Washington Quits Rangers

In a surprising move Friday, Texas Rangers' manager Ron Washington stepped down as skipper of the ball club. Washington cited a "personal matter" for his departure after 140 games had been played this season. Texas has had an awful year, posting just 53 wins after five straight 90-win seasons. The team missed much of its manpower this season, including three starting pitchers (Derek Holland, Martin Perez, Matt Harrison) due to injuries.

The first thing that came to mind when I heard the news was that Washington might be having a drug related issue - he admitted to cocaine use in 2009 - but club GM Jon Daniels vehemently denied that was the case.

Washington was hired as Rangers manager prior to the 2007 season after a successful run as an Oakland A's coach. The team finished 75-87, but two years later was 87-75. They won the American League pennant in 2010 and 2011, losing in the World Series to San Francisco and St. Louis. The Rangers were eliminated by Baltimore in the one game wild card playoff in 2012, and failed to make the post-season last year despite a 91-win campaign.

Washington's in-game strategy has always been a curious one, but he was popular with his players and leaves with a 664-611 (.521) lifetime record at the helm. Bench coach Tim Bogar will take over as interim manager for the remainder of the season.

2 Bad Pitches Don't Spoil The Whole Game Girl

Russell Martin strokes game winner - courtesy of Buffalo News

If you hadn't known better you would have sworn tonight's game between the LA Angels and Yankees was being played on the left coast.

It was one of those typical games where the Yankees had a lead for most of the game, but then everything went to hell in the last few innings. This time around it was Hiroki Kuroda holding a 2-1 lead on his home mound in the 7th.

Had there been a full moon Friday night, you clearly would have seen a baseball pass by it, much like ET and his bicycle did many moons ago (no pun intended). The ball had launched off the bat of Angels' left fielder Mark Trumbo with two aboard and came back to Earth in the seats behind the Yankees bullpen. The Yankees suddenly were in a 4-2 hole and the once smooth sailing Kuroda had encountered choppy water. (The Trumbo home rnu was bad pitch #2 after hitting Kendrys Morales with a 1-2 pitch.)

It didn't get any better in the 8th when for some reason, Joe Girardi left Kuroda in the game and the Angels tacked on an insurance run on Albert Pujols' bloop double to right. But the Yankees had some magic of their own in the bottom of the 8th inning.

Derek Jeter started things off against lefty Scott Downs by lacing a double up the alley in right-center. Curtis Granderson, hitless against Downs in 12 career at-bats, worked a tough walk to bring Mark Teixeira to the plate as the tying run.

Teixeira had provided the first two Yankees runs with a bullet home run to left off Angels' starter C.J. Wilson in the 3rd inning. While that Teixeira home run got out in a hurry, his home run off Downs to tie the game was a high majestic shot to left field.

Downs finally retired Alex Rodriguez (who heard many boos on the night) and Robbie Cano, before he walked Nick Swisher to end his night on the mound. With right-hander Kevin Jepsen on the hill, pinch-runner Dewayne Wise swiped second base to put the go ahead run in scoring position. Angels' skipper Mike Scioscia decided to intentionally walk pinch-hitter Raul Ibanez to force Russell Martin and his sub-.180 batting everage into a clutch situation.

I'm sure I wasn't the only one wondering why Girardi didn't send Eric Chavez up to pinch-hit, but Girardi stuck with his catcher and his confidence was rewarded when Martin lashed a go ahead single to right. Martin wasn't done coming up big in the game though.

Rafael Soriano came on in the 9th to close things out, but Yankees killer Howie Kendrick reached on a one out single. Soriano retired Erick Aybar on a foul pop, but then uncorked a pitch in the dirt. Though pinch-hitter Maicer Izturis put up the hold sign, Kendrick took off for second base. Martin quickly got to the baseball and fired a strike to an awaiting Derek Jeter to end the ball game. A fired up Martin pumped his fist and celebrated a night in which he threw out three of four would-be base stealers in addition to his game winning hit.


Notes

The comeback would not have been possible had Swisher not robbed Trumbo of another home run in the 8th inning.

The Yankees signed Kosuke Fukudome to a minor league deal. The Japanse born veteran had been recently released by the Chicago White Sox after hitting just .171 in 24 games. The 35-yr old is in his 5th Major League season and has been on the decline since breaking in with the Cubs in 2008.

Austin Romine was expected to compete for a back up catching job on the Yankees at some point this season, but the 23-year old went down with a bad back in Spring Training. Romine returned to action Friday night with the GCL Yankees. He was 0-2 with an RBI and split the team's catching duties with Eduardo de Oleo.

