Game 46. Teix wakes up. Yanks win 9-2.

Finally, Mark Teixeira seems to be over his respiratory ailment and seems to be waking up. Four hits, 2 HR and 5 RBI today.

Oakland got one off of the slow-starting CC in the first. The Yanks tied it up in the second on a HR by Cano (7).

Chavez doubled, went to second on a bunt and scored on a Jeter single to put the Yanks up 2-1 in the third. Hit #3153 for Jeter put him into 16th place on the all-time list passing Paul “Big Poison” Waner, but he wasn’t done.

A Hr by Josh Reddick tied it in the third at two apiece, but the Yanks went ahead 3-2 in the fourth on a HR by Teix (7, 321 career).

The Yanks broke it open in the fifth. Stewart singled, and Jeter beat out a bunt for a single. This bunt hit, hit #3154, put Jeter into a tie for 15th on the all-time list with George Brett. Granderson flied out, Stewart to third, then A-Rod made it 4-2 with a SF. Cano doubled, and Teixeira then singled in two to make it 6-2.

With the bases loaded in the 8th, Jeter got plunked. 7-2.

In the 9th, Teixeira got a 2-Run HR (8, 322). Finally, the Teix we have been waiting for. His HR made it 9-2.

Jeter had 2 hits, 2 rbi. Teix the 4 hits, 2 HR, 5 RBI. 3 hits for Cano. 2 hits apiece for Swish and Chavez.

CC 7 IP, 2 R, 7 H, 2 walks, 4 K. He goes to 6-2, 3.66.

Wade the eighth. 1-2-3 with 2 K. ERA to 2.08.

Eppley the 9th. 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 walk, 0 K. ERA 2.89.

A 9-2 win. Yanks now have won 4 in a row.

Game 45. Tonight’s lineup

A 10 p.m. Eastern start since the Yanks are in Oakland. I hate those West coast times (they mean staying up really late) but what can you do?

The Yanks signed John Maine to a minor league deal today. Maine didn’t pitch in the majors in 2011, nor has he this year. In 2010 the 31-yr. old RHP went 1-3, 6.13 in nine starts for the Mets. He is 41-36, 4.35 in his MLB career, ERA+ 98. His best year was 2007 for the Mets when he went 15-10, 3.91.

From Lohud’s blog:

Former Yankees outfielder Chad Curtis has been charged with five counts of criminal sexual conduct after accusations he inappropriately touched two students at a Michigan high school.

Now that’s odd. Curtis was a person who sort of ticked off some teammates because he was, as they put it, too pushy as far as his religion and beliefs. You may remember him for his two HR (one a walkoff) in Game 3 of the 1999 WS, and for catching the last out of that WS. Now to let the system find him guilty or not.

Yanks 23-21, 4th in A.L. East, 4 1/2 out. OPS+ 110, ERA+ 103. Even with their pythagorean record.

BA/HR/RBI  SB/attempts  OPS+

Jeter SS .348-5-16  3/4  134 Granderson CF .256-14-25  1/3  140 Rodriguez 3B .281-7-18  5/5  119 Cano 2B .297-5-18  1/1  122 Teixeira 1B  .226-5-21  1/2  79 Ibanez LF .263-9-27  2/2  130 Swisher RF  .236-7-27  0/0  102   really slumping lately Chavez DH .293-3-6  0/0  113 Martin C .173-4-10  1/1  74   needs to get off the “Interstate”

RHP  Nova   4-2, 5.69  ERA+ 74     Needs to do better

Jeter has 3152 career hits, tied with Paul “Big Poison” Waner and two behind George Brett on the all-time list.

A-Rod is 180 hits from 3000, and 89 RBI from 2000. The HR count is at 636, and he is 152 runs scored away from 2000.

Game 44. Alex and Andy lead Yanks, 8-3.

Andy Pettitte proved that last week was no fluke, as he pitched seven strong innings against the Royals tonight in the Yankees’ 8-3 victory.

The win was #242 of Pettitte’s career, and enabled him to surpass fellow Yankee lefty great Herb Pennock on the all-time list. It’s Pettitte’s 205th win as a Yankee.

