (80), Damon 2 (79). 2-out RBI: Damon 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Rodriguez, A; Molina, J 3; Swisher 2; Teixeira. Team RISP: 1-for-15. Team LOB: 12. BASERUNNING SB: Damon (12, 2nd base off Matsuzaka/Martinez, V), Gardner (24, 3rd base off Wagner, B/Martinez, V). FIELDING DP: (Jeter-Teixeira). | ||||||||
| IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | |
| Sabathia (W, 19-7) | 7.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 3.21 |
| Hughes, P (H, 18) | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2.99 |
| Rivera, Ma (S, 43) | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1.85 |
Pitches-strikes: Sabathia 96-57, Hughes, P 13-8, Rivera, Ma 20-15.
RED SOX STATS
PLAYER OF THE GAME: CC Sabathia (W, 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K)
HONORABLE MENTION: Robinson Cano (1-for-3, HR, BB, RBI, R)
Tomorrow's Game
Yankees vs. Red Sox
Game Time: 1:05 p.m. TV/Radio: ESPN, WCBS
LHP Andy Pettitte (13-7, 4.15) vs. RHP Paul Byrd (1-2, 6.04)
Game Time: 1:05 p.m. TV/Radio: ESPN, WCBS
LHP Andy Pettitte (13-7, 4.15) vs. RHP Paul Byrd (1-2, 6.04)
Hey Greg, about your post earlier about not getting ahead of ourselves about Joba. I disagree that Gaudin has pitched better than Joba. The guy has a FIP higher than Mitre (by a 3rd or a run!). He's essentially getting lucky for now. Joba's definitely the better starter than Gaudin. His FIP, despite his struggles, is almost a run lower. I dont know if you like that stat or not but you cannot discard it. ERA is not the best way to look at their performances.
ReplyDeleteIf you like tRA, Joba's is a full run lower than Gaudin. Even Mitre's is 3/4 of run lower (this just shows that Mitre really isnt THAT bad, he's been getting very unlucky).
Remember, this is all with his struggles and yet he still is better than Gaudin. When he's on, he's dominant.
Just to be clear, I didn't write that, Mike did.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think Joba will be the 4th starter in the playoffs if they make it to the ALCS.
Oh yea. I always forget there other writers here too.
ReplyDeleteEither way, those stats back up point.