Joba Chamberlain began his road back from a busted ankle and continued his recuperation from Tommy John surgery with a scoreless inning in Tuesday's GCL game. He's expected to pitch again this weekend.

Andy Pettitte will be getting his broken ankle x-rayed to see what progress has been made.

Mike Trout, with his family in Derek Jeter's private box, had another ho-hum night. Two hits, two steals, and a run scored. He's an incredibly dynamic player to watch.

Baseball Digest | Mike Napoli, That's Amore

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have had trouble scoring runs the past two seasons, after finishing second to the New York Yankees in 2009. So prior to the 2011 season, GM Tony Reagins shipped catcher Mike Napoli and outfielder Juan Rivera to the Toronto Blue Jays for outfielder Vernon Wells. The Halos were counting on Wells’ 2010 resurrection (31 HR, 88 RBI, .847 OPS) to continue on the west coast, as well as provide them with more versatility. The Blue Jays, meanwhile, had no interest in keeping the arbitration eligible Napoli and sent him to Texas for reliever Frank Francisco and cash. Texas is thankful they did.


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Baseball Digest | Tigers Need Max Effort From Scherzer In Game 2

Max Scherzer has been here before, in fact less than a week ago. Detroit Tigers’ ace Justin Verlander pitched one inning in Game 1 of the ALDS before rain suspended play and the Tigers lost to the New York Yankees when play resumed the following day. Down 1-0 in games, the Tigers turned the ball over to Scherzer, the “other” hard throwing right-hander in their rotation, for Game 2. The 27-yr old responded with 5.1 innings of no-hit ball as the Tigers evened the series at a game apiece.

Scherzer will take the hill in Game 2 with his team again down a game after rains affected the opener of the American League Championship Series on Saturday. The Texas Rangers edged Detroit 3-2 after a pair of rain delays limited the game’s starters, Verlander (4) and C.J. Wilson (4.2), to less than five innings.

Read the remainder of this free article, including updates on Delmon Young and Magglio Ordonez, at BaseballDigest.com.

Baseball Digest | Texas Will Go As Far As Their Arms Will Take Them

When the media and baseball experts talk about the Texas Rangers, they tend to focus on the Rangers’ deep lineup. And who can blame them? With Josh Hamilton, Adrian Beltre, Ian Kinsler, Nelson Cruz, Michael Young, Mike Napoli, and Elvis Andrus, the Rangers can put a big number up on the scoreboard. But if the Rangers are to win their first World Series it will because of their starting pitching and bullpen.

There were a lot of people who didn’t think Texas would get back to the championship after losing Cliff Lee to free agency. But C.J. Wilson, Colby Lewis, Matt Harrison, and Derek Holland all remained steady, and Alexi Ogando gave the team a big boost in the first half with his promotion to the starting rotation. Texas is now just four victories away from returning to the World Series, which they lost in five games to the San Francisco Giants last season.

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AL Playoff Rotations Forming

The Yankees' Joe Girardi knows he has CC Sabathia to start Game 1 of the ALDS against either the Detroit Tigers or Texas Rangers (or by some miracle the Los Angeles Angels) and Ivan Nova to go in either Game 2 or 3. But the rest is up in the air.

Perhaps Freddy Garcia solidified a spot on Saturday afternoon with six shutout innings in a win against the struggling Boston Red Sox. So who starts Game 4? Bartolo Colon? A.J. Burnett? CC Sabathia on 3 days rest?

Colon has allowed five or more earned runs in four of his last seven starts. He's been particularly bad in his last two starts; he allowed six earned runs in four innings against Tampa Bay (after eight days off) and followed that up with a seven run (five earned) outburst in three innings against Toronto.

Burnett's been miserable the entire second half with a couple of sprinkles of decent thrown in. In a word: non-trustworthy.

So that means CC Sabathia on three days rest for Game 4; something the big guy hasn't had a problem with in the past. There's no question that Sabathia hasn't been as sharp in the second half as was in the first. Some blame coming back from not one, but two rain delays in the same game, while others point to the use of a six man rotation. Whatever the reason, the Yankees will need Sabathia to be on top of his game if they are to make any kind of a run this post-season. Which means he'll likely be the Game 4 starter with Nova, on regular rest, starting the "if necessary" Game 5.


Detroit's Jim Leyland has made it easy. He has steadfastly said that his ace and the sure winner of the AL Cy Young, Justin Verlander, will not be brought back on three days rest. That means Verlander in Games 1 and 5, Doug Fister in Game 2, Max Scherzer in Game 3, and Rick Porcello in Game 4.


