More awards, a signing, and a huge trade.

Manager of the Year Awards went out last night. Davey Johnson of Washington won for the N.L., and the A.L. award went to Bob Melvin of Oakland.

I thought Buck Showalter of Baltimore would win in the A.L., but he lost 16 first-place votes to 12. I’m not saying Melvin wasn’t deserving, but I thought Buck would get it.

Today, the CYA winners were announced. David Price of Tampa Bay edged out Detroit’s Justin Verlander for the A.L. award by just four points. The N.L.  award went to R. A. Dickey of the Mets, who became the first knuckleballer to ever win the award.

Tomorrow, the MVPs.

Torii Hunter signed a 2-yr. deal with Detroit. You would think that Hunter, winner of 9 Gold Glove awards, will help the Tiger defense, what with being next to Austin Jackson in that big outfield in Detroit. Hunter wanted 2 years, and the Yanks wouldn’t go for that, even if Swisher goes. Hunter got those 2 years, along with $26MM, from the Tigers. Hunter, who will be 38 next June (and it may be a good thing the Yanks DID NOT get him, what with their present age concerns), hit .313-16-92, OPS+ 132 for the Angels this past year. Yes, an excellent year, but you have to ask how many players 35+ you want on the Yankees.

As for the Yankees, they better watch out. Toronto made a huge trade. If the old players on the Yankees show their age, then the Yanks could very well slip to 3rd or 4th place in the A.L. East. The Blue Jays picked up a #1 AND a #2 starter from the Marlins in Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle, as well as an All-Star SS in Jose Reyes. They also got C John Buck and speedy utility man Emilio Bonifacio in the deal. (Reyes and Bonifacio combined for 70 SB, and Bonifacio only played in 64 games).

There is rumors that Miami isn’t done. I see on the BBD blog that the Yanks are thinking about bringing back Ibanez (I’m against it, he’ll be 41 next June) and thinking about Ricky Nolasco of the Marlins. I also see a rumor that Miami may shop Logan Morrison.

Nolasco, 29, was 12-13, 4.48, ERA+ 88 last year. I don’t want that. For his career, he is 76-64, 4.49. His 162 g. average is 14-12, 4.49. Figure in the DH league he goes something like 13-13, 4.80. That’s not good enough in my book.

I’d rather let Ibanez go and go after Morrison if the Marlins have him on the block. I appreciate what Ibanez did last year (esp. in the postseason), but he will be 41 next June. How many old players do you want on the Yankees (think Pettitte, Jeter, Rivera, A-Rod, maybe Kuroda, maybe Ichiro… Jones is most likely gone, if Chavez comes back, he is 35, Ichiro…). Morrison is 25, LF/1B. With Gardner maybe moving to CF and Granderson to LF, Morrison can DH, play RF and fill in at 1B once in a while (he seems better suited for DH, his defense isn’t good). He hit just .230-11-36 (OPS+ 91) last year, but is young, a lefty hitter, 6’3″ 240 and hopefully can use that to take advantage of the porch. He hasn’t done badly vs. lefties (.247 vs. righties and .259 vs. lefties). He hit 23 HR in 2011. His 162 g. average is .250-21-73. OPS+ 110. Younger than Ibanez, more potential, can probably put up better numbers in 2013 than Raul.

But getting back to Toronto. This is a big deal for them. Let’s face it. The Yanks have an OLD team. If the Yanks don’t watch it, they can fall to fourth place in a hurry, maybe even last. God forbid. But look at the division. Good young players in Baltimore, Tampa Bay, and now Toronto made a big move. Goodness knows how Boston will rebuild.

Yes, I know the Yanks had the best record in the league last year. But they were exposed in the playoffs.

There is a fine line between experienced, and old.

Will the Yanks inject some youth in 2013?

AL CYA to King Felix, Price 2nd and CC 3rd.

Felix Hernandez of the Mariners wins the AL CYA, despite a 13-12 record. Hernandez’ record was due to terrible run support from a lousy team. Put him on the Yanks and maybe he goes 21-4 or something.

Despite the 13-12, Hernandez, 24, led the majors in ERA (2.27) and led the AL in starts and IP. He struck out 232 in 249 2/3 IP. He also led the AL in Fewest H/9 IP and the majors in batters faced.

David Price of the Rays came in 2nd.  Price, 25, was 19-6, 2.72.

The Yankees’ CC Sabathia finished 3rd. CC, 30, was 21-7, 3.18. CC co-led the majors in wins. He started 34 games, tying King Felix for the lead in that category.   

