(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N.Y. Yankees « | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| Cleveland | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
Javier Vazquez and the Yankees made quick work of the Indians last night, beating them 3-2 in 2 hours and 43 minutes. Vazquez was very good, holding Cleveland to two runs on five hits, while walking three and striking out five over 7+ innings.Cleveland got on the board first, scoring a run in the 2nd on a Travis Hafner solo homer, his ninth of the year.
The Yankees offense did do too much against Jake Westbrook, but they did enough for the W. Nick Swisher tied the game in the 4th with his 18th long ball of the season, a solo shot of Westbrook.Cleveland would once again regain the lead with a run in the 6th. Shin-Soo Choo drove in the run with an RBI double.
Curtis Granderson didn't let that lead last very long as his power surge continued. He blasted a two-run homer in the top of the 8th off Westbrook to give the Yanks a 3-2 lead. It was his tenth of the season.
After Vazquez walked the leadoff man in the 8th it was decision time for Joe Girardi. Stick with the struggling Joba Chamberlain or go with David Robertson, who has been much better lately. Before the game, he told reporters that he would probably go with Joba in the 8th if it were a close game. Well, he lied, and went with D-Rob.Robertson rewarded Girardi by getting Asdrubal Cabrera to ground into a doubleplay. Then, with a lefty coming up, Girardi went with Boone Logan. He did his job, striking out Shin-Soo Choo to end the inning.
The Yankees almost made it 6-2 in the top of the ninth, but Jorge Posada's bid for a three-run homer came up feet short and Mo had to protect a one-run lead. But this is Mariano Rivera, and not... well... Joba Chamberlain, and after allowing a leadoff bloop single he retired the next three he faced for his 21st save of the season.
It was the Yankees 63rd win of the year, but nothing changes in the standings because both Tampa (Matt Garza no-hitter) and Boston (beat Dan Haren in his Angels debut) both won.
CC Sabathia will face rookie Josh Tomlin, who will be making his MLB debut (OH NO!), in game two tonight. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. and the game will be on MY9.
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | LOB | AVG |
| Derek Jeter, SS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .275 |
| Nick Swisher, RF | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .301 |
| Mark Teixeira, 1B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .262 |
| Alex Rodriguez, 3B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .277 |
| Robinson Cano, 2B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .329 |
| Jorge Posada, DH | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .269 |
| Curtis Granderson, CF | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .249 |
| Francisco Cervelli, C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .265 |
| Brett Gardner, LF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .295 |
| Totals | 29 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 | | |
| Batting | ||||||||
| HR - Nick Swisher (18, Westbrook), Curtis Granderson (10, Westbrook) | ||||||||
| RBI - Nick Swisher (59), Curtis Granderson 2 (28) | ||||||||
| Team LOB - 3 RISP - 0-3 (Francisco Cervelli 0-1, Alex Rodriguez 0-1, Jorge Posada 0-1) | ||||||||
| Fielding | ||||||||
| DP - Teixeira, Jeter-Cano-Teixeira | ||||||||
| Pitchers | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA |
| Javier Vazquez (W,9-7) | 7 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 4.54 |
| David Robertson (H,9) | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.67 |
| Boone Logan (H,7) | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3.57 |
| Mariano Rivera (S,21) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.96 |
| WP - Javier Vazquez (6) | ||||||||
| Pitches-Strikes - Javier Vazquez 102-64, David Robertson 5-4, Boone Logan 6-4, Mariano Rivera 14-8 | ||||||||
| Ground Balls-Fly Balls - Javier Vazquez 5-10, David Robertson 1-0, Mariano Rivera 3-0 | ||||||||
| Batters Faced - Javier Vazquez 28, David Robertson 1, Boone Logan 1, Mariano Rivera 4 | ||||||||
| PLAYER OF THE GAME: Javier Vazquez HONORABLE MENTION: Curtis Granderson |
