Yankees Get Some Relief in Series Finale

The Yankees salvaged the final contest of their 3-game series with the Cleveland Indians with a 6-3 win this afternoon. Mike Mussina couldn't hold a 3-run lead, but the Yankees used 4 home runs on the day to pick up the win for Moose and the Yankees pen came through with 4 scoreless innings.

Johnny Damon snapped the Yankees 17-inning scoreless streak with a solo shot off of Indians starter Paul Byrd to start the 4th inning. With 2 outs, Hideki Matsui, who had extended his hitting streak to 17 games with a 2nd inning single, picked up his second hit of the day and Jason Giambi followed with a mammoth 2-run home run off of the foul pole in right field.

Mike Mussina (5-3) gave up a lead off single to Grady Sizemore to start the game, but then retired the next 12 hitters in a row. But he hit Ben Francisco to start the 5th and Franklin Gutierrez followed with a single to right to put runners on the corners with no one out. Ryan Garko popped out, but Casey Blake doubled home both runners and moved to 3rd on the play. Kelly Shoppach followed with a game tying single.

The Yankees jumped right back on Byrd though in their half of the 5th. Robinson Cano lead off with a double and two batters later came home on Damon's double. Russ Ohlendorf tossed 2 scoreless innings to preserve the lead and then the Yankees increased their advantage with another power display.

Cano sent Byrd (1-3) to the showers with a 1-out upper deck blast in the 7th to make it a 5-3 game. Masa Kobayashi came in and Wilson Betemit greeted him with a home run to deep center. Then it was up to the Yankees 1-2 punch of Joba Chamberlain and Mariano Rivera to shut the door on any Indians comeback, and they did just that.

Chamberlain bounced back from Tuesday's night disaster, retiring the side in order, including an inning ending strikeout of Tuesday's hero David Dellucci. Rivera then came in, allowing a 1-out double to Francisco before picking up his 9th save in as many chances.

News and Notes

Jason Giambi is 3-3 against Mike Timlin with 2 HR and 4 RBI, and 3-5 with 3 HR 5 RBI against Paul Byrd. He's 8-78 (.103) against the rest of the American League.

Mike Mussina's win was his 4th straight and the 255th of his career. That moves him into sole possession of 40th place on the all-time list. He'll have to win 5 more games before catching the next rung on the ladder, Ted Lyons with 260 wins.

May 8, 2008

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

BATTING 2B: Blake (8, Mussina), Francisco (2, Rivera). TB: Sizemore; Francisco 2; Gutierrez 2; Blake 2; Shoppach. RBI: Blake 2 (22), Shoppach (3). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Garko. Team LOB: 4. FIELDING DP: 3 (Carroll-Peralta-Garko, Peralta-Garko, Peralta-Garko).

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, LF	4	1	2	2	0	0	0	.280
Jeter, SS	4	0	1	0	0	1	1	.298
Abreu, RF	3	0	0	0	1	0	1	.299
Matsui, DH	4	1	2	0	0	0	1	.345
Giambi, 1B	3	1	1	2	0	0	1	.163
Cabrera, CF	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	.272
Cano, 2B	3	2	2	1	0	0	0	.172
Betemit, 3B	3	1	1	1	0	0	1	.200
Molina, C	3	0	0	0	0	1	1	.209
Totals	30	6	9	6	1	2	7
BATTING 2B: Cano (4, Byrd), Damon (13, Byrd). HR: Damon (5, 4th inning off Byrd, 0 on, 0 out), Giambi (6, 4th inning off Byrd, 1 on, 2 out), Cano (4, 7th inning off Byrd, 0 on, 1 out), Betemit (1, 7th inning off Kobayashi, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Damon 6; Jeter; Matsui 2; Giambi 4; Cano 6; Betemit 4. RBI: Damon 2 (16), Giambi 2 (18), Cano (10), Betemit (2). 2-out RBI: Giambi 2; Damon. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Jeter. GIDP: Cabrera; Abreu. Team LOB: 1.

