It Takes Two, Baby

The Yankees got a big boost yesterday with a doubleheader sweep of the, even more, pitching inept Texas Rangers. The bullpen did their best to screw up the work of Andy Pettitte in game 1, but the Yankees still managed to win.

Bolstered by a Jason Giambi home run, the Yanks lead 3-2 in the 7th, when Joe Torre turned the game over to Luiz Vizcaino. It only took two batters for Vizcaino to blow a potential Pettitte victory for the 3rd time this season. Light hitting Jerry Hairston Jr. took him deep and the game was promptly tied 3-3.

But Godzilla is starting to stomp all over Tokyo. Hideki Matsui had 3 doubles in the doubleheader, and used one of them to drive in the go ahead run in the 8th. Giambi was thrown out at the plate on the play and later blamed leg cramps (he would leave the 2nd game due to them) for slowing him down. Somehow he forgot the fat and slow part of the equation.

After Kyle Farnsworth pitched a scoreless 8th, Mariano Rivera had a 1-2-3 9th for his 3rd save of the season.

It's unfortunate that Mike Mussina ran out of gas after the 5th inning of the nightcap, because he was dealing. Moose threw 64 pitches, an incredible 49 for strikes, to pick up his 1st win of the season.

Doug Mientkiewicz gave the offense an early boost with a 2-run HR, his 3rd, in the 2nd inning. Derek Jeter had 3 hits and a couple of RBI, and with hits in both games, extended his hitting streak to 20 games.

After Moose left, the Yankees went to the 5 reliever routine again. Brian Bruney retired 2 hitters before beaning Sammy Sosa. Joe Torre instantly over managed and brought in Sean Henn, who had control trouble, but didn't allow any runs. Scott Proctor, Farnsworth, and Mo then pitched an inning each with Mo giving up 2 hits, but notching the save. And yes, the bullpen wasn't unscathed. Farnsworth gave up a solo bomb to Mark Texeira for the final 5-2 score.