After Andy put down the Royals 1-2-3 in the first, the Yanks struck vs. Will Smith of the Royals. Smith, making his MLB debut, may turn out to be the Prince of KC, but he wasn’t the Prince of the Bronx—at least tonight.

Granderson homered (#14) to give the Yanks a 1-0 lead. This after he showed bunt. After a walk to Teixeira, A-Rod, who had hit only one HR since April 27th, finally hit #635 (sixth of the year) to give Pettitte an early 3-0 lead.

In the fourth, Jeter doubled for the first of his three hits for the night. Granderson singled him to third but Teix GIDP. The run scored, no RBI, Yanks up 4-0. A-Rod then homered again. #7 of the year, #636 for his career and the Yanks went up 5-0.

Pettitte gave up solo HRs in the fourth and fifth to cut the Yanks’ lead to 5-2.

The Yanks got three runs on only one hit in the fifth to push it to 8-2. Nix HBP, Jeter got a bunt hit (YAY! Littleball!) and an E-5 put men on 2nd and 3rd, no out. Granderson walked to load the bases and a walk to Teixeira forced in a run. A-Rod grounded into a force at the plate. He is still one behind Lou Gehrig’s record of 23 grand slams. Cano hit into a force, run scored. Swish HBP. Jones walked, forcing in a run.

Pettitte wound up going 7+, 2 R, 7 H, 1 walk and 8 K. He improves to 2-1, ERA to 2.53 (from 2.51).

Jeter’s 3 hits tonight tie him with Paul Waner on the all-time list at 3152. 16th on the all-time list. Next up? George Brett at 3154.

Phelps went the last two innings. 1 R, 2 H, 0 walks, 2 K. ERA to 2.87.

Hopefully this starts A-Rod on a streak where he can carry a team.

The Yanks are off Thursday as they head to the West coast. Yuk. Late night games.

One bad thing about tonight? The continued struggles of Martin, who left seven on and is down to .173.

Game 44. Teix back to 3rd in lineup today

The Yanks try to stay above .500 today. Teixeira is back up at 3rd in the lineup.

22-21, 4th in A.L. East, 5 1/2 back. Even with the Pythagorean mark, OPS+ 108, ERA+ 102.

Jeter SS .341-5-16  3/4  130  Hit count: 3149
Granderson CF .250-13-24  1/3  134  Still want him to RUN!
Teixeira 1B .229-5-20  1/2  78   Needs to get it going. 
Rodriguez 3B .276-5-15  5/5  109   See below
Cano 2B .304-5-17  1/1  127
Swisher RF .239-7-27  0/0  102  See below.
Jones DH .217-4-8  0/0  93    See below.
Martin C .179-4-10  1/1  79   See Below.
Nix LF .263-2-4  0/1  129  5 for 19. 

Pettitte LHP  1-1, 2.51. ERA+ 171.   3rd start of his comeback.

Jeter leads the AL in hits. 3 behind Waner and 5 behind Brett on the all-time list. But since May 4, hitting .231 (15 for 65), with last night’s RBI as his only RBI in that period (16 games). All hits are singles except for one double, and there have been 6 GIDP.

A-Rod has just 1 HR since 4/27. Of his 43 hits, only 10 are XBH. Where’s the power?

Swisher:  .177 since 4/28, 1 HR, 4 RBI.  11 for 62, 17 strikeouts in that span (compare lack of HR to A-Rod; same time period).

I have to wonder if Mustelier, at this point, would be a better option than Jones. Mustelier in 42 games AA/AAA? .337-8-29. 5/9 in SB.

I also have to wonder if a 40 year old Posada could hit better right now than Martin. (Not catch better, mind you…)

Pettitte is looking for career win #242, Yankee win #205.

Game 39. Pettitte awesome as Yanks win 4-0.

I’m speechless. Really. What to write? It’s like I stepped into a time machine and went back ten years.

In his second start of his comeback, Andy Pettitte tossed 8 shutout innings.

Let that sink in for a minute or two. After a year away from baseball, and one month from his 40th birthday, Andy Pettitte tossed 8 shutout innings for career win #241, #204 as a Yankee.

And to make it more amazing… he basically NEEDED to throw a shutout. For the Yanks are now 3 for their last 48 with RISP.