Cleveland	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Byrd (L, 1-3)	6.1	8	5	5	0	0	3	4.28
Kobayashi	0.2	1	1	1	0	1	1	2.20
Julio	1.0	0	0	0	1	1	0	3.38

NY Yankees	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Mussina (W, 5-3)	5.0	4	3	3	0	3	0	4.36
Ohlendorf (H, 1)	2.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	4.70
Chamberlain (H, 8)	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	3.14
Rivera (S, 9)	1.0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0.00

HBP: Francisco (by Mussina).
Pitches-strikes: Byrd 81-52, Kobayashi 8-5, Julio 15-8, Mussina 86-58,
Ohlendorf 20-15, Chamberlain 12-9, Rivera 15-11.
Ground outs-fly outs: Byrd 10-9, Kobayashi 1-0, Julio 0-1, Mussina 7-5,
Ohlendorf 0-5, Chamberlain 1-1, Rivera 2-1.
Batters faced: Byrd 25, Kobayashi 3, Julio 3, Mussina 20, Ohlendorf 7, Chamberlain 3, Rivera 4.
Umpires: HP: Scott Barry. 1B: Sam Holbrook. 2B: Gerry Davis. 3B: Brian Gorman.
Weather: 74 degrees, cloudy.
Wind: 15 mph, Out to LF.
T: 2:33.
Att: 53,227.

Yankees Get Some Relief in Series Finale

The Yankees salvaged the final contest of their 3-game series with the Cleveland Indians with a 6-3 win this afternoon. Mike Mussina couldn't hold a 3-run lead, but the Yankees used 4 home runs on the day to pick up the win for Moose and the Yankees pen came through with 4 scoreless innings.

Johnny Damon snapped the Yankees 17-inning scoreless streak with a solo shot off of Indians starter Paul Byrd to start the 4th inning. With 2 outs, Hideki Matsui, who had extended his hitting streak to 17 games with a 2nd inning single, picked up his second hit of the day and Jason Giambi followed with a mammoth 2-run home run off of the foul pole in right field.

Mike Mussina (5-3) gave up a lead off single to Grady Sizemore to start the game, but then retired the next 12 hitters in a row. But he hit Ben Francisco to start the 5th and Franklin Gutierrez followed with a single to right to put runners on the corners with no one out. Ryan Garko popped out, but Casey Blake doubled home both runners and moved to 3rd on the play. Kelly Shoppach followed with a game tying single.

The Yankees jumped right back on Byrd though in their half of the 5th. Robinson Cano lead off with a double and two batters later came home on Damon's double. Russ Ohlendorf tossed 2 scoreless innings to preserve the lead and then the Yankees increased their advantage with another power display.

Cano sent Byrd (1-3) to the showers with a 1-out upper deck blast in the 7th to make it a 5-3 game. Masa Kobayashi came in and Wilson Betemit greeted him with a home run to deep center. Then it was up to the Yankees 1-2 punch of Joba Chamberlain and Mariano Rivera to shut the door on any Indians comeback, and they did just that.

Chamberlain bounced back from Tuesday's night disaster, retiring the side in order, including an inning ending strikeout of Tuesday's hero David Dellucci. Rivera then came in, allowing a 1-out double to Francisco before picking up his 9th save in as many chances.

News and Notes

Jason Giambi is 3-3 against Mike Timlin with 2 HR and 4 RBI, and 3-5 with 3 HR 5 RBI against Paul Byrd. He's 8-78 (.103) against the rest of the American League.

Mike Mussina's win was his 4th straight and the 255th of his career. That moves him into sole possession of 40th place on the all-time list. He'll have to win 5 more games before catching the next rung on the ladder, Ted Lyons with 260 wins.

May 8, 2008

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

BATTING 2B: Blake (8, Mussina), Francisco (2, Rivera). TB: Sizemore; Francisco 2; Gutierrez 2; Blake 2; Shoppach. RBI: Blake 2 (22), Shoppach (3). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Garko. Team LOB: 4. FIELDING DP: 3 (Carroll-Peralta-Garko, Peralta-Garko, Peralta-Garko).

