Mark Teixeira, Jorge Posada, and Nick Swisher became the first three teammates to homer from both sides of the plate in one game. Other teams have had two players, but never three.
So who makes up the Yankees greatest switch-hitting team? We're glad you asked.
1B Mark Teixeira
2B Horace Clarke
SS Mark Koenig
3B Bobby Brown
LF Roy White
CF Mickey Mantle
RF Bernie Williams
C Jorge Posada
DH Chile Davis
Bench Players
Roy Smalley
Nick Swisher
Jerry Mumphrey
Butch Wynegar
Tom Tresh
Tim Raines
Melky Cabrera
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Ankiel Face First to the DL
Yankees gets "Ray'ned" on
Pena Continues Yankees Pain
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For a while it seemed that the heavy rains that fell on the Bronx last night would wash away the bad play, the poor pitching, and the lack of timely hitting that have plagued the Yankees so far this season. In the bottom of the eighth, Mark Teixeira looked through the rain drops and delivered a game tying 3-run double. Then the umpires held up play for 28 minutes. When play resumed the Yankees reverted back to theirpre-rain form and lost to the Tampa Bay Rays, 4-3 in 10 innings.
Carlos Pena greeted reliever Phil Coke with a solo home run to start the 10th inning to give the Rays the lead back. It was Pena’s Major League leading 12th home run of the season. The Yankees had a chance against Rays’ closer Troy Percivial in the bottom of the 10th, but came up empty once again. Johnny Damon hit a one hop ground rule double to center and moved to third base on a wild pitch. That gave the Yankees two cracks with Teixeira and Hideki Matsui due up. But Percival retired Teixeira on a shallow fly to right and Matsui on a weak fly to left to extend the Yankees losing streak to four games.
A.J. Burnett gave the Yankees another solid performance, allowing three runs over six innings. The Rays led 1-0 entering the sixth when Burnett ran into further trouble. Pat Burrell started the inning with a walk and Gabe Gross followed with a single to right. Jason Bartlett bunted the runners over, enabling Aki Iwamura (sac fly) and Dioner Navarro (single) to bring both runners home for a 3-0 lead.
Rays’ starter Andy Sonnanstine cruised through most of the game. He escaped a two on, two out jam in the fourth when he got the suddenly slumping Robinson Cano to fly out to end the inning. The Yankees finally came alive in the eighth when Melky Cabrera reached on a one out single and moved to third on Jose Molina’s double. Dan Wheeler struck out Derek Jeter, but Howell walked Damon to load the bases and set up the show down with Teixeira. The first baseman broke his bat, but still managed to line the ball into the left field corner. Damon raced home from first base unabated to tie the score. After the rain delay Brian Shouse struck out Matsui to strand Teixeira.
Mariano Rivera gave up a lead off single to Navarro in the ninth, but then struck out the side to give the Yankees a chance to win it in regulation. Cano singled to start the bottom of the ninth and moved to second on Brett Gardner’s sac bunt. Reliever Joe Nelson walked Melky Cabrera, but got Ramiro Pena to ground out on a bang-bang play at first base. Replays showed that Pena was actually safe. Grant Balfour then retired Molina to send the game to extra innings.
Game Notes
Joe Girardi opened himself up to a world of second guessing by not using Rivera for a second inning and going with Coke instead.
Nick Swisher was ejected for arguing balls and strikes after striking out to end the seventh inning.
Derek Jeter has gone ice cold. He’s just 6-31 (.194) over his last 7 games.
Robinson Cano’s 9th inning single snapped an 0-15 skid.
The series concludes tonight when Andy Pettitte faces Jeff Niemann.
Breaking News: Manny Suspended for PED!
The LA Times is reporting that Manny Ramirez will be suspended by MLB for the use of performance enhancing drugs. The 50 game suspension most likely will begin with tonight's game.
Ramirez becomes, by far, the highest profile file player to be hit with a suspension. The Times reports that Ramirez will blame the medication he was given for a personal issue.