Pettitte went 8. ZERO runs. 4 hits, 1 walk and an amazing 9 K. (1-1, 2.51).

Boone Logan the 9th. No runs, 0 h, 0 w, 1 K. 2.16.

As for the offense, they were lousy until the 8th. In the 2nd, a leadoff double by Alex. They strand him.

Man on 3rd, one out in the 4th. Granderson and Cano singled, Cano thrown out at second. A-Rod’s weak grounder gets Grandy in.

In the sixth, the Yanks had the bases loaded, no one out, and COULD NOT SCORE.

The pressure was on Pettitte to hold the Reds, and boy did he deliver.

The tension mounted as you knew the Yanks couldn’t score. Let me repeat 3 for 48 with RISP.

I was as shocked as anyone that Pettitte, in only his 2nd start of his comeback, came out for the 8th. But hold them he did.

In the bottom of the 8th, it was still 1-0 when Cano hit a bomb for HR #4 with two out. After A-Rod singled, Ibanez got HR #8 (260 career) for a 4-0 lead.

Logan then slammed the door.

But Pettitte? My goodness. They need to add this one to his YANKEEOGRAPHY.

What an amazing performance under the circumstances (2nd start of comeback, 40 next month, off last year, offense struggling). Wow.

Quick notes: Not happy that the Celts lost to the 76ers tonight. Up 18-3 at one point, they lost. It could have been 3-1 Celtics going back to Boston, instead it is even.

How could a team with Wade and James be held to 75 in two consecutive games? As for Indiana, Congrats to Larry Bird. The 3x NBA MVP has now ALSO won a coach of the year and now executive of the year—the only man to have done that. Talk about a trifecta!

Are the Kings (#8 seed) about to take over LA from the Lakers & Clippers (not to mention the Dodgers)?

 

Game 35. Banged up Yankees post an 8-5 win.

So, where to start? Ivan Nova took one off his leg and although he went 5 1/3, he limped off with a bruise & could miss a start. Teix has been playing through illness, now it appears that Rapada has picked up a viral infection. Ibanez was HBP tonight and was removed from the game.

The Yanks did pick up a game on the Orioles with an 8-5 win. Nova wasn’t great, got hit by a liner, may miss a start but a W is a W. Teixeira, struggling through an illness, hit a 2-run HR to break a 5-5 tie, then later doubled and scored.

Nova was off from the get-go. He gave up two in the first. The Yanks tied it in the fourth on a two-run double by Swish, then went ahead the next inning on a HR by Granderson (12).

Nova however, gave up 3 in the fifth. It is unknown whether the injury hurt him in that inning or not.

Nova 5 1/3, 5 R, 7 H, 3 walks and 4 K. Not impressive. A no-decision, ERA to 5.44 (yuk) despite the 4-1 record. He may need to miss his next start because of the bruise.

If so, hopefully David Phelps takes the start. Phelps got his first MLB win tonight.

Down 5-3, the Yanks bounced back in the sixth. An error enabled the Yanks to tie the game, but with the bases loaded and one out, Jeter whiffed and Granderson flew out. Opportunity wasted.

Teix hit his two-run HR (5) in the seventh to give the Yanks the 7-5 lead. In the ninth Teix doubled and scored on a SF for the final tally, 8-5.

Nova’s stats are above.

Rapada 1/3, 0 R, 0 h, 1 walk, 0 K. 3.60.

Phelps 1 IP, 0 R, 3 h, 0 walks and 1 K. Shaky, but his first MLB win. ERA 2.96.  (1-1).

Logan 1 IP, 0 R, 0 h, 0 walks and 3 K. 2.30.

Wade 1/3 IP, 0 r, 0 h, 0 walks and 1 K. 1.59.

Soriano the 9th. Save #2. 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 1 k. ERA 2.57.

Jeter got hit 3143 to pass Yount.

A-Rod three hits, but it’s interesting to see the O’s play him as if he were Jeter. Not for power, and not to pull. Playing him to hit singles to RF.

The Yanks (20-15) won despite going 1-11 with RISP and stranding 10.

Robertson has been out with a sore rib cage. Sheesh.

A win tonight. We will see how this M*A*S*H* unit is tomorrow.