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, LF	4	1	2	2	0	0	0	.280
Jeter, SS	4	0	1	0	0	1	1	.298
Abreu, RF	3	0	0	0	1	0	1	.299
Matsui, DH	4	1	2	0	0	0	1	.345
Giambi, 1B	3	1	1	2	0	0	1	.163
Cabrera, CF	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	.272
Cano, 2B	3	2	2	1	0	0	0	.172
Betemit, 3B	3	1	1	1	0	0	1	.200
Molina, C	3	0	0	0	0	1	1	.209
Totals	30	6	9	6	1	2	7
BATTING 2B: Cano (4, Byrd), Damon (13, Byrd). HR: Damon (5, 4th inning off Byrd, 0 on, 0 out), Giambi (6, 4th inning off Byrd, 1 on, 2 out), Cano (4, 7th inning off Byrd, 0 on, 1 out), Betemit (1, 7th inning off Kobayashi, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Damon 6; Jeter; Matsui 2; Giambi 4; Cano 6; Betemit 4. RBI: Damon 2 (16), Giambi 2 (18), Cano (10), Betemit (2). 2-out RBI: Giambi 2; Damon. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Jeter. GIDP: Cabrera; Abreu. Team LOB: 1.

Cleveland	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Byrd (L, 1-3)	6.1	8	5	5	0	0	3	4.28
Kobayashi	0.2	1	1	1	0	1	1	2.20
Julio	1.0	0	0	0	1	1	0	3.38

NY Yankees	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Mussina (W, 5-3)	5.0	4	3	3	0	3	0	4.36
Ohlendorf (H, 1)	2.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	4.70
Chamberlain (H, 8)	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	3.14
Rivera (S, 9)	1.0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0.00

HBP: Francisco (by Mussina).
Pitches-strikes: Byrd 81-52, Kobayashi 8-5, Julio 15-8, Mussina 86-58,
Ohlendorf 20-15, Chamberlain 12-9, Rivera 15-11.
Ground outs-fly outs: Byrd 10-9, Kobayashi 1-0, Julio 0-1, Mussina 7-5,
Ohlendorf 0-5, Chamberlain 1-1, Rivera 2-1.
Batters faced: Byrd 25, Kobayashi 3, Julio 3, Mussina 20, Ohlendorf 7, Chamberlain 3, Rivera 4.
Umpires: HP: Scott Barry. 1B: Sam Holbrook. 2B: Gerry Davis. 3B: Brian Gorman.
Weather: 74 degrees, cloudy.
Wind: 15 mph, Out to LF.
T: 2:33.
Att: 53,227.

Yankees vs. Indians - May 8

Here are today's lineups courtesy of Brian Heyman of the Journal News:

Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Matsui DH
Giambi 1B
Cabrera CF
Cano 2B
Betemit 3B
Molina C

Molina catching the day game after a night game, but he's gotten Moose on a roll and Joe Girardi isn't going to mess with that.

Update 11:52 am

Here's the Indians lineup courtesy of the Cleveland Plain Dealer

G. Sizemore, CF
J. Carroll, 2B
D. Dellucci, DH
J. Peralta, SS
B. Francisco, LF
F. Gutierrez, RF
R. Garko, 1B
C. Blake, 3B
K. Shoppach, C

Update 1:30 pm
Moose looks good thus far, retiring 6 of the first 7 hitters he's faced. He even struck out Jhonny Peralta swinging. The Yankees went in order, again, in the 1st.

Update 1:33 pm
Hideki Matsui lead off the 2nd with a single to extend his hitting streak to 17 games.

Update 1:51 pm
Moose breezed through the top of the 3rd, getting another swinging strikeout in the process. But Paul Byrd took the Yankees in order for the 2nd time in 3 innings.

Update 2:00 pm
Moose retires the side in order again in the 4th. Sterling and Waldman are now spinning how great Moose is.