Right off the bat, we're wondering what effect this might have when it comes time to vote Manny into the Hall of Fame. There's no reason not to think he's been using a performance enhancing drug all along.
Ramirez will not be eligible to return until July 3.
Ramirez becomes, by far, the highest profile file player to be hit with a suspension. The Times reports that Ramirez will blame the medication he was given for a personal issue.
Right off the bat, we're wondering what effect this might have when it comes time to vote Manny into the Hall of Fame. There's no reason not to think he's been using a performance enhancing drug all along.
Ramirez will not be eligible to return until July 3.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Yankees Look for a Ray of Hope
The Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays kick off a 2-game series tonight at the Stadium. A.J. Burnett tries to stop yet another 2-game losing streak as he squares off against Andy Sonnanstine. The series concludes tomorrow with Andy Pettitte facing Jeff Niemann.
The reports on Jorge Posada is that he has a Grade 2 strain of his hamstring, which means he will be out at least a month. It wouldn't be surprising if Brian Cashman looked for a veteran back up so that Francisco Cervelli could get more playing time in the minors.
Alex Rodriguez slid in an extended spring training game today, meaning he is even closer to returning.
Tonight's Yankees lineup via Pete Abe:
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Matsui DH
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF
Pena 3B
Molina C
The reports on Jorge Posada is that he has a Grade 2 strain of his hamstring, which means he will be out at least a month. It wouldn't be surprising if Brian Cashman looked for a veteran back up so that Francisco Cervelli could get more playing time in the minors.
Alex Rodriguez slid in an extended spring training game today, meaning he is even closer to returning.
Tonight's Yankees lineup via Pete Abe:
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Matsui DH
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF
Pena 3B
Molina C
Stinko de Mayo in the Bronx
Minny-Manny Keeps Yankees at Bay
May 5th, 2009 • Related • Filed Under
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The Boston Red Sox refused to trade Manny Ramirez last season until they were sure they would receive a special player in return. Not only did they get that player, but Jason Bay has supplanted Ramirez as a Yankee killer. Tuesday night Bay struck again, belting a 3-run, 1st inning home run off of Joba Chamberlain to lead the Red Sox to a 7-3 victory. The win completed a sweep of the brief 2-game series and put the season series at 5-0 in favor of the Red Sox.
If you turned the game on after the 1st inning you would have thought Chamberlain was having the best start of his career. And in some ways you’d be right. Chamberlain struck out a career high 12 hitters in 5.2 innings, but his lack of command in the 1st inning destined the game to be a loss. His pitches laid flat in the strike zone and Boston jumped all over them.
Jacoby Ellsbury, who later the left the game with a sore hamstring, led off the 1st with a single and promptly stole 2nd base. Singles by Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz brought Ellsbury home and Bay destroyed a Chamberlain hanger for his 7th home run of the season and a 4-0 Boston lead. In the five meetings between the two teams, Bay is 10-18 (.555) with 3 home runs, 10 RBI, 2 doubles, 6 runs scored, and 2 stolen bases.
Josh Beckett, who allowed 15 runs in his last two starts, gave Boston a quality start this time out. He escaped 1st inning trouble when he retired Robinson Cano on a 2-on, 2-out pop up, but the Yankees made it a ball game in the 3rd. Johnny Damon followed back to back singles by Jose Molina and Derek Jeter with a 3-run shot to right to cut the lead to a single run. It was Damon’s 6th home run of the season and third in the last five games.
Meanwhile, Chamberlain began to dominate. He struck out two batters in both the 2nd and 3rd innings, then struck out the side (plus a walk) in the 4th. He put two men on in the 5th, but struck out the side again, freezing Mike Lowell looking to end the frame. Joe Girardi was understandably booed when he pulled Chamberlain after the emotional right-hander blew away J.D. Drew and Jeff Bailey to start the 6th. But Chamberlain’s final pitch was his 108th and the Yankees wisely protected their young star. The only problem being that meant going to the bullpen.
