Wang With a W

The Yankees have come to rely on Chien-Ming Wang to do what he does best- win. Last night The Wanger ended the Yankees 3-game losing streak and won after a Yankees loss for the 11th time in his career. Wang was on his game as was the defense behind him as the Yankees beat the Seattle Mariners 5-1. Defense let down Mariners starter Erik Bedard with 4 errors that lead to a pair of unearned runs.

The first of those four errors bit the Mariners in the 1st inning. Derek Jeter reached on a miscue by fellow shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt and came around on singles by Bobby Abreu and Hideki Matsui. Adrian Beltre's error of a Morgan Ensberg hot shot started the 2nd and Ensberg was credited with a stolen base after Jose Lopez dropped Kenji Johjima's throw to 2nd Base. Alberto Gonzalez followed with a single and both runners came home on Melky Cabrera's lined double into the left field corner.

Wang, who had to leave after 6 innings and 90 pitches due to a hand cramp, only allowed one runner to reach 2nd Base through 5 innings. In the 6th, Ichiro Suzuki singled, stole 2nd and 3rd, and came home on a Raul Ibanez ground out for the lone Mariners run.

The Yankees came up with a pair of insurance runs in the 8th to seal the deal. Ensberg's single scored Abreu and Jose Molina brought home another run with a sacrifice fly. That made it a non-save situation for Mariano Rivera who retired the Mariners in order in the 9th to finish off the win.

News and Notes

Derek Jeter scored his 1,391st run to pass Joe Dimaggio for sole possession of 4th place on the all-time team list.

Chien-Ming Wang is now 6-0, 3.00 on the season and 7-0 lifetime against the Mariners.

Jose Molina, who started the season red hot, is now in an 0-22 slump.

As expected, Bobby Murcer returned to the YES booth last night, joining Michael Kay and Paul O'Neill.

May 2, 2008

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

Seattle	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Suzuki, CF	4	1	2	0	0	0	1	.273
Lopez, 2B	4	0	0	0	0	1	3	.298
Ibanez, LF	4	0	1	1	0	1	0	.294
Beltre, 3B	4	0	0	0	0	1	1	.283
Clement, DH	3	0	0	0	1	2	1	.167
Sexson, 1B	3	0	0	0	0	1	2	.223
Balentien, RF	3	0	0	0	0	2	1	.182
Burke, C	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	.158
a-Vidro, PH	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.200
Johjima, C	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.175
Betancourt, SS	3	0	1	0	0	0	1	.290
Totals	30	1	4	1	2	8	10
a-Grounded out for Burke in the 8th.
BATTING 2B: Ibanez (6, Wang). TB: Suzuki 2; Ibanez 2; Betancourt. RBI: Ibanez (21). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Sexson; Lopez. GIDP: Betancourt. Team LOB: 4. BASERUNNING SB: Suzuki 3 (10, 2nd base off Chamberlain/Molina, 2nd base off Wang/Molina, 3rd base off Wang/Molina). FIELDING E: Betancourt (5, fielding), Beltre (6, fielding), Lopez (3, missed catch), Burke (1, fielding). Seattle IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Bedard (L, 2-1) 7.0 4 3 1 1 6 0 1.82 Rowland-Smith 0.1 2 2 2 1 1 0 6.23 Green 0.2 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.7 NY Yankees AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG Cabrera, CF 4 0 1 2 0 0 0 .284 Jeter, SS 4 1 0 0 0 0 1 .275 Abreu, RF 4 1 2 0 0 0 1 .284 Duncan, S, 1B 3 1 1 0 1 2 2 .190 Matsui, LF 4 0 1 1 0 1 3 .313 Giambi, DH 2 0 0 0 1 1 2 .160 Ensberg, 3B 4 1 1 1 0 1 2 .235 Molina, C 3 0 0 1 0 1 3 .218 Gonzalez, 2B 4 1 1 0 0 2 2 .269 Totals 32 5 7 5 2 8 16 BATTING 2B: Cabrera (3, Bedard). TB: Cabrera 2; Abreu 2; Duncan, S; Matsui; Ensberg; Gonzalez. RBI: Matsui (14), Cabrera 2 (14), Ensberg (4), Molina (3). 2-out RBI: Matsui. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Giambi; Abreu; Molina; Gonzalez. SF: Molina. Team LOB: 7. BASERUNNING CS: Ensberg (1, 2nd base by Bedard/Burke). FIELDING DP: (Gonzalez-Jeter-Duncan, S). NY Yankees IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Wang (W, 6-0) 6.0 3 1 1 2 5 0 3.00 Farnsworth (H, 3) 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.77 Chamberlain (H, 7) 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1.46 Rivera 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 HBP: Giambi (by Bedard). Pitches-strikes: Bedard 103-72, Rowland-Smith 22-13, Green 7-7, Wang 90-53, Farnsworth 14-10, Chamberlain 19-12, Rivera 15-10. Ground outs-fly outs: Bedard 6-9, Rowland-Smith 0-0, Green 0-1, Wang 8-5, Farnsworth 1-0, Chamberlain 2-1, Rivera 1-1. Batters faced: Bedard 29, Rowland-Smith 4, Green 3, Wang 22, Farnsworth 3, Chamberlain 4, Rivera 3. Inherited runners-scored: Green 3-2. Umpires: HP: Mike Winters. 1B: Paul Schrieber. 2B: Laz Diaz. 3B: Wally Bell. Weather: 49 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 16 mph, L to R. T: 2:57. Att: 52,199.

