Since I missed the last three innings in order to pick up the kids from school, I was most pleased to see the Yanks added on some late-inning runs, and from some long overdue sources. RC had a big day, Giambi blasted a big two-run homer, JD was an important catalyst, and Betemit finally started contributing with his solo homer. Mussina was great for four but struggled in his 35-pitch fifth. However, the bats picked him up to make him a winner, pushing his record to 5-3. Yet the bullpen was outstanding, starting with Ohlendorf’s tough two innings, Joba’s revenge on Dellucci, and Mariano earning his ninth save this season. Big win on Getaway Day before the Yankees start a set in Detroit tomorrow night.
Junk-ballers Mussina and Byrd cruised through three, with Mussina retiring nine straight after Sizemore’s single to start the game, and Byrd facing the minimum through the first third of the game. After Mussina’s 1-2-3 fourth made it 12 straight he retired, JD led off the fourth by ripping a change-up left up for a homer to right, 1-0 Yanks. Jeter promptly singled, but was not running and Abreu grounded into a DP, two down. But Matsui’s big Spring continued with his single, and Giambi just ripped a first-pitch fastball into the upper deck in right, 3-0.
Yet Mussina struggled for the only time today, coughing up the lead right away in the fifth. Mussina hit Francisco, Gutierrez singled to right, first and third with no outs. Mussina got Garko to pop to Cano, but Blake’s RBI double to right as Abreu got confused or shy around the wall again made it 3-2, Blake to third on the throw home. Shoppach’s single through the hole and past Jeter–again– tied it. But Mussina got Sizemore to fly out to left, and Mussina fanned Carroll looking without his taking the bat off his shoulder. The Yanks got the lead back right away in the fifth as Cano hit a hustle double to right off the tarp, Betemit’s deep fly to left moved him to third, Molina grounded to short to threaten the rally with two outs, but JD hit his own hustle double to left, 4-3 Yanks and JD got the game-winning RBI.
Ohlendorf was excellent and efficient for the sixth and seventh, allowing only a hit and no walks while fanning two on only 20 pitches in the two frames. In the seventh, Cano turned on a one-out change up over the inner half about thigh-high, ripping it about ten rows deep into the right-field stands to end Byrd’s day, 5-3. Betemit then cranked a 2-0 fastball off Kobayashi to dead center, 6-3. Joba gained a small measure of revenge with a 1-2-3 eighth culminated in his fanning Dellucci on a slider. Mariano allowed a one-out double to Francisco, but was very good in shutting down the game, as per usual.
Damon was 2-4 with his fifth homer, thirteenth double, and two RBIs (16 this year), raising his average to .280. Keep up the good work, JD, and expect more Tough Love. Cano was 2-3 with two runs and an RBI on his solo homer, his fourth this year, raising his average to .172. It’s about time, RC. Excellent hitting today, but expect the Tough Love to continue. Matsui extended his hitting streak to seventeen games, going 2-4 also and hitting .345. Giambi was 1-3 with two RBIs (18 for him) and his sixth homer, a huge blast in the fourth. Betemit hit his first homer in the seventh, and Jeter was 1-4. Both Giambi and Betemit need Tough Love, so the rod should be busy lately regardless of the success we all root for and expect. Though they lacked chances through the first third of the game, the Yankees left only one on base, a product of the clutch homers–four HRs in all today in the power explosion–and the three two-out RBIs. Mussina was very good through four and got bailed out of his poor fifth, allowing four hits, three runs earned, importantly no walks, and fanning three on 86 pitches/58 strikes. The bullpen pitched four scoreless, two-hit no-walk innings. Ohlendorf was very good through two, holding the line well. Joba got his mojo back today, and Mariano is quite simply The Man, earning his 452nd career save.
The Yankees have Kei Igawa facing The Pine Tar Gambler tomorrow night in Motown in a battle of iffy lefties. Let’s hope that the Yankees can get some revenge on TPTG as they did on Byrd. More of the same, offense. Hold the fort until A-Rod returns and as your bats continue to warm. Big win today.
