The Magic Wang

Chien-Ming Wang gave the Yankees a bunch needed boost last night as they took the nightcap of the day-night doubleheader with the White Sox. The offense didn't do much off of Sox starter Jose Contreras, but Wang allowed just 1 run over 7 innings. Then the Yankees broke the game open in the 9th against the Sox bullpen.




A rarity of late - Bobby Abreu and Jorge Posada celebrate a run.


This game was all about Wang (2-3) though. After a shaky start by Mike Mussina in the opener, Wang threw 91 pitches in a 7 inning stint in which he scattered 6 hits, walked 1, and struck out 3. With the relatively low pitch count, Wang is still an option to face the Mets on Sunday on 3 days rest. Kyle Farnsworth pitched the 8th, and though they were up 8-1 going to the bottom of the 9th, Mariano Rivera, who had been warming up at 4-1, came in for a non-save situation.

One of the Yankees looking to find a consistent stroke is Hideki Matsui and last night he did just that, driving in 4 runs. Granted the first 2 were courtesy of a gift double when centerfielder Darin Erstad got a bad jump on Matsui's fly ball. Melky Cabrera and Jorge Posada jump started the 9th inning with solo home runs.

Posada, who entered the game as pinch-hitter in the 7th, and Derek Jeter both extended their hitting streaks to 11 games. Jeter has had a hit in 31 of the last 32 games he has played.

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The Yankees may call up a minor leaguer to start Sunday's game against the Mets out at Shea. Tyler Clippard, Chase Wright, and Steve Jackson are all being considered.

Reliever Edwar Ramirez who had an amazing strikeout to innings pitched ratio (2:1) at Trenton was promoted to Scranton before yesterday's game. He got a chance to pitch and struck out 4 in 2 innings. In a Thunder game last, Ramirez recorded 8 of 9 outs by strikeout.