 

Game 34. Andy ok, bats not in loss to M’s

Andy Pettitte was okay in his return to the majors, but the Yanks bats were shut down by the other old guy on the mound, Kevin Millwood, and the Yanks lost to Seattle 6-2 today.

Pettitte went 6 1/3, 4 R, 7 H, 3 walks and 2 K. 2 HR, 1 WP. He gave up no hits until the fourth, when the first hit he gave up was a two-run HR. Even after five, he had given up just two runs on two hits.

In the sixth, he gave up a 2-run HR off the foul screen, and got out of a bases-loaded jam.

For his first time out after being away since October, 2010, he wasn’t that bad.

The Yanks’ bats against the aging and fading Millwood? That was bad.

The Yanks got 1st and 2nd in the third. One out. Jeter GIDP.

In the fifth, the Yanks got a bases-loaded walk to Martin to cut it to 2-1, but with the bases loaded and one out, Jeter GIDP again.

Jeter did get hit #3142 in the 8th, tying Robin Yount on the all-time list.

Ripken 3184, Brett 3154, Waner 3152, JETER 3142, Yount 3142, Gwynn 3141.

Down 4-1 in the 8th, a bases-loaded two out walk to Cano cut the lead to 4-2. Teixeira then struck out. The Yanks were 0 for 5 with RISP.

Wade replaced Pettitte, 1 2/3, 1 R, 2 H, 0 walks, 3 K. ERA 1.62

Rapada came in and got a couple of outs, but why did Girardi stick with him? Rapada is a LOOGY. You don’t let the guy face righties.

After getting two outs (both lefties) with a man on second, Rapada walks a righty batter, then a lefty batter. Bases loaded. He stays in to face a righty batter. A hit and an error by Rapada bring in two runs. 6-2.  Rapada has great splits vs. lefty batters. Terrible ones against righties. Leaving him in against the righties cost the Yanks a chance at a comeback. Righties hit .349 off Rapada. Lefties .164. You cannot let Rapada face righties if you can help it. After Rapada got the two lefties, Girardi should have brought someone else in to face the righty (Garcia?) for the last out. By not doing so, he gave up two runs. In the end, it didn’t matter, but…

Rapada 1 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 h, 2 walks, 1 K. 3.72.

In the bottom of the ninth, big mistake by Swish. He doubles to lead off the inning, but is thrown out going for three. Down by four runs? That is inexcusable.

The Yanks only got six hits, two by Chavez, two by Swisher.

Eppley was sent down when Pettitte was activated.

Game 33. Lose on Yogi’s b/day? Jayson says NIX to that!

Jayson Nix’ first Yankee hit was a 2-Run HR, and Phil Hughes turned in a solid performance as the Yanks beat the Mariners 6-2 for their third straight victory.

The win came on Yogi Berra’s 87th birthday. The Yanks honored the icon before the game. Yogi was driven into the Stadium by “Driving Mr. Yogi” pal, Ron “the Gator” Guidry.

Raul Ibanez continued his strong recent hitting. He followed a Teix double by doubling in the first run of the Yanks’ four run second inning. Martin doubled in Ibanez to make it 2-0 and Nix’ 2-Run Hr made it 4-0. After that, Hughes cruised against the weak-hitting Mariners.

The outing followed good outings by CC on Thursday and Kuroda yesterday. Maybe after a rough April the rotation is finally straightening out. Tomorrow is Andy Pettitte’s return to the majors and we’ll see how he does.

Ibanez hit a HR (7, #259 career) in the fourth to make it 5-0.

Jeter got two hits. He’s now at 3141 and tied Tony Gwynn (3141) on the all-time list. The next hit ties Robin Yount (3142). In the 8th, Jeter’s 2nd hit, a SB and an RBI single by Cano made it 6-1 (Seattle got a solo HR by Carp in the 7th).

Hughes went 7 2/3, 1 R, 6 H, 1 walk and 4 K. 3-4, ERA to 5.50.

Logan got a K to finish the 8th and pitched the 9th.

1 1/3 IP, 1R, 2H, 0 walks and 4 K.  ERA 2.45.

In other news, the Yanks picked up Justin Thomas (LHP) off waivers from Boston. Probably minor league depth. The 28 year old has a record of 0-2, 6.65 in 27 major league games.