The Texas Rangers will use C.J. Wilson to start things off, but then Ron Washington has some decisions to make. It's likely he'll call on left-handers in the first three games with Derek Holland and Matt Harrison pitching Games 2 and 3 (possibly in the reverse order). If Washington doesn't want to go with Wilson on three day's rest, he'll choose from right-handers Colby Lewis and Alexi Ogando. Lewis is the likely choice with the way Ogando has struggled in the second half. Washington could also mix things up by starting Lewis in Game 2 since his numbers are much better on the road than at home. Ogando, meanwhile, will move to the pen where he was outstanding in 2010.


If Boston holds on to the wild card, they are two games ahead of Tampa Bay after Saturday's play, Josh Beckett goes in Games 1 and 5, followed by Jon Lester. John Lackey is likely to be the number three starter with Erik Bedard in Game 4. Tim Wakefield will step in if any of the starters have a physical issue.

Terry Francona has to be worried about the normally reliable Lester, who is 0-3 in his last three starts with 18 earned runs allowed in just 13.2 innings pitched. In years past Beckett would have gone on three days rest in Game 4, but with his back issues that is not a scenario Boston can/should use.

The Outsiders

If Tampa Bay does ease Boston out of the final spot, David Price, James Shields, and Jeremy Hellickson are likely to get the five starts. It all depends, of course, on if the final playoff spot comes down to the final day. If Tampa Bay needs a fourth starter, they'll go to Jeff Niemann. If Niemann's back isn't healthy, than Wade Davis will get the nod.

The easiest thing for any team do is just go out and win three straight and then we don't have to all worry about who is pitching when.

Gardners Bake Pies Too

Brett Gardner started the day as he did yesterday, sitting on the bench watching Andruw Jones play in left field against a left-handed pitcher. But in a case of "it's not who starts, but who finishes", Gardner got the last swing. His one out RBI in the 12th brought home Curtis Granderson for a 3-2 win over the Texas Rangers.

After the Boston Red Sox swept the Yankees in three games to start the homestand, the Bombers won six of the final seven games (the one loss was 1-0 to Cleveland). The Yankees also continued their solid play against the Rangers this season with their third series win and are 7-2 against the team that beat them in last year's ALCS.

The game started out with the unknown Brian Gordon making his first Major League start. The 32-yr old veteran of 15 minor league seasons was outstanding. He allowed two runs in 5.1 innings (7 H 3 BB 3 K) and threw 55 of 84 pitches for strikes. He managed the major jam he got into in the 5th inning and limited the Rangers to a pair of runs (on an Ian Kinsler double) despite having the bases loaded with one out.

Russell Martin had provided an RBI single in the 2nd inning (and threw out two would be base stealers) and Jorge Posada tied the game up in the 6th with an RBI double against starter C.J. Wilson. The Yankees bullpen provided 6.2 of scoreless relief with Corey Wade throwing the final two for first his win as a Yankee and his first victory in the majors since June 13, 2009. (The Yankees are now 18-3 (.857) in day games.)

The Yankees wasted a golden opportunity when they loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the 9th against Darren Oliver. After getting ahead in the count, 3-1, Granderson struck out for the second out of the inning and Mark Teixeira grounded out to end the inning. But Granderson started things in the 12th with his third hit of the day. Teixeira flew out, but lefty Michael Kirkman hit Robinson Cano with a controversial pitch. Texas manager Ron Washington came out to argue with home plate umpire Mike Everitt, feeling the ball hit the knob of the bat rather than Cano. (Replays were inconclusive, though Cano didn't show much reaction)

Gardner, who should be starting against left-handers rather than Jones, then singled through the right side to plate Granderson and sent the Yankees off to Wrigley Field with a victory.

It's Throw It At The Wall...

...And See If It Sticks Day in the Bronx. The Yankees had "Deja vu all over again" last night, pounding Texas for the second straight night, 12-4, but today should be "interesting". Getting the start is career minor leaguer Brian Gordon.

Gordon is a converted outfielder that has spent 15 seasons in the minor leagues. He has three games of big league experience, ironically, as a member of the Texas Rangers in 2008 (4 IP 0-0, 2.25). Gordon was originally drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the seventh round of the 1997 draft, or one year before Arizona actually started playing as a Major League franchise. He showed promise when he drove in 46 years in 54 rookie league games after finishing up at Round Rock High School in Texas, but moved slowly up the Arizona chain, spending two years each in 'A' and advanced 'A' ball.