Wang With a W

The Yankees have come to rely on Chien-Ming Wang to do what he does best- win. Last night The Wanger ended the Yankees 3-game losing streak and won after a Yankees loss for the 11th time in his career. Wang was on his game as was the defense behind him as the Yankees beat the Seattle Mariners 5-1. Defense let down Mariners starter Erik Bedard with 4 errors that lead to a pair of unearned runs.

The first of those four errors bit the Mariners in the 1st inning. Derek Jeter reached on a miscue by fellow shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt and came around on singles by Bobby Abreu and Hideki Matsui. Adrian Beltre's error of a Morgan Ensberg hot shot started the 2nd and Ensberg was credited with a stolen base after Jose Lopez dropped Kenji Johjima's throw to 2nd Base. Alberto Gonzalez followed with a single and both runners came home on Melky Cabrera's lined double into the left field corner.

Wang, who had to leave after 6 innings and 90 pitches due to a hand cramp, only allowed one runner to reach 2nd Base through 5 innings. In the 6th, Ichiro Suzuki singled, stole 2nd and 3rd, and came home on a Raul Ibanez ground out for the lone Mariners run.

The Yankees came up with a pair of insurance runs in the 8th to seal the deal. Ensberg's single scored Abreu and Jose Molina brought home another run with a sacrifice fly. That made it a non-save situation for Mariano Rivera who retired the Mariners in order in the 9th to finish off the win.

News and Notes

Derek Jeter scored his 1,391st run to pass Joe Dimaggio for sole possession of 4th place on the all-time team list.

Chien-Ming Wang is now 6-0, 3.00 on the season and 7-0 lifetime against the Mariners.

Jose Molina, who started the season red hot, is now in an 0-22 slump.

As expected, Bobby Murcer returned to the YES booth last night, joining Michael Kay and Paul O'Neill.

