(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N.Y. Yankees | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 1 |
| Oakland | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | x | 4 | 4 | 0 |
WP: D. Braden (3-0) LP: C. Sabathia (2-1)
SV: A. Bailey (2)
SV: A. Bailey (2)
It was a tough one for the Yanks from the start. CC Sabathia didn't have his best stuff, walked two of the first three men his faced, and then that was followed by a three-run homer by Kurt Suzuki. The three runs would prove to be enough for the A's on this day.
CC eventually settled into the game, and ended up pitching eight pretty good innings, although his command was never quite right. In eight innings he allowed four runs on 4 hits, walked six, struck out five, and of his 97 pitches, just 51 were strikes. Most importantly, he saved the Yankees pen from having to be used, which even in a loss is a good thing.
Dallas Braden was very good for the A's. He allowed two runs on six hits and a walk in six innings pitched. A mix of fastballs and changeups had the Yankees off-balance most of the day. The only two runs came on two solo homers; one by Marcus Thames in the fifth, and another by Mark Teixeira in the sixth.
After Braden was done, Brad Ziegler and Andrew Bailey did the rest and held the Yankees to just one hit over the final three innings.
The Yankees had a few chances throughout the game to tie things up, but were unable to get any hits with men on base. For the game they were o-for-4 with RISP, but as you can see there weren't many chances for the Yankees offense today.
Nick Johnson continues to be an embarrassment with the bat. He had another 0-for day, and is now 0 for his last 18. Maybe it's time Mr. OBP gets a day off, or two.
One positive from today's game was that the Yankees turned their first triple play in almost 42 years. With runners on first and second, Suzuki hit a hard grounder to Alex Rodriguez at third, he stepped on third, fired to second, and then Robinson Cano made the turn and fired to first for a 5-4-3 around the horn triple play. It was the first for the Yankees since June 3, 1968 against the Twins at the old stadium.
A-Rod, who went 1-for-4 on the day, got under Dallas Braden's skin in the sixth when he jogged across the mound while getting back to first. Apparently he broke some unwritten rule. For more on this you can read this post.
Anyway, today's loss is no big deal, they're still 11-4, and I'll take 11 out of 15 every time. The Yankees now head to Anaheim for three against the Angels. A.J. Burnett gets the ball in the opener tomorrow night, with Ervin Santana starting for the Angels. First pitch is set for 10:05 p.m. and the game will be on YES.
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | LOB | AVG |
| Derek Jeter, SS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .323 |
| Nick Johnson, 1B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .125 |
| Mark Teixeira, DH | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .125 |
| Alex Rodriguez, 3B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .315 |
| Robinson Cano, 2B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .333 |
| Nick Swisher, RF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .208 |
| Marcus Thames, LF | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .500 |
| a- Curtis Granderson, PH-CF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .283 |
| Francisco Cervelli, C | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .556 |
| Brett Gardner, CF-LF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .308 |
| Totals | 32 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | | |
| a-flied out for Thames in the 7th | ||||||||
| 2B: Swisher (3, Braden). HR: Thames (1, 5th inning off Braden, 0 on, 0 out), Teixeira (2, 6th inning off Braden, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Teixeira 4; Rodriguez, A; Cano; Swisher 2; Thames 4; Cervelli 2. RBI: Thames (1), Teixeira (7). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Thames; Teixeira; Swisher. GIDP: Gardner; Cano. Team RISP: 0-for-4. Team LOB: 4. | ||||||||
| Fielding | ||||||||
| E: Cano (1, throw). DP: (Cano-Johnson, N). TP: (Rodriguez, A-Cano-Johnson, N). Pickoffs: Cervelli (Kouzmanoff at 2nd base). | ||||||||
| Pitchers | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA |
| CC Sabathia (L,2-1) | 8 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 3.00 |
| WP - CC Sabathia (1) | ||||||||
| Pitches-Strikes - CC Sabathia 97-51 | ||||||||
| Ground Balls-Fly Balls - CC Sabathia 11-4 | ||||||||
| Batters Faced - CC Sabathia 30 | ||||||||
| PLAYER OF THE GAME: Dallas Braden HONORABLE MENTION: Kurt Suzuki GOAT OF THE GAME: Nick Johnson |
