Back on the Wang Track

Chien-Ming Wang pitched his best game in over a month, dominating the Detroit Tigers en route to a 7-2 Yankees win. Wang had lost only 2 of his previous 10 starts, but even in victory, he hadn't been nearly as sharp as we've grown accustomed to seeing him. Tonight's outing was the Wang we know and love. He limited the Tigers to 5 hits over 8 innings, struck out 6, and recorded 12 outs via the ground. He got plenty of run support too as the Yankees knocked around Jeremy Bonderman for the 2nd time in a week.

Bonderman (10-7) retired Johnny Damon and Derek Jeter to start the game, but Bobby Abreu singled and stole 2nd. With an open base, Bonderman unintentionally walked Alex Rodriguez to put 2 men aboard. Hideki Matsui then came up with the big hit, a drive into the gap in left-center that went all the way to the wall. Both runners scored easily and the Yankees had themselves a quick 2-o lead.

Detroit came right back against Wang (15-6) in the bottom half of the 1st as Placido Polanco walked, stole 2nd, and scored on Magglio Ordonez's single. It was Ordonez's 116 RBI, 2nd to A-Rod for the AL lead.

The Yankees got the run back in the 3rd when Johnny Damon lead off the inning with his 8th home run of the season. They also put Bonderman on the ropes as Abreu walked and stole 2nd again and A-Rod moved him to 3rd with a single to right. But this time Matsui popped out to 3rd Baseman Brandon Inge in foul territory, and after A-Rod stole 2nd, Jorge Posada flied out to center.

The Yankees helped the Tigers back into the game in the 6th after Inge singled and stole 2nd. Posada got crossed up on a Wang delivery and the pitched caromed off his glove for a passed ball. With Inge at 3rd and 1 out, Wang bounced a pitch to Curtis Granderson, and Inge scored as the ball went to the backstop. But the offense was quick to make amends for the sloppy inning.

The Bombers loaded the bases with 1 out in the 7th on singles by Matsui and Robinson Cano, and a walk to Wilson Betemit. Melky Cabrera, hitting in the 9 hole, ripped a line drive in the right field corner to clear the bases. The triple broke the game open, giving the Yankees a 6-2 lead. Damon made it back to back triples when his drive to right-center hit off of the glove of a diving Granderson. With the infield in, Jeter lined to Guillen for the 2nd out, but Tigers manager Jim Leyland saw enough of Bonderman, who lost his 6th straight decision.


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Chien-Ming Wang is now 42-17 in his Yankees career. His 15 wins are 2nd in the AL to Josh Beckett and Tim Wakefield's 16.

Bobby Abreu had a huge night with 2 hits, 2 walks, and 3 stolen bases. He now has 20 steals in 26 attempts this season, and has stolen 30 bases in 38 attempts as a Yankee.

Melky Cabrera's triple was his team leading 8th of the year.

With 2 hits in 4 trips against Bonderman, Johnny Damon is now 14-32 in his career against the right-hander, with a pair of home runs. Damon is now hitting .343 for August.