Texas two-step done by Rays as they stay alive

After the Rangers won the first two games of the ALDS at Tampa, Texas fans expected a Texas-sized celebration.

Instead, the ROAD team has won each of the four games in this series. The series heads back to Tampa Bay for the fifth and deciding game on Tuesday, with the winner then hosting the Yankees on Friday in game 1 of the ALCS.

Price vs. Lee on Tuesday. Do or die.

 

Who managed in the 1965 All-Star Game?

Well, Swish only got 4 HR in his round of the HR Derby, but it was more than Vernon Wells and Chris Young had…combined.

Price and Jiminez named the starting pitchers. Ryan Howard DHs for the NL.

The NY Post reports

that the Yankees’ uniforms will have a tribute to Sheppard on them, and it will be more than the usual black arm band the Yankees normally attach. There was talk about a microphone being used.   

I wrote yesterday about MLBnetwork showing the 1965 All Star Game. Since I know what happened after the 1964 WS, I had to look this up. Who managed in the 1965 All-Star Game? From Wikipedia:

After the 1964 season and the World Series, the managers, Johnny Keane of the St. Louis Cardinals and Yogi Berra of the New York Yankees, both left their teams and found new jobs in the other league—Keane was hired to manage the Yanks and Berra became a player-coach with the New York Mets. The Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds had finished in a second-place tie in the NL; the Chicago White Sox had finished second in the AL. Cincinnati’s manager, Fred Hutchinson, had died in the off-season, so Gene Mauch of the Phillies and Al Lopez of the White Sox were chosen to be the managers for the 1965 All-Star Game.

Hutchinson had to leave the Reds in the middle of the 1964 season, as he was suffering from (and died from) lung cancer.

Lastly, I didn’t see it, but I read that Yankees’ AA catcher Austin Romine got an RBI double in yesterday’s Futures game.    

Update: I read or heard somewhere that the tape of Sheppard will be used to announce Jeter in the All-Star Game. Classy tribute by Jeter and MLB.  

 

Game 160. Yanks at Tampa Bay

Since the Yanks are in Tampa, I wonder if the Boss will get to see (and thank) his AL East Division Champions?

From Sam Borden, who temporarily replaces Pete Abraham at LOHUD (until Chad Jennings, former SWB scribe takes over)…

Pete was good and will be missed, but at least no more constant Springsteen mancrushes…sheesh. Thank God.

YANKEES (102-57); AL East Champions. Best record in AL clinched.

OPS+ 119, ERA+ 102. Pythagorean +8

BA-HR-RBI-SB/Total Attempts/OPS+ 120; ERA+ 104
*= team leader **= league leader

Jeter SS .335*-18-66-30*/35*-130       2745 hits. Besides Mo, a worthy SI Sportsman of the Year candidate, don’t you think?  
Hairston LF .232-2-11-0/0-93 (Yanks only)
Teixeira 1B .294-39**-121**-2/2-146*  one more for 40 and sole AL lead
Rodriguez 3B .284-28-93-14/16-141    581* HR, two behind Big Mac* 
Swisher RF .251-29-82-0/0-127          Swisher had 35 HR in 2006 for the A’s
Posada C .287-22-81-1/1-132             Shh…don’t tell him he’s 38
Cano 2B .322-25-85-5/12-127
Cabrera CF .273-13-67-10/12-97
Molina DH .215-1-11-0/0-49

Pitching: LHP CC Sabathia (19-7, 3.21)    ERA+ 139

CC goes for #20. Expect Robertson to get work tonight though. Probably Sunday will be a Robertson workday also.

It’s so hard now for pitchers to win 20. The five-man vs. the four-man rotation. We won’t see the four-man rotation again, so something like the 1971 Orioles (four 20-game winners) won’t be seen again. You do wonder how the Yanks might have managed with the four-man rotation provided of course that no one would have broken down. With seven more starts, maybe CC would be going for win #25 and have 270 IP. Pettitte might have 18 wins. Burnett 16. It wouldn’t happen of course, because pitchers aren’t conditioned to go that way anymore. There would have been burnout. But just think…what if they were conditioned like in the old days. Instead of Mitre and Wang getting 18 starts between the two of them, what if four starts each went to CC, Andy, AJ and Joba with only two left over? Would the Yanks now have 108 wins instead of 102?

JD and Matsui off with the turf. Hairston gets to test his wrist. Molina DHs, which is ok because with the expanded rosters, Cervelli can come in later should Hip-Hip get PR for by Gardner or Guzman. Molina gets some ABs.