Jose Veras and Phil Coke recorded four outs, but the Red Sox scored a pair of unearned runs against Jonathan Albaladejo in the eighth. Bay reached 1st base safely when Ramiro Pena couldn’t come up with his grounder on the sloppy surface, and then proceeded to steal 2nd base. Lowell’s ground out moved Bay to 3rd before the Red Sox loaded the bases on a walk to Drew and a hit batsmen (Bailey). Jason Varitek’s sac fly brought home Bay for a 5-3 lead and Nick Green added another run when he punched a single threw the right side.
The Yankees stranded runners in scoring position in both the 4th and 6th innings and then went down meekly after the bullpen took over for Beckett in the 7th inning.
Game Notes
Melky Cabrera was 3-4 and extended his hitting streak to 9 games. He’s 14-35 (.400) during the stretch and has firmly replaced Brett Gardner in center field. Gardner pinch-hit in the 9th and struck out looking.
Mark Melancon had a horrible night. He walked the first three hitters in the 9th and was pulled with a 2-0 count on Lowell.
With .2 innings pitched on Tuesday, Phil Coke has not been scored on in nine straight appearances.
The Yankees finish up the current homestand with a two game series with the Tampa Bay Rays. A.J. Burnett kicks things off Wednesay night when he faces Andy Sonnanstine.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Cervelli to back up Molina
Francisco Cervelli has been recalled from the Trenton Thunder to replace Jorge Posada on the 25-man roster. Posada was put on the 15-day DL earlier today with a strained hamstring. No 40-man roster move had to be made since Cervelli is already included on the list.The Thunder catcher is best known for being run over by the Tampa Bay Rays' Elliot Johnson in a spring training game last year. The collision resulted in a broken wrist for Cervelli and bad blood between the two teams.
Cervelli was hitting just .190 with 2 HR and 7 RBI in 16 games for Trenton this season. He hit .315 in 21 games for Trenton last season. Cervelli played for Team Italy in this past March's World Baseball Classic.
Red Sox Continue to Roll Yanks
Red Sox Continue ‘09 Dominance
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When the Yankees look out on the mound at the Boston Red Sox‘ Jon Lester, they see the culmination of good scouting, hard work, and talent coming to fruition. The Yankees hope one day they can look at Phil Hughes the same way. For now though, Hughes is still a work in progress. Meanwhile, Lester is dominating major league hitters. He did so last night in beating the Yankees 6-4 after a 2 hour-17 minute rain delay that pushed back the start of the game to 9:22 ET.
Save for a couple of home run balls, Lester used a mid-90s fastball and wide sweeping breaking pitches to strike out 10 hitters in 7 innings. In doing so he evened his record at 2-2. Hughes was ineffective in his four innings of work. YES announcer Michael Kay repeatedly pointed out that Hughes only allowed one run per inning, but those runs add up. Hughes threw 94 pitches, just 56 for strikes. He allowed 7hits, walked 4, and struck out just 2 in an outing that was the complete opposite of the dominant performance he had last week in Detroit.
Mike Lowell was Hughes’ biggest nemesis. He cracked a long home run in the second inning that gave the Sox a 2-0 lead and added an RBI single an inning later. David Ortiz, hitting just .208 entering the game, had a pair of doubles off Hughes, with an RBI and a run scored.
The Yankees were as lifeless as the rain soaked crowd for much of the game. Lester struck out Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon, and Mark Teixeira to start the game, then added strikeouts of Melky Cabrera and Jose Molina with two on and two out in the second inning. It wasn’t until Jeter was called out on strikes in the fifth inning that the Yankees came to life.
Jeter didn’t like the called third strike from home plate ump Jerry Meals, who had seemingly squeezed the strike zone on Hughes in the early innings. Joe Girardi quickly came out to protect his shortstop and was ejected for arguing ball and strikes, but gave Meals a piece of his mind before exiting. With Molina on first, Damonlaunched his 5th home run of the season into the right field seats and just like that the Yankees were back in the ball game. The crowd finally had some life and really got fired up when the next hitter,Teixeira, homered to left-center field to cut the Red Sox lead to just one.