May 2, 2008

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

Seattle	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Suzuki, CF	4	1	2	0	0	0	1	.273
Lopez, 2B	4	0	0	0	0	1	3	.298
Ibanez, LF	4	0	1	1	0	1	0	.294
Beltre, 3B	4	0	0	0	0	1	1	.283
Clement, DH	3	0	0	0	1	2	1	.167
Sexson, 1B	3	0	0	0	0	1	2	.223
Balentien, RF	3	0	0	0	0	2	1	.182
Burke, C	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	.158
a-Vidro, PH	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.200
Johjima, C	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.175
Betancourt, SS	3	0	1	0	0	0	1	.290
Totals	30	1	4	1	2	8	10
a-Grounded out for Burke in the 8th.
BATTING 2B: Ibanez (6, Wang). TB: Suzuki 2; Ibanez 2; Betancourt. RBI: Ibanez (21). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Sexson; Lopez. GIDP: Betancourt. Team LOB: 4. BASERUNNING SB: Suzuki 3 (10, 2nd base off Chamberlain/Molina, 2nd base off Wang/Molina, 3rd base off Wang/Molina). FIELDING E: Betancourt (5, fielding), Beltre (6, fielding), Lopez (3, missed catch), Burke (1, fielding). Seattle IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Bedard (L, 2-1) 7.0 4 3 1 1 6 0 1.82 Rowland-Smith 0.1 2 2 2 1 1 0 6.23 Green 0.2 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.7 NY Yankees AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG Cabrera, CF 4 0 1 2 0 0 0 .284 Jeter, SS 4 1 0 0 0 0 1 .275 Abreu, RF 4 1 2 0 0 0 1 .284 Duncan, S, 1B 3 1 1 0 1 2 2 .190 Matsui, LF 4 0 1 1 0 1 3 .313 Giambi, DH 2 0 0 0 1 1 2 .160 Ensberg, 3B 4 1 1 1 0 1 2 .235 Molina, C 3 0 0 1 0 1 3 .218 Gonzalez, 2B 4 1 1 0 0 2 2 .269 Totals 32 5 7 5 2 8 16 BATTING 2B: Cabrera (3, Bedard). TB: Cabrera 2; Abreu 2; Duncan, S; Matsui; Ensberg; Gonzalez. RBI: Matsui (14), Cabrera 2 (14), Ensberg (4), Molina (3). 2-out RBI: Matsui. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Giambi; Abreu; Molina; Gonzalez. SF: Molina. Team LOB: 7. BASERUNNING CS: Ensberg (1, 2nd base by Bedard/Burke). FIELDING DP: (Gonzalez-Jeter-Duncan, S). NY Yankees IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Wang (W, 6-0) 6.0 3 1 1 2 5 0 3.00 Farnsworth (H, 3) 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.77 Chamberlain (H, 7) 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1.46 Rivera 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 HBP: Giambi (by Bedard). Pitches-strikes: Bedard 103-72, Rowland-Smith 22-13, Green 7-7, Wang 90-53, Farnsworth 14-10, Chamberlain 19-12, Rivera 15-10. Ground outs-fly outs: Bedard 6-9, Rowland-Smith 0-0, Green 0-1, Wang 8-5, Farnsworth 1-0, Chamberlain 2-1, Rivera 1-1. Batters faced: Bedard 29, Rowland-Smith 4, Green 3, Wang 22, Farnsworth 3, Chamberlain 4, Rivera 3. Inherited runners-scored: Green 3-2. Umpires: HP: Mike Winters. 1B: Paul Schrieber. 2B: Laz Diaz. 3B: Wally Bell. Weather: 49 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 16 mph, L to R. T: 2:57. Att: 52,199.

Yankees Hope to be Mariners Alabatross

Or is it Albaladejo? The Yankees open a 3-game series tonight against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium. Chien-Ming Wang hopes to put an end to the Yankees 3-game slide as he goes up against Erik Bedard.

The Mariners, who we picked to win the AL West have started out as badly as the Yankees, going 13-16 in their first 29 games. Bedard had a stint on the DL as did closer J.J. Putz, who has still not fully recovered command of his pitches. The Mariners woes can't be attributed to starting pitching. Three starters have an ERA under 3.00 - Bedard, 2.04, Saturday's starter Felix Hernandez, 2.22, and Carlos Silva, 2.79.

But the Mariners offense has been scuffling for runs. With a lack of output from the right field and DH positions, the Mariners recently cut veteran Brad Wilkerson and benched Jose Vidro against right-handers. The M's called up prospects Jeff Clement to DH and Wladimir Balantien to play right field. Balentien homered in his first major league game.

Raul Ibanez is off to another fine start with 5 home runs and 20 RBI to go along with a .296 average, and though Adrian Beltre also has 5 home runs, he's only driven in 11 runs. 1st Baseman Richie Sexson recently had a hot stretch that gave him 6 home runs and 17 RBI, but he's still hitting just .230. The offensive malaise has even effected Ichiro Suzuki, who enters tonight's play at just .266. His countrymen, catcher Kenji Johjima is below the Mendoza line at .175.