Update 2:04 pm
Johnny Damon hits a solo home run to get the Yankees off the schneid. Sterling's "Positively Damonic" nearly made us throw up in our mouths.

Update 2:09 pm
Jason Giambi just hit a 2-run upper deck home run to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead. Matsui's 2nd hit preceded it.

Giambi is 6-7 with 5 HR, 9 RBI against Mike Timlin and Paul Byrd, and 8-78 1 HR 7 RBI against the rest of the league.

Update 2:27 pm
Well that lead was short lived. A hit batter and 3 hits and the game is tied 3-3 in the top of the 5th.

Update 2:41 pm
The Yankees have taken the lead back on doubles by Robinson Cano and Johnny Damon in the 5th. Damon's hit came after there were 2 out, something the Yanks have struggled with this season. Looks like Ross Ohlendorf is coming on to start the 6th.

Update 2:54 pm
Ohlendorf breezed through the top of the 6th as Byrd did in the bottom of the inning, though Giambi almost hit one out again.

Update 3:05 pm
Ohlendorf allowed a lead off single in the 7th, but retired the next 3, with the help of a fine running grab by Damon, to escape trouble. Up to Joba and Mo now unless the Yankees can blow it open (not likely).

Update 3:10 pm
Moments ago Robbie Cano, don'tcha know...hit an upper deck home run to give the Yankees a 5-3 lead and sent Paul Byrd to the showers. Good to score runs, but as usual, relying too much on the home run ball.

Update 3:13 PM
Wilson Betemit hits a 2-run home run, the Yankees 4th of the day, to give the Yankees a 6-3 lead. "The Yankees will bet on Betemit". How does this clown stay employed?

Yankees vs. Indians - May 8

Here are today's lineups courtesy of Brian Heyman of the Journal News:

Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Matsui DH
Giambi 1B
Cabrera CF
Cano 2B
Betemit 3B
Molina C

Molina catching the day game after a night game, but he's gotten Moose on a roll and Joe Girardi isn't going to mess with that.

Update 11:52 am

Here's the Indians lineup courtesy of the Cleveland Plain Dealer

G. Sizemore, CF
J. Carroll, 2B
D. Dellucci, DH
J. Peralta, SS
B. Francisco, LF
F. Gutierrez, RF
R. Garko, 1B
C. Blake, 3B
K. Shoppach, C

Update 1:30 pm
Moose looks good thus far, retiring 6 of the first 7 hitters he's faced. He even struck out Jhonny Peralta swinging. The Yankees went in order, again, in the 1st.

Update 1:33 pm
Hideki Matsui lead off the 2nd with a single to extend his hitting streak to 17 games.

Update 1:51 pm
Moose breezed through the top of the 3rd, getting another swinging strikeout in the process. But Paul Byrd took the Yankees in order for the 2nd time in 3 innings.

Update 2:00 pm
Moose retires the side in order again in the 4th. Sterling and Waldman are now spinning how great Moose is.

Update 2:04 pm
Johnny Damon hits a solo home run to get the Yankees off the schneid. Sterling's "Positively Damonic" nearly made us throw up in our mouths.

Update 2:09 pm
Jason Giambi just hit a 2-run upper deck home run to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead. Matsui's 2nd hit preceded it.

Giambi is 6-7 with 5 HR, 9 RBI against Mike Timlin and Paul Byrd, and 8-78 1 HR 7 RBI against the rest of the league.

Update 2:27 pm
Well that lead was short lived. A hit batter and 3 hits and the game is tied 3-3 in the top of the 5th.

Update 2:41 pm
The Yankees have taken the lead back on doubles by Robinson Cano and Johnny Damon in the 5th. Damon's hit came after there were 2 out, something the Yanks have struggled with this season. Looks like Ross Ohlendorf is coming on to start the 6th.

Update 2:54 pm
Ohlendorf breezed through the top of the 6th as Byrd did in the bottom of the inning, though Giambi almost hit one out again.