After his first season at Triple-A Tucson, Gordon opted for minor league free agency and signed with the then Anaheim Angels. After two years at Triple-A Salt Lake, the 26-yr old Gordon left via free agency again, and signed with the Houston Astros. After another season at the top minor league level, Gordon decided it was time to give pitching a go, something he hadn't done since high school.

Gordon was most recently pitching for the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs of the International League when he used his opt out clause for a chance to pitch in the Bronx. As in the big leagues. As in starting a Major League game against Texas' C.J. Wilson. No one knows how he'll fare, but GM Brian Cashman figures he has nothing to lose and hopes the low risk gamble works out as well as Aaron Small and Shawn Chacon did for a time.

Hector Noesi will be ready to go whenever Gordon is done.

Back to last night, the Yankees infield went homertastic, with each starter hitting one out of the ball park. Mark Teixeira led the parade with a pair of blasts, Robinson Cano smashed a deep three-run shot, Eduard Nunez celebrated this 24th birthday with a home run, and the third baseman? No it wasn't Alex Rodriguez, who DH'ed. Light hitting Ramiro Pena even got into the act with a home run. August 22, 1939 was the last time the Yankees pulled off the trick - Babe Dahlgren, Joe Gordon, Frankie Crosetti and Red Rolfe hit the home runs.

Teixeira's home runs came from each side of the plate, the 11th such time he had accomplished the feat. In doing so, Teixeira tied the Major League record jointly held by Eddie Murray and Chili Davis.

With left-hander Derek Holland getting the start for Texas Wednesday night, Joe Girardi moved Nick Swisher into the lead off spot. It was the first time Swisher batted in the top spot since he was a member of the White Sox in 2008. Swisher responded with a 1-3 night with two walks and a run scored. He'll be in the top spot again today with Wilson going for Texas.

Per Newsday's Ken Davidoff, to make room for Gordon on the 25-man, Lance Pendleton was optioned to the minors and Amauri Sanit was released to free up a spot on the 40-man roster.

Gordon isn't the first Yankee this season to opt out of a minor league deal to sign with the Yankees. Reliever Cory Wade excelled for the Dodgers in 2008, but after a shaky 2009 season had not been back in the Major Leagues until last night. After pitching well in the Tampa Bay Rays organization (Triple-A Durham), Wade opted out and signed with the Yankees. He appeared in one game for Scranton before being recalled prior to last night's game. Kevin Whelan was sent down to Scranton to make room on the 25-man roster. Wade pitched a 1-2-3 7th inning and picked up his first Major League strikeout in two years.

Ivan Nova won his sixth game last night, but it was mostly due to run support. The rookie usually pitches well in the early innings, but struggled from the get-go and allowed four runs in 5.2 innings.

Yankees Live to Fight Another Day

CC Sabathia wasn't as sharp as he is capable of being, but he was a lot sharper than he was in game 1 of the ALCS. The Yankees gave him run support just as they did in the series opener and forced a game 6 with a 7-2 win over the Texas Rangers this afternoon.

Unlike the earlier games in the series the Yankees came up with some big hits when they needed them. They also got some help from some sloppy Texas play and C.J. Wilson who wasn't nearly as good as he was in game 1.

Sabathia gave up three hits in the first two innings, but with the help of a double play, the game was scoreless in the bottom of the 2nd inning. That's when Wilson's troubles began. He walked the lead off man Alex Rodriguez and one batter later issued a free pass to Lance Berkman. Jorge Posada singled through the right side to plate Rodriguez, who went in standing just ahead of catcher Matt Treanor's tag.

Curtis Granderson then dropped one in front of Jeff Francoeur in right to score Berkman and Posada followed when Francoeur's throw ricocheted off the outstretched glove of third baseman Michael Young. Wilson backed up the play and had a shot at Posada at the plate, but threw over the head of Treanor for a 3-0 Yankees lead.

The Yankees brought out the big guns an inning later; Nick Swisher and Robinson Cano hit back to back home runs for a comfortable 5-0 lead. It was Cano's fourth home run of the series, tying him with Hamilton for the LCS high.

Sabathia bent, but never broke. He gave up a solo home run to Treanor in the 5th and ran into trouble in the 6th when he gave up three straight singles. But after Treanor's ground out produced a second run, Sabathia froze Mitch Moreland with a strike three breaking pitch to end the inning.

The Yankees got one of the runs back on a sac fly by Berkman in the 5th and added another in the 8th on a Granderson solo home run.

Joe Girardi, highly criticized here earlier today, didn't have to make too many decisions in this one. The lineup worked out for the most part, he had his ace on the mound and then he went to a Kerry Wood-Mariano Rivera duo for the 7th through 9th innings. It was just a matter of determining who would get how many outs.