Al Aceves, recalled earlier in the day from Scranton, replaced Hughes to start the fifth and pitched effectively. The one blight on his record was a 2-run home run surrendered to Jason Bay that gave the Red Sox a 6-3 lead. Teixeira got it back to 6-4 with his second solo home run of the game, this time from the left side of the plate, in the eighth to set up a showdown with Jonathan Papelbon.
When Ramon Ramirez followed Teixeira’s home run by walking Robinson Cano, Red Sox manager Terry Francona didn’t hesitate to bring on his closer for a five out save. It was an unusual call by Francona, who doesn’t like to use Papelbon for more than an inning, but it paid off in the long run. Papelbon struck out pinch-hitter Hideki Matsui, and after a single by Cabrera, retired Molina on a pop up.
The Yankees had one more potential rally in them in the ninth. Pinch-hitter Brett Gardner reached on a lead off single and Papelbon hit Jeter with a pitch to put the tying runs on base with no one out. But Damon flied out and Teixeira struck out, leaving it up to Nick Swisher. First Gardner and Jeter made it more interesting by pulling off a double steal. When Papelbon walked Swisher to load the bases, the fans that remained were on the edge of their seats. That excitement quickly turned to groans whenPapelbon struck out Cano to end the game at 1:10 a.m.
Game Notes
Jose Molina had to bat for himself in the eighth inning, because Jorge Posada had to leave the game with a bad hamstring. Posada had injured the leg last week. He’ll be sent for an MRI today and a trip to the disabled list is not out of the question.
Alex Rodriguez’s teammates and opponents, including David Ortiz, don’t believe Selena Roberts‘ accusation that A-Rod tipped pitches to opponents. Former teammates like Michael Young have also said the accusation is absurd.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Jon Lester became the first Red Sox left-handed pitcher in 73 years to strike out 10 or more Yankees. Lefty Grove last accomplished the feat in 1936.
Elias also came up with this crazy stat. It was only the second time in 773 visits to Yankee Stadium(s) that Boston scored a single in each of the first four innings- the “picket fence”.
The series concludes tonight with Joba Chamberlain squaring off against Josh Beckett.
Yankees 1st Report Card
Did this for Baseball Digest.
Making the Grade - April
I’ve named this segment after one of the best “worst” movies of all time. Check it out some time if you can find it.
It’s time to review how the Yankees did in their first marking period, better known as the month of April. It was an up and down month, but a 3-game winning streak enabled the Yankees to finish above .500 at 12-10. That left them two games behind the first place Red Sox and Blue Jays entering May.
Player of the Month
Nick Swisher
No question, Robinson Cano’s numbers - 17 game hitting streak, .366-5-16, 18 runs - were tremendous, but without Nick Swisher the Yankees wouldn’t have finished the month with a positive record. Swisher filled the void left first by Alex Rodriguez, and then by fellow outfielder Xavier Nady. He led the team in home runs (7), RBI (19), runs scored (21), and OPS (1.144).
Highlights
3 Hits, 5 RBI in first win of season, 11-2 at Orioles
3 RBI, 3 runs in 6-1 win at Royals
1 RBI, 3 runs in 11-0 win at Tigers
2 HR, 4 RBI in 8-6 win at Tigers
MLB Player of the Week Award
Worst Player of the Month
With Alex Rodriguez out, not much was expected of Cody Ransom, but the Yankees got even less before a torn quad shut Ransom down for the next several months. He hit just .180 in April and that was after going 6-20 (.300) in the last 6 games. Ransom’s OPS was a mere .546 and he drove in just 6 runs, 3 of them in one game. His defensive game let the Yankees down too (.946 Fielding PCT).
