Bernie's Blasts Salvage Weekend

6 RBI end road trip on a high note

Bernie Williams and Derek Jeter each hit a pair of home runs Sunday and Jeffrey Karstens earned his first major league victory as the Yankees held of the Los Angeles Angels 11-8. Bernie drove in 6 for the day with a solo shot, a 3-run blast, and a 2-run double. He also added a single. Jeter's 2-run shot in the 1st, the first of three hits on the day, jumped the Yankees out to the early lead. After poor performances by veterans Jaret Wright and Corey Lidle in the 1st 2 games of the series, Karstens tossed a quality start to gain the win. His numbers would have been even better if had not been for an errant throw by Alex Rodriguez on a potential inning-ending double play ball.

The Yankees built up an 11-4 lead when Kyle Farnsworth entered the game in the 8th. What looked to be a laugher quickly changed into a near nail biter as Farnsworth couldn't find the plate. All 4 batters he faced reached safely, 3 of them on walks. It caused Joe Torre to bring in Mariano Rivera into a 6 out, non-save situation. The inning could have ended quickly, but Chone Figgins's possible DP grounder went right thru Nick Green for an error and the lead was suddenly 11-7. Mo retired the next 3 hitters without further incident. He did allow 1 run in the 9th before striking out Friday night's hero Mike Napoli to end the game.

Angel's starter Joe Saunders (4-2) dominated the Yankees at the Stadium back on August 11, but the Yankees made quick work of him this time. After building a 3-0 lead on home runs by Jeter and Williams, the Yankees temporarily broke it open in the 3rd on Robinson Cano's 2-run single and a 3-run Bernie blast.

Karstens (1-0) worked an efficient 6 innings, scattering 6 hits while allowing 3 runs. He walked 2 and struck out 1. He threw 83 pitches, 53 of them for strikes. He'll likely get another start with Mike Mussina on the DL.

Notes

- The Yankees finished the road trip 7-4, going just 2-4 after the 5 game sweep in Boston. They still managed to add to their AL East lead, however, with the Mariners sweeping the Red Sox.

- What I wouldn't give for another starting pitcher right now. The bullpen was maxed out on the trip and didn't get any help Friday or Saturday with poor, make that rotten, outings from Jaret Wright and Corey Lidle. The Yankees need to find a way to get Wright out of the rotation. You get 6 innings out of him at best, and it was a shaky 6 at that. To put it bluntly, he's crap..no, he's shit. And don't look for Carl Pavano to be a conquering hero. This guy clearly doesn't want to pitch. After his 89 pitch outing last Friday he complained about some discomfort in his oblique muscle. It's more likely he's got discomfort between the ears. I've always been a big defender of Brian Cashman, but the signings of Pavano and Wright have been disastrous.

- Johnny Damon hit in all 10 games, in which he batted, on the road trip and added a cheesy mustache as is the team trend right now. He's hit in 11 straight overall. He's hit at a .304 clip in August with 11 HR and 23 runs batted in.

- After today's off day, the Yankees take on the Detroit Tigers for 3 at the Stadium.