Johnson Comes Up Big to Earn Split

Pitches Solid 7 in 7-2 Win

On paper at least Randy Johnson is the ace of the New York Yankees pitching staff. In his first season and 3/4 he has usually been far from it. Last night was a definite exception. Having lost 4 of 6 to the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Angels, the Yankees needed their starting pitcher to stop the bleeding. Johnson (13-9) did just that. The Big Unit was sharp for 7 innings, running into a bit of a wall in that final inning when his arm dropped down, causing him not to get on top of his slider and fastball. But he scattered 8 hits, walked just 1, and struck out to earn the victory. When he struck out Tim Salmon in the 4th inning he became only the 3rd player, joining Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, in baseball history to record 4,500 career strikeouts.

The Yankees bats broke it open late after the Angels had tied the score at 2-2 in the 7th. Johnny Damon led off with a single off of Angels starter John Lackey (10-9) and Derek Jeter beat out a bunt for an infield single. Bobby Abreu then did something he hadn't done successfully in 9 years. As a matter of fact he had to look at 3rd base coach Larry Bowa more than once to be sure he was really seeing the correct sign. Abreu laid down a beautiful sacrifice bunt to move the runners into scoring position for Jason Giambi and Alex Rodriguez. Angels manager Mike Scioscia elected to walk Giambi to set up the force at any base. With the crowd ready to do their usual obnoxious booing, A-Rod delivered with a sacrifice fly to the wall in right, giving the Yankees a 3-2 lead.

After Kyle Farnsworth tossed a 1-2-3 eighth, topping 100 mph on the radar gun several times, the Yankees padded their lead. Brendan Donnelley relieved Lackey and Jorge Posada, who earlier snapped out of an 0-25 skid with 2 hits, lined his 15th home run into the lower deck in right for a 4-2 lead. Craig Wilson followed with his 2nd hit of the night and Melky Cabrera laid down a sac bunt that turned into an infield single when Chone Figgins throw was not in time. Figgins looked to get the force at 2nd, but no one was covering allowing Cabrera to reach safely. Damon fouled off a bunt attempt before working a walk to load the bases. With the infield in Jeter bounced a grounder to shortstop Orlando Cabrera for an easy force at home. But reliever J.C. Romero was tagged by Bobby Abreu (RBI single), Jason Giambi (sac fly) and Alex Rodriguez (RBI infield single) as the Yankees opened up the lead to 7-2. Mariano Rivera was already warming in anticipation of a save situation so Joe Torre brought him in anyway to close it out in the 9th.


Notes

Derek Jeter's 2-run HR in the 3rd inning was his 10th of the season. He's now reached double figure in home runs in all 11 seasons he's played. Jeter also added a single and double on the night.

Alex Rodriguez got a gift RBI single in the 8th. Even he was amazed at the official scoring. His grounder to Orlando Cabrera took a bad hop, but Cabrera also let the ball play him. What's more amazing is that it was revealed that in Sunday's post game, A-Rod mentioned that he had not been 100% healthy until recently. However, he would not explain what had been bothering him. He just keeps digging the hole deeper and deeper.

Octavio Dotel pitched a 1-2-3 inning for Triple-A Columbus last night as he continues his rehab from Tommy John surgery. The Yankees hope to recall him prior to September 1st.

Sidney Ponson has been announced as one of the starters of a day-night doubleheader this weekend when the Yankees and Red Sox play a 5 game series in 4 days. Ponson really should have been held out until Monday when he would have faced off against fellow weight challenged hurler David Wells. It could have been touted as the heavyweight title bout with Don King as home plate umpire.