Pitcher of the Month
A.J.Burnett
It may seem odd for a pitcher with a 5.40 ERA, but A.J. Burnett won the award hands down. Burnett’s ERA, of course, is warped because of the smackdown he took in Boston (5 IP 8 ER). He stopped a pair of 2-game losing streaks and threw 111 pitches in a no-decision (the Yankees eventually won) against the Indians to rest the Yankees beleaguered bullpen.
Highlights
2-0, 5.40 Yankees are 4-1 in games Burnett starts
8 IP 3 H 2 ER 9 K in 7-2 win at Rays
5.1 IP 2 ER 6 K in 11-2 win at Orioles
Worst Pitcher of the Month
34.50. That’s all you need to know. Chien-Ming Wang.
Biggest Win of the Month
April 15 at Tampa Bay - The Yankees were in the finale of the opening 9-game road trip and were clinging to a .500 (4-4) record. Andy Pettitte pitched a great game, but the Yankees trailed the Rays 3-2 after seven innings. Back to back doubles by Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon to start the eighth tied the game at 3-3. Then in the top of the 9th, Cody Ransom reached on a one out double, and two batters later, Jeter came through again with the game winning single.
Worst Loss of the Month
Some fans will think it was the 22-4 opening day humiliation or the 16-11 Saturday loss to Boston that started as a 6-0 Yankees’ lead. Clearly though, the Friday night game (April 24) in Boston takes the cake. A bitter cake.
The Yankees led 4-2 in the ninth with Mariano Rivera on to close things out, but Jason Bay smacked a game tying 2-out, 2-run home run. Kevin Youkilis homered off Damaso Marte in the 11th inning for a Boston victory that set the tone for the rest of the weekend series. It also again showed that Rivera is very mortal when facing the Red Sox.
Most Devastating Injury
A-Rod’s hip issues occurred in Spring Training, so he doesn’t qualify. (sorry Selena Roberts, I know you were counting on it.) Xavier Nady’s elbow strain hurt the offense, but Swisher picked up much of the slack. Without a doubt, the key injury was to Brian Bruney, the lone effective set up man to Mariano Rivera. Bruney recorded a pair of wins and had four Holds.
Clutch Performer
Derek Jeter
The Captain, Derek Jeter, got this one. His 9th inning home run against the Rays on April 14 busted the game open in a 7-2 win. The next night Jeter singled in the game winning run in the 9th inning, which enabled the Yankees to take 2 of 3 from Tampa Bay. Two nights after that, he gave the Yankees their 3rd win in 4 games with an eighth inning, game winning home run against the Cleveland Indians.
Report Card
Robinson Cano A+
Nick Swisher A
Brian Bruney A
Johnny Damon A-
Mariano Rivera B+ (that Boston game took a serious hit on his grade)
Derek Jeter B+
A.J. Burnett B+
Jorge Posada B
Jose Molina B
Andy Pettitte B
Melky Cabrera B
Ramiro Pena B
Joba Chamberlain B-
Hideki Matsui C+
Jonathan Albaladejo C
Phil Coke C
CC Sabathia C
David Robertson C
Mark Teixeira D (Walks and Defense saved him a little)
Brett Gardner D (Steals and Defense kept this, barely, from an F)
Edwar Ramirez D
Cody Ransom F
Damaso Marte F
Jose Veras F
Chien-Ming Wang F
Angel Berroa F (was only 4 games, but it showed plenty)
Incomplete
Xavier Nady
Anthony Claggett
Mark Melancon
Phil Hughes
Monday, May 4, 2009
Joba's Mom Busted for Peddling Meth
Joba Chamberlain's mom, Jacqueline Standley, has not had an easy life. She'd be the first to admit it. But her life just got a whole lot tougher.Standley was busted for selling methamphetamine to an undercover police officer in Lincoln, Nebraska. She was arrested at her home this past Saturday for the incident which occurred on February 11.