Borden has Girardi quoted as saying that Molina may play an important role next week….late game replacement for Posada after Posada is PR for?

Not a good start for CC. Four runs…all unearned due to a Teix error….in the first. Still, two walks and a triple (deflected by Cano) don’t help.   

Could it be a good sign if CC loses tonight? I mean, it’s like the NFL playoffs or the NCAA Tournament. The law of averages. You win eight NFL games in a row and the law of averages catches up in the playoffs. NCAA basketball. Win 15 in a row and get upset in the second round. CC has won his last nine decisions in a row, and the Yanks have won each of the last eleven games he has started. If the streak is to end, better tonight than in Game 1 of the ALDS next week. It’s not like I don’t want CC to lose, and it would be nice for him to win 20, but if he does lose, it’s not necessarily a bad thing…    

In the 2nd, the Melkman gets an RBI single. Who’d have thought the Melky Way would have more ribbies than the Captain? (68 to 66). It is not a knock on Jeter of course,  but just an example of how balanced and deep the lineup is from 1 to 9.

We worry about Joba with his 9-6, 4.78. Just looking at the phenom Price’s numbers. 9-7, 4.61. We have to sometimes remember youth.

4-1 Rays after 1 1/2. 

  

 

   

Game 55. The ace vs. the prodigy. A preview.

Tonight’s pitching matchup should be an interesting one (provided they get it in. It’s dreary, cold and rainy here in the East).

CC Sabathia of the Yankees vs. David Price of the Rays. 

On one hand, the ace. Someone paid megabucks to continue to be ace-like for the next several years. Someone who has a CYA on his mantle and who finished sixth in MVP balloting last year. Sabathia is 5-3, 3.46, ERA+ 131 this year.

On the other hand, the prodigy. The #1 draft pick of the 2007 draft. Tonight will be just his 8th regular season game. Price, you may recall, had just five regular season games under his belt when he won Game 2 and saved Game 7 of last year’s ALCS. This is just his third MLB game of 2009. He is 1-0, 3.00. ERA+ 155.

122-76, 3.65 (ERA+ 121) career vs. 1-0, 2.35 (8th MLB game) ERA+ 193.

It should be interesting.

…and the others are:

It was mentioned that Randy Johnson is 24th to win 300, and the sixth lefty.

The other lefties?

Warren Spahn (363), Steve Carlton (329), Eddie Plank (326), Tom Glavine (305) and Lefty Grove (300).  

Back later after I put a fin down on tomorrow’s Belmont.

BTW, go to Joel Sherman’s column today in the NY Post. Find it online if you can (I’d link, but gotta run right now). It is a good article about going with Wang or Hughes. There is no easy answer to that right now. It’s not like you can just disrespect all Wang has done and cast him aside like an old shoe. Check it out.

The minors today.

AAA:  SWB starts at 6 Eastern. Dave Robertson is coming up to replace the DL’d Bruney.

SWB loses 7-3. J. B. Cox started. John Rodriguez HR. Austin Jackson (.358) two hits. 

Scranton/WB
Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Cox (L, 0-1)	2.1	6	5	5	2	0	0	7.08
Kroenke	2.2	1	0	0	0	4	0	1.27
Valdez, J	3.0	4	2	2	1	3	0	4.61

 

 

AA: Trenton wins a 7-0 shutout. Nice outing for Christian Garcia. Two hits, two rbi for James “Fenimore” Cooper.  

Trenton
Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Garcia (W, 1-0)	5.0	2	0	0	3	4	0	0.00
Dunn	2.0	1	0	0	0	3	0	4.97
Wordekemper	1.0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0.00
Sanit	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1.23

A+: Tampa is off. Click link for their stats.

A-:  Charleston won 4-1.  When are the Yanks going to promote Venditte already? Melky Mesa and Taylor Grote HRd.

Charleston
Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Phelps (W, 4-1)	6.0	5	1	1	3	3	1	3.44
Arbiso (H, 4)	2.0	1	0	0	0	2	0	2.49
Venditte (S, 13)	1.0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0.90

 

Majors:

I can see the intent, but couldn’t baseball have come up with something other than red caps? Yanks with red caps. Yuk.

Interesting from the Rays…they lose Iwamura for the year. Meanwhile, David Price makes his season debut. 

Tampa Bay wins 1st pennant, 3-1. It’s a Rays-Phils World Series.

Since the Yankees of 1978 pulled off the repeat, there have been just two teams to pull it off. The Blue Jays went back-to-back in 1992 and 1993, and the Yanks three-peated in 1998-99-2000.

There will be a new champion in 2008.

…and youth was served.