As it turned out Woods was the two inning man, pitching a very effective 7th and 8th innings. His work included picking Elvis Andrus off of second base to quash any possible rally in the 7th inning. Rivera, working for the first time since game 1, allowed a two out single to Moreland, but retired Andrus on a foul out to earn his second save of the series.

On to Texas for a Phil Hughes-Colby Lewis rematch on Friday night.

Notes

As expected, Mark Teixeira was removed from the roster with a badly strained hamstring. Infielder Eduardo Nunez took his place. Should the Yankees advance to the World Series, Teixeira would not be eligible to play even if he miraculously recovered.

The Yankees nearly lost another first baseman when Berkman slipped on the warning track chasing a foul ball. His feet went out from under and he slammed down hard on the firm surface. He got the wind knocked out of him and stayed down for several minutes. Though he's sure to be sore on Thursday he was able to continue for the rest of the game...with a better pair of shoes.

A Start 23 Years in the Making

Phil Hughes will take the ball this afternoon for the New York Yankees in the second game of the ALCS. Two years ago there were many who could not have envisioned that scenario. Luckily for Hughes, none of those people mattered to his future.

It’s fortunate that athletes don’t generally read fan message boards or Twitter or blogs. Some of what they read in the mainstream media maybe damaging enough to their egos and confidence. They don’t need to be exposed to the rantings and ravings of the average fan. Phil Hughes is one of those athletes who has hopefully never googled himself on the web. Had he done so, he would have seen “thoughts” back in 2008 ranging from “This kid will never amount to anything” to “He’s another Carl Pavano in the making.” (Yes, I really did see someone state that back then.)

Read the rest of my story for free at BaseballDigest.com.

Yankees Win Bigger Than Texas

CC Sabathia has picked up his teammates up many times with outstanding starts. Friday night it was his teammates turn to pick up the top Cy Young contender with a come from behind, 6-5 victory in game 1 of the ALCS.

Bolstered by a 5-0 lead, C.J. Wilson dominated the Yankees through six innings before Robinson Cano finally put the Yankees on the board with a solo home run. An inning later the Yankees took advantage of a shaky Rangers bullpen.

Brett Gardner started things off with pure hustle on a tapper to first baseman Jorge Cantu. Gardner flew down the line and slid head first to beat Wilson to the first base bag. Derek Jeter followed with a double into the left field corner and Gardner scored as the ball kicked around in the corner. Ron Washington pulled Wilson and opted for left-hander Darren Wilson to keep Nick Swisher and Mark Teixeira batting from the right side.

The move didn't matter though when Oliver, who faced the Yankees in the post-season as a member of the Rangers in 1996, walked both hitters to load the bases. Washington went to right-hander Darren O'Day to face Alex Rodriguez, but the Yankees third baseman ripped a 2-run single through his counterpart Michael Young to cut the lead to 5-4.

Washington's moves continued to backfire when he brought in lefty Clay Rapada to face Cano. The Yankees MVP candidate lined a single to center field that Josh Hamilton mishandled to allow Teixeira to score the tying run. Cue another pitching change.

This time Washington went with another left-hander, Derek Holland, but Marcus Thames singled home A-Rod to put the Yankees on top for the first time, 6-5.

Sabathia appeared to be rusty after not having pitched since October 6. His lack of command affected him immediately as he walked lead off man Elvis Andrus in the 1st inning. Young followed with a single and Josh Hamilton hit a 2-strike frozen rope into the right field seats for a 3-0 lead.

The Rangers would eventually load the bases and could have broken the game open early, but Posada fielded Sabathia's wild pitch and threw out Nelson Cruz racing home from third. Replays showed that Sabathia got the tag on Cruz's shoulder just before the Rangers outfielder crossed home plate. Sabathia appeared to settle down somewhat, but the Rangers staged a two out rally in the 4th inning that culminated with a Young 2-run double for the 5-0 advantage.

The Yankees bullpen combo of Joba Chamberlain and Dustin Moseley plugged up the leak and enabled the comeback. Moseley picked up the first post-season win of his career after Mariano Rivera escaped a jam in the 9th. Pinch-hitter Mitch Moreland led off the inning with a single and was sacrificed to second by Andrus. But Rivera won a long duel with Young with a strikeout and got Hamilton to ground out to end the game.

Notes

The Rangers relievers were most responsible for the loss, but Ian Kinsler has some goat horns as well. After drawing a lead off walk against Kerry Wood in the 8th, Kinsler was picked off for a huge out.

Cano's home run was the first by a left-hander off of Wilson since June, '08.