The Daily Yankeeland - 5/4
Views from the Facade
May 4th, 2009
The Yankees open a two game series with the Boston Red Sox tonight at the new Stadium (yes, I really still feel the need to say new). Joe Girardi hopes that some home cooking will help exact a measure of revenge for last week’s embarrassing 3-game Fenway Flop. With yesterday’s rain out against the Los Angeles Angels, Phil Hughes will start tonight against left-hander Jon Lester. The brief series concludes tomorrow night with Joba Chamberlain going up against Josh Beckett, who has been hammered for 15 runs in his last two starts. Both games are at 7:05 ET on YES.
When Damaso Marte returned from the WBC, he complained of pain behind his throwing shoulder. He then confessed to pitching through the pain in order to represent his country. To say Marte was awful the first month of the regular season, would be like saying a hurricane is a little drizzle. The Yankees finally placed the lefty, who signed a three year free agent deal in the off-season, on the 15-day DL with shoulder tendinitis. Anthony Claggett has been recalled from Scranton to take his place on the roster.
The Yankees also discovered that Chien-Ming Wang’s hip abductor issue was caused by a weakness in his right foot. Wang hadn’t fully recovered the strength in the foot after last season’s Lysfranc injury, and as a result, strained his hip. Physical therapy, rather than throwing, will now be Wang’s main focus.
Alex Rodriguez played third base over the weekend as he continued his rehab in Tampa. It’s possible that A-Rod could get into some Tampa Yankees games before being activated from the disabled list this week or next.
Timing is everything and it’s no shock that writer Selena Roberts’ unauthorized bio of A-Rod hits the stores today. Very convenient. One person who is not happy about it is Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who questioned the timing as well as the need for the book at all. Girardi talked to reporters prior to yesterday’s scheduled game with the Angels, and gave an unsolicited opinion of the book. Girardi felt that what one does in his or her own personal life does not need to be shared wit the public, especially when that person’s children could be exposed to harmful/hurtful information.
The biggest issues that come out in the book are, of course, non-personal. Accusations of pitch tipping while a member of the Texas Rangers, and steroid use in high school and with the Yankees are the hot items that has caused MLB to further investigate A-Rod’s statements. It’s understandable though that Girardi would lash out. He’s under tremendous pressure to win and he doesn’t need his best player or the rest of his team hurt by distractions.
Two years ago pitcher Alan Horne was near the top of the Yankees‘ prospect rankings. Then came shoulder problems that led to off-season surgery. Horne is back from extended spring training and made his season debut for the Trenton Thunder on Saturday. He struggled his way through a 3 inning, 3 run, 4 walk effort.
Right-hander George Kontos has been promoted from Trenton to Scranton after going 1-1, 2.66 in four starts. He struck out 24 batters in 20.1 innings pitched. I did a Q & A with Kontos prior to this season that you may find interesting.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
30 Yr Old Rook out pitches CC
30-Yr Old Rookie Shuts Down Yanks
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WP - Palmer (2-0) LP - Sabathia (1-3)
The Yankees have seen a similar story before- a pitcher 30 or older who hasn’t really gotten a shot in the big leagues and then found some success when given a chance. Dan Giese was that person for the Yankees last season. Matt Palmer is writing his story this year with the Los Angeles Angels. On Saturday Palmer limited the Yankees to one run over 6.1 innings in the Angels 8-4 victory.
The win was the second of Palmer’s career, which is made up of three games in 2008 with the San Francisco Giants and his two starts this season, both of which have been victories. Palmer got the chance to establish himself in the Angels rotation due to the injuries suffered by starters John Lackey, Kelvim Escobar, and Ervin Santana, and he’s taken full advantage of it.
Yesterday he faced a tough assignment against Yankees ace CC Sabathia and his nerves showed in the first inning. He hit Derek Jeter to start the frame, and after Jeter swiped second base, issue a one out walk to Mark Teixeira. Hot hitting Hideki Matsui singled to right to score Jeter and move Teixeira to third. But Palmer bounced back, getting Robinson Cano on a comebacker and Melky Cabrera on a ground out to shortstop to avoid further trouble.
