Yankee Pitching Has Wright Stuff

5 Hurlers Combine on 5-0 Shutout

Jaret Wright failed to make it to the sixth inning again last night, but you won't hear Joe Torre complaining. Ron Villone, Scott Proctor, Kyle Farnsworth, and Mariano Rivera tossed an inning each as they combined with Wright on a 3-hit, 11-strikeout 5-0 shutout over the Philadelphia Phillies. It enabled the Yankees to take 2 of 3 from the Phillies, salvage a split of the six game road trip, and remain 2 games behind the first place Red Sox in the AL East.

Wright threw 84 pitches in an admittedly "strenuous" outing and struck out the dangerous Ryan Howard twice. Wright also drove in the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly that reached the warning track in left-center. Wright ran into quick trouble in the 2nd when he walked Chase Utley to put runners on first and second with just one out. But Wright struck out Pat Burrell and then through a 96 mph fastball past Howard for another strike out to end the threat.

The Yankees also benefited from fine defense as Melky Cabrera added to his highlight reel with a sliding grab off of a Howard blooper and Jorge Posada threw out two would-be base stealers.

The Phillies started their top pitching prospect, rookie left-hander Cole Hamels. Hamels had struggled of late, but was on his game last night. He allowed 2 runs on 6 hits in 7 innings, while walking 3 and striking out 6. The Yankees added a tack on run in the 7th off of him when Derek Jeter delivered a 2-out RBI single. Jeter is now hitting .414 (12-29) with two out and runners in scoring position.

The Yankees broke the game open in the 8th off of the Phillies bullpen. Alex Rodriguez walked, stole second, and scored on Melky Cabrera's single off of Aaron Fultz, with Cabrera advancing to second on the throw. Miguel Cairo brought home Cabrera with a single of his own off of Geoff Geary to make it a 4-0 game. Consecutive singles by Bubba Crosby and Johnny Damon brought home Cairo with the final run of the game.

Farnsworth and Rivera then retired the final six batters in order to finish off a much needed win.

Johnny Damon reached base safely all 5 times up, going 3-3 with 2 walks. Damon was 6-13 for the 3 game series to raise his average to .299, the highest it has s been since June 9.

Jaret Wright has managed to throw only 56 2-3 innings in his 11 starts. Last night marked the 3rd straight start that he has not gone more than 5 innings.

Octavio Dotel has flown to Alabama to meet with Dr. James Andrews. Andrews performed Tommy John surgery on Dotel in June, 2005. Dotel has been bothered by triceps tendonitis, but is concerned that something more could be going on.