Let's Play Two...Far Apart

I hate day-night doubleheaders. As with most things in baseball they are all about greed. The Yankees actually had a choice when Tuesday's game was called- play a split DH today or play on Thursday's off day. The Yankees wisely opted for the twin-bill.

Freddy Garcia will pitch the opener against Mike Leake with Brian Gordon making his second start against Johnny Cueto and his sub-2.00 ERA tonight. Game 1 is on YES and Game 2 is on my9 (I hate that name). The irony in the night game is of course that Gordon, the one time outfielder, will finally get a chance to hit in a Major League game.

W-I-N in Cincinnati

Among the most fun shows in the late 1970's and early 1980's was WKRP in Cincinnati. Arthur "Big Guy" Carlson the boss, the rock Andy Travis, the wild Dr. Johnny Fever, the cool Venus Flytrap, resident jackass Herb Tarlik, the nutty Les Nessman, sweet Bailey Quarters, and the voluptuous Jennifer Marlowe. A great cast of characters. "As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly".

Getting back to Tuesday night's game, Ivan Nova pitched his best game of the season, with eight innings of work. After being handed a 4-0 lead, Nova gave one back immediately and looked like he might be on his way to another rough outing. But the rookie righted the ship and took an important step towards trying to stay in the rotation once Phil Hughes and Bartolo Colon return. He'll be battling Garcia and Gordon for that final spot.

The Yankees had their hitting shoes on in the first inning with a lineup that had Nick Swisher in the leadoff spot against left-hander Travis Wood and Andruw Jones starting in left over Brett Gardner...which of course is absurd since Gardner has been red hot and Jones has done nothing.

Jones temporarily staved off the nay sayers with an RBI single in the 1st inning, but later did not run out a grounder and then motioned as if he had tweaked something in his leg. His act was not very convincing.

Boone Logan's failures continued as well. With a 5-1 lead in the 9th, Joe Girardi went to Luis Ayala to start the inning. After yielding a single to Brandon Phillips, Ayala was pulled in favor of Logan to face lefty and reigning NL MVP Joey Votto. The at-bat lasted one pitch as Logan hit Votto to put two men aboard. Girardi wasted no time in going to Mariano Rivera, who may or may not have warmed up enough. Scott Rolen singled in a run and another scored on a Chris Heisey ground out before Rivera notched his 18th save.

Notes

Phil Hughes will make his next rehab start for Trenton on Friday in New Britain. The plan is to increase his pitch count to 75 and then he will have one more start for the Thunder.

Bartolo Colon has begun long tossing and Derek Jeter is hoping to return on June 29 as he continues baseball activities.