Cano and Cabrera were the first two of 14 straight hitters Palmer retired. Then he watched as his teammates fainally caught up to Sabathia. Jeter’s first error of the season led to the Angels tying run on an RBI single by Kendry Morales in the sixth and one inning later the Angels knocked the big man out of the box.
Brandon Wood and Maicer Izturis started the seventh with back to back singles and Chone Figgins moved them each up a base with a sacrifice bunt. Sabathia struck out Gary Matthews Jr. for the second out of the inning, but Howie Kendrick put the Angels ahead with an RBI single and Torii Hunter drove home a pair of runs with a double to left for a 4-1 Angels lead. Friday night’s winner Jonathan Albaladejo came on, but gave up an RBI single to Mike Napoli to stretch the lead to 5-1. The Angels tacked on three runs in the final two innings to put the game out of reach.
The Yankees finally got Palmer out of the game in the seventh, putting two men aboard, but Jose Arredondo got out of a bases loaded, two out situation by getting Jeter to ground out. The Yankees added three meaningless runs in the ninth off Fernando Rodriguez, who was making his major league debut. Jorge Posada hit his fifth home run of the season and second in as many games.
Game Notes
The series wraps up this afternoon (1:05 ET) with Joe Saunders (3-1, 3.41) going against Phil Hughes (1-0, 0.00).
Angels shortstop Erick Aybar had to leave the game in the first inning when Derek Jeter stole second base. Catcher Mike Napoli’s throw glanced off Jeter’s back and hit Aybar in the mouth. He left with a fat lip, looked dazed, and was headed to see the Yankees’ team dentist. Jeter was also shaken up on the play as his neck and shoulder collided with Aybar’s leg.
As expected, Nick Swisher sat out the game with a swollen elbow after being hit by a pitch on Friday night. He’s not expected to start on Sunday either.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Yankees Bedevil Halos Bullpen
5/1 Yankees recap for Baseball Digest
Yankees Bedevil Halos Bullpen
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Most Yankees fans think of the Boston Red Sox when asked who is the team’s biggest nemesis, but in actuality the Los Angeles/Anaheim Angels have done more damage to the Yankees regular and post-season hopes. Last night the Yankees got a measure of revenge with a come from behind 10-9 victory in the Bronx.
Jorge Posada, who had earlier hit a 2-run home run, capped the rally with the game winning 2-run single in the ninth. The Yankees trailed 9-4 in the eighth inning and hadn’t scored since a four run first inning. Hideki Matsui started things off with a one out double in the eighth off of Rich Rodriguez and Robinson Cano followed with a walk. Mike Scioscia brought in flame thrower Jose Arredondo, but the right-hander’s fastball was in the strike zone and hittable.
Brett Gardner slashed a single to left to the load the bases and Melky Cabrera brought the inning’s first run across with a single to left as well. Rookie Ramiro Pena ripped a single to right to plate a pair of runs and suddenly the Yankees were only down 9-7. Derek Jeter cut the deficit to a run with a ground out, but with the tying run on second, Johnny Damon looked at a called third strike to end the inning.
Jonathan Albaladejo tossed a 1-2-3 top of the ninth and then the Yankees hitters went to work against closer Brian Fuentes. Mark Teixeira worked a lead off walk and Matsui lined a single to left to put two runners aboard. Red hot Cano ripped a single to center for this third hit of the game, but Teixeira, fearing the ball would be caught, held up and had to stop at third base. It didn’t matter though as Posada worked the count to 3-2 before he lined the game winning hit to left-center field.