Game 21. CC steps up in Yankees 6-2 win.

The Yanks needed a good outing from their ace. They needed innings. They needed CC to be ace-like, just to save the overtaxed bullpen.

The Yankee starters coming into this game were terrible. Only Kuroda had an ERA less than 5.00. Even CC was at a 5.27.

CC came through. 8 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 2 walks and 8 K. The only mistakes were a HR to his ex-teammate, Prince Fielder, and an RBI double by Miguel Cabrera. He goes to 3-0, but his ERA is still high at 4.58.

For much of the game, it appeared like the Yankees would squander CC’s great game. For the game, the Yanks stranded 15.

A gift call (was it strike three?) on Jeter helped the Yanks to two in the second—an inning which saw two infield hits. Granderson walked with the bases loaded, and A-Rod’s infield hit (Jeter had the other one) accounted for the other run.

Granderson hit HR #8 in the fourth, a drive that Austin Jackson almost snared.

With the score 3-2 Yanks in the seventh, they broke it open. Alex got an RBI groundout, RBI #1904 of his career, enabling him to pass Willie Mays on the all-time list. Cano finally got his fourth RBI of the season (enabling him to pass, of all people, Chris Stewart) to make it 5-2.

In the eighth, Andruw Jones, who replaced Swisher (tight hammy), hit HR #3, #423 of his career. 6-2.

Robertson pitched the ninth. 1-2-3 with 2 K and his ERA remains at 0.00.

The Yanks go to 12-9. Jeter’s 2 infield hits put him now at 3124 career hits.

Swisher will have an MRI. I’ll have word on that, a possible DL stint, and a possible callup when the info comes in.

Update per Meredith Marakovits, Twitter (YES network): Low grade strain for Swish. Will be out a few days but no DL as of yet.

Update II from MM: Phelps to take Garcia’s start and stay in the rotation. If he does well, he could stay there. As for Hughes, watch your back. Andy’s coming.

The rotation soon could be CC, Kuroda, Nova, Pettitte and Phelps.

Game 15. What a comeback! Yanks 15-9 after 0-9

Good times never seemed so good (so good, so good, so good) … for YANKEE fans today.

What a comeback. Down 9-0 after five innings, the Yanks got one in the sixth, but then back to back 7-run innings led to a 15-9 Yankees win. Wow.

…and the boos for Bobby V get louder.

Freddy Garcia started and was horrible. Don’t look back, Freddy, Andy Pettitte is coming for your job.

1 2/3 IP for Garcia. 5 R, 7 H, 0 walks, 0 K. ERA up to 9.75. Rapada came in, 1/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 walks and 0 K.

Then Phelps ate up four innings. Welcome to the majors and Fenway, kid. 3 R, 6 h, 1 walk and 2 K.

Down 9-0 entering the top of the sixth. Teix hit a solo HR. #316 tied Aramis Ramirez and Ron Cey on the all-time list.

Then all hell broke loose. While FOX cut to the White Sox/Mariners game to show the final outs of Phil Humber’s perfect game, Nick Swisher—who entered the game with 14 RBI, the A.L. lead—hit a grand slam to make it 9-5. A few batters later, Teix hit a 3-run shot. His 2nd HR of the game, #317, tied George Brett on the all-time list. All of a sudden, it was 9-8 and Bobby V was sweating. For good reason.

And Bobby V was getting booed, in what would turn out to be many trips to the mound. Those boos really got loud in the 8th, when the Yanks tacked on seven more. Swisher gave the Yanks the lead with a 2-run double. Six RBI on the day for him. Teix got a 2-run double. 6 rbi on the day for him. Martin a 2-run double. Jeter (.382, 3 hits, 3114 now) got an infield RBI hit. 15-9. Wow. From 9-0 down, to a 15-9 win.

Soriano got the win with a scoreless IP. 1 h, 0 walks, 1 K.  (2-0, 1.50)

Logan an inning. 0 R, 1 h, 0 walks, 1 K.

Eppley finished. 1 IP,  0 R, 1 h, 0 walks, 1 K.

Lastly, Nunez’ glove drives us nuts. But… did you know he is now hitting .455?