And Then C.J. Wilson Said....

Every major league team has a player or two to break up the monotony that builds up over a 162 game season. There’s the guy (Kenny Rogers) who gives the hot foot in the dugout. The quirky left-hander (Sparky Lyle) who ceremoniously sits naked in the birthday cakes. The player (Roger McDowell) who puts on a wig and dresses in disguises. And then there’s the Texas Rangers starter who lets his mouth and fingers do the talking. Sometimes entertaining, sometimes controversial, but never boring- that’s C.J. Wilson.

Read the rest of my story for free on BaseballDigest.com.

Rangers Walkoff Cuts Bombers Lead To 1/2 Game

These nights are going to happen; when Mariano Rivera will be human. You just wish they wouldn't happen on nights when the Yankees offense was short handed and short on big hits. On nights when the Yankees have won only 3 of 7 coming in. But they do and tonight was one of them. Texas used three singles, none of them hit hard, and an intentional walk to beat the Yankees 4-3 in 10 innings.

Alex Rodriguez had forced the extra frame with his 601st career home run in the 8th, but the Yankees failed to take the lead despite opportunities in two of the final three innings.

Michael Young beat Derek Jeter's throw to first for an infield single to start the 10th and Josh Hamilton followed with a bouncer through the right side to put two men aboard.

A-Rod temporarily saved the day when he made a diving stop of a Vlad Guerrero ground out and threw out the big DH at 1st base. Rivera intentionally walked Nelson Cruz to load the bases and quickly fell behind David Murphy 3-0. The Yankees closer came back to get the count full, but then left a cutter up in the zone that Murphy laced to right for the game winning RBI.

A.J. Burnett bounced back from his rough outing against Toronto last week and back spams that pushed his start back three days, but gave up a go ahead 2-run blast to Murphy in the 6th.

The Yankees had pushed two runs across the board in 5.1 innings against Rangers starter C.J. Wilson, but it took Rodriguez's 18th home run of the year off of Frank Francisco to even things up. The Yankees, with a starting lineup missing Mark Teixeira and Robinson Cano, had a chance to do further damage in the inning when Austin Kearns drew a walk and pinch-runner Curtis Granderson advanced to 2nd base on a wild pitch.

Granderson moved to 3rd on Lance Berkman's fly out, but Francisco Cervelli lined out softly to 1st and Brett Gardner grounded out to short.

The Yankees also had a chance in the 9th against Rangers closer Neftali Feliz. Robinson Cano, who entered the game in the 6th as a pinch-hitter, led off the inning with a single. That's when the Yankees luck ran out. With the hit and run on, Derek Jeter bounced a ball to the right side that Cano had to hold up on to avoid being out for interference. He might as well have been as the bouncer turned into a back breaking 4-6-3 double play.

Notes

Mark Teixeira will miss the conclusion of the series on Wednesday as well. He was with his wife Leigh for the birth of their third child, William Charles.

Robinson Cano sat out the start of the game with a bad cold.

Home plate ump Mike Estabrook was a thorn in the Yankees side all night. He reversed a safe call on Lance Berkman in the early going and had a moving strike zone, especially when Brett Gardner was up. Joe Girardi was so incensed after the call reversal (even though it was the right call), that bench coach Tony Pena came out to usher him off the field.

Melky's Afternoon Delight

Melky Gives Yankees Afternoon Delight

Filed Under: Yankees

Tags: Brandon McCarthy • C.J. Wilson • chien-ming wang • Ian Kinsler • Johnny Damon • mariano rivera • Mark Teixeira • melky cabrera • Nelson Cruz • Yankees 6/5 recap • Yankees vs. Rangers

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Texas	0	0	2	2	1	1	0	0	0		6	11	1
NY Yankees	1	0	0	0	5	0	0	2	X		8	10	1

WP - Robertson (1-0) SV - Rivera (12) LP - Wilson (3-3)

Melky Cabrera had a miserable 2008 season. He barely hit his weight, had no power, was out of shape, and arguably, didn’t have the best attitude. He hit rock bottom when he was sent to the minors in August. He heard his name mentioned in various off-season trade rumors and came to spring training this year knowing he would have to compete for a job with rookie Brett Gardner. Despite hitting over .300 in the exhibition season, Cabrera lost out to Gardner and was relegated to the bench. But the stars aligned for Cabrera; the youngster struggled and the veterans started getting hurt. The Melkman jumped at his chance and took full advantage of it. Yesterday was another day for Cabrera to play hero, this time providing a game winning 2-run home run in the bottom of the 8th inning.

