(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L.A. Angels | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 0 |
| N.Y. Yankees | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
WP: J. Pineiro (1-1) LP: J. Vazquez (0-2)
S: F. Rodney (1)
S: F. Rodney (1)
He was better than his start against the Rays, but for the second time in as many starts Javier Vazquez was pretty ineffective. Today, he allowed four earned runs on six hits, walked two and struck out four in just 5.1 innings pitched. He needed 99 pitches, and threw 60 of them for strikes. That's now 12 earned runs allowed by Javy in 11 innings, which comes to a 9.82 ERA. One of his biggest issues today was a lack of a put away pitch. His velocity on his fastball also wasn't where you want it to be, but it's early so that should improve as the season goes on.
Like his game in Tampa, Vazquez was done in by two bad innings. In the second he allowed two runs on an RBI single by Erick Aybar and an RBI double by Bobby Abreu. He would allowed two more in the sixth. As Joe Girardi pointed out after the game, the biggest at-bat against him came to start the inning with the Yankees down 2-1. Vazquez started the at-bat by getting ahead of Torii Hunter 0-and-2, but couldn't put him away and Hunter eventually doubled on a 3-2 pitch. Two batters later he would score on a Kendry Morales RBI double, which knocked Vazquez out of the game. If he had been able to put Hunter away the entire inning and game play out differently. Who knows, maybe the Angels don't score, the Yankees end up winning, and I'm sitting here writing about how Vazquez threw a solid game for his first win. But that didn't happen and by the end of the inning the Angels were up 4-1.
As Vazquez left the mound he was showered with boo's from the fans at the stadium. Personally, I have no problem with the boo's. He didn't perform and the fans let them know they weren't happy--nothing new for this town. Plus, the memories of 2004 can't be helping his cause.
Alfredo Aceves came in to replace Vazquez. He allowed one inherited runner in the 6th and then a run of his own in the top of the 7th that gave the Angels a 5-1 lead. Joba Chamberlain and Demaso Marte also pitched in relief, and pitched well, each throwing a scoreless inning.
While Vazquez was struggling to get through six, Joel Pineiro was shutting down the Yankees lineup with ease. Pineiro allowed just five hits and a run in 7 innings. He had his sinker working and, for the most part, the Yankees batters struggled to get the ball in the air. They also did little with the opportunities they did have, going just 4-for-14 with RISP in the game and leaving eight men on base. The only run they scored off Pineiro came in the 5th on a Nick Swisher triple.
Once Pineiro was gone the Yankees did make things interesting against the Angels pen. Brett Gardner led off the 8th with a walk, Derek Jeter singled, and Nick Johnson came through with an RBI single to cut the Angels lead to 5-2. All that damage was done against Scott Shields, but he was gone after the Johnson single. Kevin Jepsen then came in for the Angels to replace Shields. Mark Teixeira, who still can't buy a hit, then grounded out to drive in another run and cut the Angels lead to two, and then Alex Rodriguez walked, but that's where the Yanks rally would end. Robinson Cano hit a ball about as hard as he could, but he hit it right to Brandon Wood at third for the second out, and then Jepsen struck out Jorge Posada to end the inning. The Yanks then went quietly in the 9th against Fernando Rodney.
Tomorrow is a pretty interesting day in Yankeeland as Phil Hughes makes his season debut. I'm very interested to see how he does as a starter, especially with his new changeup. He will be facing Scott Kazmir, who will also be making his first start of the season. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. and the game will be on MY9 and WCBS.
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | LOB | AVG |
| Derek Jeter, SS | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .324 |
| Nick Johnson, DH | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | .207 |
| Mark Teixeira, 1B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .097 |
| Alex Rodriguez, 3B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | .257 |
| Robinson Cano, 2B | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .382 |
| Jorge Posada, C | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .400 |
| Curtis Granderson, CF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .313 |
| Nick Swisher, RF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .308 |
| Brett Gardner, LF | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .217 |
| Totals | 34 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 8 | | |
| Batting | ||||||||
| 2B: Abreu, B (3, Vazquez, J), Hunter (3, Vazquez, J), Morales, K (2, Vazquez, J). TB: Aybar, E 2; Abreu, B 3; Hunter 3; Morales, K 2; Izturis, M; Mathis, J; Wood, B. RBI: Aybar, E (2), Abreu, B (6), Morales, K (5), Izturis, M (3), Hunter (5). 2-out RBI: Izturis, M; Hunter. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Morales, K; Mathis, J; Rivera, J 2; Aybar, E. Team RISP: 4-for-14. Team LOB: 8. BASERUNNING SB: Izturis, M (1, 2nd base off Aceves, A/Posada), Wood, B (1, 2nd base off Vazquez, J/Posada). CS: Abreu, B (1, 3rd base by Vazquez, J/Posada). | ||||||||
| Fielding | ||||||||
| PB - Jorge Posada (2) | ||||||||
| Pitchers | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA |
| Javier Vazquez (L,0-2) | 5.1 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 9.82 |
| Alfredo Aceves | 1.2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2.45 |
| Joba Chamberlain | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4.50 |
| Damaso Marte | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 |
| HBP - Morales (by Alfredo Aceves) | ||||||||
| WP - Javier Vazquez (1) | ||||||||
| Pitches-Strikes - Javier Vazquez 99-60, Alfredo Aceves 34-19, Joba Chamberlain 9-6, Damaso Marte 11-7 | ||||||||
| Ground Balls-Fly Balls - Javier Vazquez 3-8, Alfredo Aceves 3-2 | ||||||||
| Batters Faced - Javier Vazquez 23, Alfredo Aceves 10, Joba Chamberlain 4, Damaso Marte 3 | ||||||||
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Joel Pineiro 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
HONORABLE MENTION: Torii Hunter (2-for-4, 2B, RBI, BB, R)
GOAT OF THE GAME: Javy Vazquez
HONORABLE MENTION: Torii Hunter (2-for-4, 2B, RBI, BB, R)
GOAT OF THE GAME: Javy Vazquez