The Yankees are hoping Wang can repeat his dominant performance from his last start against the Indians. Wang has won all 6 career starts against the Mariners with a 2.51 ERA. He had a perfect game going in the 8th inning against the Mariners last May 5 at the Stadium. Ben Broussard hit a solo home run with one out in the inning to break up the perfection, the no-no, and the shutout.

Mariners vs. Wang

Beltre 3-15 1 HR 1 RBI
Betancourt 2-10 1 RBI
Ibanez 3-17 1 RBI
Johjima 2-10
Lopez 2-7 1 RBI
Sexson 4-13
Ichiro 4-20
Vidro 1-7

Yankees vs. Bedard

Abreu 3-17 1 RBI
Cabrera 1-10
Cano 3-14
Damon 3-20 1 RBI
Giambi 3-13 1 HR 3 RBI
Jeter 6-26
Matsui 5-16 1 RBI
Molina 1-8


Bedard will be happy not to have to face A-Rod (.417-2-6) and Jorge Posada (.286, 1 RBI).

Cano sits tonight and Duncan once again in the clean up spot (ouch).

Cabrera CF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Duncan 1B
Matsui LF
Giambi DH
Ensberg 3B
Molina C
Gonzalez 2B

Yankees Hope to be Mariners Alabatross

Or is it Albaladejo? The Yankees open a 3-game series tonight against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium. Chien-Ming Wang hopes to put an end to the Yankees 3-game slide as he goes up against Erik Bedard.

The Mariners, who we picked to win the AL West have started out as badly as the Yankees, going 13-16 in their first 29 games. Bedard had a stint on the DL as did closer J.J. Putz, who has still not fully recovered command of his pitches. The Mariners woes can't be attributed to starting pitching. Three starters have an ERA under 3.00 - Bedard, 2.04, Saturday's starter Felix Hernandez, 2.22, and Carlos Silva, 2.79.

But the Mariners offense has been scuffling for runs. With a lack of output from the right field and DH positions, the Mariners recently cut veteran Brad Wilkerson and benched Jose Vidro against right-handers. The M's called up prospects Jeff Clement to DH and Wladimir Balantien to play right field. Balentien homered in his first major league game.

Raul Ibanez is off to another fine start with 5 home runs and 20 RBI to go along with a .296 average, and though Adrian Beltre also has 5 home runs, he's only driven in 11 runs. 1st Baseman Richie Sexson recently had a hot stretch that gave him 6 home runs and 17 RBI, but he's still hitting just .230. The offensive malaise has even effected Ichiro Suzuki, who enters tonight's play at just .266. His countrymen, catcher Kenji Johjima is below the Mendoza line at .175.

The Yankees are hoping Wang can repeat his dominant performance from his last start against the Indians. Wang has won all 6 career starts against the Mariners with a 2.51 ERA. He had a perfect game going in the 8th inning against the Mariners last May 5 at the Stadium. Ben Broussard hit a solo home run with one out in the inning to break up the perfection, the no-no, and the shutout.

Mariners vs. Wang

Beltre 3-15 1 HR 1 RBI
Betancourt 2-10 1 RBI
Ibanez 3-17 1 RBI
Johjima 2-10
Lopez 2-7 1 RBI
Sexson 4-13
Ichiro 4-20
Vidro 1-7

Yankees vs. Bedard

Abreu 3-17 1 RBI
Cabrera 1-10
Cano 3-14
Damon 3-20 1 RBI
Giambi 3-13 1 HR 3 RBI
Jeter 6-26
Matsui 5-16 1 RBI
Molina 1-8


Bedard will be happy not to have to face A-Rod (.417-2-6) and Jorge Posada (.286, 1 RBI).

Cano sits tonight and Duncan once again in the clean up spot (ouch).

Cabrera CF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Duncan 1B
Matsui LF
Giambi DH
Ensberg 3B
Molina C
Gonzalez 2B