The Yankees beat the Texas Rangers 8-6 after being down 5-1 and blowing a 6-5 lead of their own. Chien-Ming Wang pitched a seamless two innings, racking up three strikeouts, but then the Rangers jumped all over him the second time around the lineup. The Yankees bullpen held Rangers to one run the rest of the way though to enable the Yankees to enjoy another come from behind victory.

Except for a Johnny Damon solo home run to start the home team’s first at-bat, the Yankees couldn’t muster anything against Rangers starter Brandon McCarthy until the 5th inning. The youngsters started it off, Jorge Posada and Derek Jeter had the day off, with Francisco Cervelli and Ramiro Pena stroking back to back singles. Damon walked to loaded the bases and Nick Swisher drew a free pass on a 3-2 pitch to force in the Yankees second run. Mark Teixeira, back in the lineup after sitting out Wednesday with a bruised ankle, hit what seemed like a harmless squibber down the third baseline.

But the ball eluded the glove of Michael Young and trickled towards the left field corner. It allowed all three base runners to score to tie the game at 5-5 and Teixeira cruised into second with a gift double. Alex Rodriguez put the Yankees back on top with a long single off reliever Jason Jennings and Robinson Cano followed with a single of his own. But Jennings got out of the no-out jam when A-Rod was doubled off of second base on Hideki Matsui’s line out and Cabrera grounded out.

Ian Kinsler quickly tied the game back up in the 6th, with a solo home run off of Al Aceves, to set up Melky’s heroics. C.J. Wilson walked Cano to start the 8th and one batter later, Cabrera lofted a fly ball that barely cleared the wall in left field.

Mariano Rivera got into his own trouble as he tried to lock down the game in the 9th, putting runners on the corners with just one out. But Rivera struck out slugger Nelson Cruz and retired David Murphy on pop up to A-Rod to end the game.

Game Notes

Chien-Ming Wang was charged with 5 runs in 4.2 innings pitched, but still lowered his ERA to 14.46. You have to question the wisdom of throwing Wang after he pitched 3 innings on Sunday in Cleveland. Joe Girardi could have stuck with today’s scheduled starter, CC Sabathia, yesterday and thrown Wang today. It’s possible Girardi went with the philosophy that a sinkerballer is more effective when he’s a little tired.

Nelson Cruz’s home run ended Wang’s streak of 267 right-handed batters faced without allowing a home run.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, David Robertson became the first pitcher in three years to win a ball game after throwing just one pitch.

The Yankees open a 3-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays tonight at the Stadium. CC Sabathia (5-3, 3.46) faces hard throwing phenom David Price (1-0, 3.00).

And because I couldn't resist:

Yankees Fall Flat to Rangers

It's one thing when you get beaten by Oliver Perez. It's another when the Scott Feldman and the Texas Rangers hold you to one run. That's exactly what happened last night when the Yankees wasted another good start from Mike Mussina and lost to the Rangers 2-1.

Mussina was excellent again, pitching on short rest after his start against the Pittsburgh Pirates last Thursday was called after 2 innings. He limited the Rangers to 5 hits in 6 innings of work and struck out 8, including Milton Bradley three times (Bradley would later get the Golden Sombrero).

But the Yankees couldn't must anything against Feldman save for a solo home run by Alex Rodriguez that rocketed in the Monuments area in left-center field. The Yankees only had 3 more hits off of Feldman in 3.2 innings and none the remainder of the game against the Rangers pen.

The Yankees had the first chance to score when Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi drew back to back walks to start the 2nd inning. But Jorge Posada flied out and Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera both grounded out. The Rangers took advantage of the good fortune and broke the scoreless tie in the 3rd.

Ian Kinsler, who leads the American League in extra base hits, stroked a 1-out double, and two baters later, came home on Josh Hamilton's RBI single. It was Hamilton's major league leading 80th ribbie.

The Rangers scored what proved to be the game winner in the 4th, when rookie David Murphy walked, moved to 2nd base on Marlon Byrd's slow grounder, and came home on rookie Chris Davis' double to the gap in right-center.

A-Rod's 534th career home run came with one out in the 4th and the Yankees later put the tying run on 2nd base when Posada doubled with two outs. But Cano grounded out to Michael Young at shortstop to preserve the lead.

The Yankees also stranded the tying run at 2nd in the 6th, after Brett Gardner picked up his first career stolen base, and at 3rd base in the 7th when Jason Giambi tripled with two outs. But Derek Jeter and Posada both failed in those clutch situations.

C.J. Wilson retired the Yankees without incident in the 9th to extend the Bomberless Bombers losing streak to two games. They've also lost 5 out of their last 7 games.