Update 3:05 pm
Ohlendorf allowed a lead off single in the 7th, but retired the next 3, with the help of a fine running grab by Damon, to escape trouble. Up to Joba and Mo now unless the Yankees can blow it open (not likely).

Update 3:10 pm
Moments ago Robbie Cano, don'tcha know...hit an upper deck home run to give the Yankees a 5-3 lead and sent Paul Byrd to the showers. Good to score runs, but as usual, relying too much on the home run ball.

Update 3:13 PM
Wilson Betemit hits a 2-run home run, the Yankees 4th of the day, to give the Yankees a 6-3 lead. "The Yankees will bet on Betemit". How does this clown stay employed?

The Master Craftsmen Pre-Game Show

No, we haven't turned in WCBS radio. We just thought it was an appropriate title for a pitching match up that pairs two guys who can't break a pane of glass. Cleveland Indians starter Paul Byrd, yes Michael, we know he looks like Kelsey Grammar, has basically always pitched that way. But it's all new to Mike Mussina, who used to be able to pop a 93-mph fastball in his catcher's mitt. The two battle it out in the Bronx today as the Yankees try to salvage the final game of the 3-game series.

Byrd (1-2, 3.74) has already beaten the Yankees once this season, on April 25 in Cleveland. He wasn't very good that night, allowing 4 runs in 5 innings, but Andy Pettitte was worse in the Tribe's 6-4 win. The game is the sole win on Byrd's resume this season in his 6 starts.

Jason Giambi will most certainly be back in the lineup today, having homered twice off of Byrd in that April 25 contest. Two players that were in that game won't in today's afternoon soire. Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada went a combined 1-8 against the Byrd man of Ohio.

Mussina (4-3, 3.23) has also beaten his opponent once already this season. He seemed to struggled at times, but allowed just 2 runs in 5 innings in the Yankees April 28 5-2 win. Moose comes into today's game with a 3-game winning streak.

Franklin Gutierrez had 2 of the 7 hits allowed by Mussina in the previous meeting. Travis Hafner and Jason Michaels, who has since been designated for assignment, drove in the Indians runs.

Alex Rodriguez worked out yesterday and is expected to go for an MRI at the beginning of next week. If doctors give him the go ahead, he's expected to play in one or two extended spring training games before rejoining the Yankees on May 15.

The Master Craftsmen Pre-Game Show

No, we haven't turned in WCBS radio. We just thought it was an appropriate title for a pitching match up that pairs two guys who can't break a pane of glass. Cleveland Indians starter Paul Byrd, yes Michael, we know he looks like Kelsey Grammar, has basically always pitched that way. But it's all new to Mike Mussina, who used to be able to pop a 93-mph fastball in his catcher's mitt. The two battle it out in the Bronx today as the Yankees try to salvage the final game of the 3-game series.

Byrd (1-2, 3.74) has already beaten the Yankees once this season, on April 25 in Cleveland. He wasn't very good that night, allowing 4 runs in 5 innings, but Andy Pettitte was worse in the Tribe's 6-4 win. The game is the sole win on Byrd's resume this season in his 6 starts.

Jason Giambi will most certainly be back in the lineup today, having homered twice off of Byrd in that April 25 contest. Two players that were in that game won't in today's afternoon soire. Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada went a combined 1-8 against the Byrd man of Ohio.

Mussina (4-3, 3.23) has also beaten his opponent once already this season. He seemed to struggled at times, but allowed just 2 runs in 5 innings in the Yankees April 28 5-2 win. Moose comes into today's game with a 3-game winning streak.

Franklin Gutierrez had 2 of the 7 hits allowed by Mussina in the previous meeting. Travis Hafner and Jason Michaels, who has since been designated for assignment, drove in the Indians runs.

Alex Rodriguez worked out yesterday and is expected to go for an MRI at the beginning of next week. If doctors give him the go ahead, he's expected to play in one or two extended spring training games before rejoining the Yankees on May 15.