Yankees starter Andy Pettitte worked in and out of trouble, but the Angels caught up to him in the sixth inning. A Jeff Mathis single drove in two runs to cut the Yankees four run lead in half and Pettitte’s night ended when he walked Chone Figgins to load the bases. Mark Melancon came on and became the latest Yankee reliever to fail in a big spot. Gary Matthews Jr. drilled a Melancon delivery to center to clear the bases for a 3-run triple and a 5-4 Angels lead. Matthews scored moments later when a Melancon pitch short hopped Posada for a wild pitch. The Angels added to their lead with three runs off of Jose Veras and Edwar Ramirez in the seventh inning.
The Yankees jumped on Angels starter Jered Weaver in the first inning, scoring a pair of runs on a Matsui sac fly and Cano’s first base hit of the game. Posada, batting from the left side, launched his fourth home run of the season into the right field seats for a 4-0 lead. Weaver settled down and followed with five scoreless innings.
Game Notes
Nick Swisher was hit on the elbow by Weaver in the first inning and had to leave the game in the third. X-Rays were negative, but Swisher is expected to sit out a game or two.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the first time the Yankees came back from at least a 5-run deficit since beating the Philadelphia Phillies 9-8 on July 16, 2000. Andy Pettitte started that game as well.
The game winning single was Jorge Posada seventh career walk off run producer.
The Yankees signed former Red Sox pitcher Casey Fossum to a minor league contract. Fossum, who was released by the Mets earlier this season, will start Saturday for Scranton.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Cabrera helps Yankees Finish April on a High Note
Cabrera helps Yankees Finish April on a High Note
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | | R | H | E | |
| LA Angels | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 1 | |
| NY Yankees | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | X | 7 | 12 | 0 |
WP - Coke (1-0) SV - Rivera (5) LP - Speier (0-1)
Melky Cabrera and Ramiro Pena combined to drive in three runs in the eighth inning Thursday night to give the Yankees a 7-4 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. The win gave the Bombers a 12-10 mark for April, the first time they’ve had a winning first month of the season in three years.
A.J. Burnett squared off against rookie Anthony Ortega, who entered the game with a 7.20 ERA and had only one prior major league start. Neither was around when the Yankees staged their game winning rally in the eighth inning and a former Yankee played a key role.
Robinson Cano ripped a one out line drive to right that appeared to be a catchable ball, but right fielder Bobby Abreu played it on a short hop for a single. It was a scene familiar to Yankees fan, who became accustomed to Abreu’s non-aggressive outfield play over 2+ seasons. Jorge Posada followed with a ground rule double off Justin Speier that hopped the fence in right-center to stop Cano at third. It could have been a bad break for the Yankees, but the Yankees of the last three games get clutch hits.
After an intentional walk to Nick Swisher, Cabrera ripped an RBI single to right on the first pitch he saw from Speier. Pena followed with a 2-run double that extended the Yankees lead to 7-4 and gave Mariano Rivera some breathing room in the ninth. After a lead off single by Torii Hunter, Rivera retired three straight Angels, two by strikeout, to record his fifth save of the season.
Burnett struggled early and often and put the Yankees in a 3-1 hole when he gave up a solo home run to Mike Napoli and a sac fly to Erick Aybar in the second inning. Ortega had his own issues as well, but stranded a Yankee in scoring position in the first two innings. But Johnny Damon’s home run in the third cut the deficit in half andAbreu helped the Yankees to take the lead an inning later.
Swisher singled with one out in the fourth, and after Cabrera bounced into a force out, Pena beat out a slow bouncer to third for an infield single. Derek Jeter ripped a single to right that got past Abreu to allow both runners to score for a 4-3 Yankees lead and advanced Jeter to second. Ortega got out of further trouble by getting Damon on a deep fly ball.
The lead was short lived though as Burnett gave up a run in the fifth to tie things back up.
Game Notes
Nick Swisher’s 7 home runs in April were the most by a Yankees since Raul Mondesi hit the same amount in 2003.
Robinson Cano extended his hitting streak to 17 games.
Weather permitting, the series continues this evening with Andy Pettitte facing Jered Weaver.
Both home runs went to right field last night, where 20 of the 28 hit have landed.
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