News and Notes

Derek Jeter's streak of 29 straight games of reaching safely ended with an 0-4 night.

Josh Hamilton's 80 RBI are the most at the end of June since Carlos Delgado, then of the Blue Jays, had 89 in 2003.

Brett Gardner was 0-3 with a stolen base in his MLB debut and showed off his blazing speed. He was removed for pinch-hitter Johnny Damon in the 8th inning.

Jason Giambi's triple was the 9th of his career.

Mike Mussina is 0-2 in his last 2 starts, despite allowing just 6 earned runs in 14 innings pitched. He's struck out 12 in the two games combined. Last night's start was the 519th of his career.

June 30, 2008

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Texas	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0		2	7	0
NY Yankees	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0		1	4	0

Texas	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Kinsler, 2B	5	1	1	0	0	1	1	.321
Young, SS	4	0	3	0	0	0	1	.285
Hamilton, RF	3	0	1	1	1	0	2	.312
Bradley, DH	4	0	0	0	0	4	5	.318
Murphy, LF	2	1	0	0	2	0	2	.270
Byrd, CF	4	0	0	0	0	1	3	.245
Davis, C, 1B	4	0	1	1	0	1	0	.333
Saltalamacchia, C	4	0	1	0	0	2	1	.215
Vazquez, 3B	3	0	0	0	1	1	1	.320
Totals	33	2	7	2	4	10	16
BATTING 2B: Kinsler (26, Mussina), Davis, C (1, Mussina), Young 2 (22, Mussina, Veras). TB: Kinsler 2; Young 5; Hamilton; Davis, C 2; Saltalamacchia. RBI: Hamilton (80), Davis, C (4). 2-out RBI: Hamilton. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Murphy; Vazquez; Bradley; Byrd. Team LOB: 8. BASERUNNING CS: Saltalamacchia (1, 2nd base by Ramirez/Molina).

Texas	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Feldman (W, 2-3)	5.2	4	1	1	3	3	1	4.38
Francisco (H, 7)	1.1	0	0	0	0	2	0	3.66
Guardado	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3.18
Wright (H, 10)	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	3.60
Wilson (S, 18)	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4.58

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Gardner, LF	3	0	0	0	0	1	1	.000
a-Damon, PH-LF	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.315
Jeter, SS	4	0	0	0	0	1	1	.280
Abreu, RF	3	0	0	0	1	0	0	.283
Rodriguez, 3B	3	1	1	1	1	1	0	.322
Giambi, 1B	3	0	1	0	1	0	0	.263
Posada, DH	4	0	1	0	0	1	3	.286
Cano, 2B	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	.242
Cabrera, CF	3	0	0	0	0	0	2	.244
Molina, C	3	0	1	0	0	2	0	.228
Totals	30	1	4	1	3	6	10
a-Grounded out for Gardner in the 8th.
BATTING 2B: Posada (11, Feldman). 3B: Giambi (1, Feldman). HR: Rodriguez (16, 4th inning off Feldman, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Rodriguez 4; Giambi 3; Posada 2; Molina. RBI: Rodriguez (44). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cabrera 2; Cano; Jeter; Posada. Team LOB: 5. BASERUNNING SB: Rodriguez (11, 2nd base off Feldman/Saltalamacchia), Gardner (1, 2nd base off Feldman/Saltalamacchia). CS: Abreu (5, 2nd base by Feldman/Saltalamacchia).

NY Yankees IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Mussina (L, 10-6) 6.0 5 2 2 2 8 0 3.87 Ramirez 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.33 Veras 1.0 1 0 0 1 1 0 2.84 Giese 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3.32

WP: Veras. IBB: Murphy (by Veras). Pitches-strikes: Feldman 105-60, Francisco 18-11, Guardado 0-0, Wright 11-7, Wilson 13-9, Mussina 103-68, Ramirez 9-7, Veras 24-10, Giese 10-5. Ground outs-fly outs: Feldman 9-4, Francisco 2-0, Guardado 0-0, Wright 2-0, Wilson 2-1, Mussina 2-8, Ramirez 1-0, Veras 0-2, Giese 1-2. Batters faced: Feldman 23, Francisco 4, Guardado 0, Wright 3, Wilson 3, Mussina 25, Ramirez 3, Veras 5, Giese 4. Inherited runners-scored: Francisco 1-0. Umpires: HP: Dan Iassogna. 1B: Bill Hohn. 2B: Dale Scott. 3B: Ron Kulpa. Weather: 80 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 14 mph, In from LF. T: 3:04. Att: 53,045.