David Price, the #1 draft pick of 2007, got the biggest out in Tampa Bay’s history, striking out J. D. Drew with the bases loaded, two out, and Tampa Bay up 3-1 in the 8th inning. The 23-year-old Price was a late season callup, and had pitched in just five games in the majors (0-0, 1.93, 14 innings) before being put on the postseason roster. His first win was in ALCS game 2, and here he got the last four outs of Game 7 to put the Rays in the WS. We have seen something like this before. In 2002, Francisco Rodriguez had just five MLB games and 5 2/3 MLB innings under his belt before being put on the Angels postseason roster, and K-Rod got his first win in Game 2 of the ALDS that year vs. the Yankees.

Pedroia HRd in the first for Boston, but Tampa came back on RBIs by Longoria in the 4th to tie, Baldelli in the 5th to go ahead, and then Willy Aybar’s 7th inning HR gave them an insurance run. Matt Garza went 7+, giving up just 2 hits, and won the ALCS MVP award.

The repeat champs (notice how little of the NL—in bold). It’s tough to repeat.

1907-1908 Cubs (and none since)
1910-1911 Phila. A’s
1915-1916 Red Sox
1921-1922 NY Giants
1927-1928 Yankees
1929-1930 Phila. A’s
1936-1939 Yankees (1st team to win 3, then 4, in a row)
1949-1953 Yankees (the record, which will never be broken, of 5 in a row)
1961-1962 Yankees
1972-1974 Oakland A’s (only team other than Yankees to three-peat)
1975-1976 Reds
1977-1978 Yankees
1992-1993 Blue Jays
1998-2000 Yankees

…and I’m going blind from the suits that guy on TBS is wearing. I think he raided the late Lindsay Nelson’s suit rack.

Rays win slugfest 9-8 in 11 to even ALCS at one apiece.

I was at one of my brothers watching the PSU whipping of Wisconsin. As the game became a blowout, we switched back and forth between PSU and the ALCS.

A postseason record-tying seven HR were hit in the game, and the Red Sox hit three in one inning, but it was B. J. Upton’s SF off Mike Timlin that won the game for the Rays in the bottom of the 11th, handing the victory to rookie David Price. Price, the hyped (for good reason) rookie, came into the ALCS with five games and 14 innings of MLB experience. The series now heads to Boston even at one game apiece.

Dustin Pedroia hit two HR for the Red Sox, and Kevin Youkulis and Jason Bay added one each. Pedroia and Youkulis HR’d off Scott Kazmir in the fifth, and after a pitching change, Bay added one off Scott Balfour. Pedroia, Youkulis and Bay had 3 hits each, 4 RBI for Bay. So far in the postseason, Bay went .412-2-5 against the Angels (7 for 17) and in two ALCS games, is 4 for 8 with a HR and 4 RBI. Jonathan Papelbon kept his postseason ERA at 0.00. He’s now at 22 IP.

For the Rays, they got HRs from Evan Longoria, B. J. Upton and Cliff Floyd. Longoria had 3 hits and 3 RBI.

As for college football, the Wisconsin game was a game I was worried about before the season started. It was still a game I worried about as the game started. After all, the Badgers were a top-10 team and after couple of losses knocked them out of the top 25, could have remade their season and started a turnaround with a win. You don’t take any opponent likely in college football. Michigan found that out in their 2007 opener vs. Appalaichian St. Same later with West Va. vs. Pitt. I don’t know what happened to Wisconsin, but was very happy to see PSU blow the Badgers out 48-7. With #1 Oklahoma losing to #5 Texas 45-35, # 3 Missouri losing to #17 Oklahoma St. 28-23, and #4 LSU getting manhandled by #11 Florida 51-21, there will be a shakeup at the top. PSU should move to at least #3.

So this alum awaits a couple games for PSU. Next week, they are home vs. Michigan and SHOULD beat the Wolverines for the first time since 1996. After all, Michigan lost to Toledo yesterday, 13-10. But there have been times since 1996 when PSU should have beaten Michigan and didn’t. Like I said, never take an opponent lightly. But one thing’s for sure. After 12 years, and with the Wolverines having a down year, the crowd and players really want this one. Twelve years of frustration to Michigan should end.

The following week will be huge. Circle it. PSU at Ohio St. on October 25th. Should PSU win that one, the old Lion—Paterno—could see the BCS title game in his grasp. On the surface, it would appear (giving no disrespect to Iowa or Indiana) that should PSU get by Ohio St., that the only thing standing in their way then would be the final regular season game of the year vs. #23 Michigan State—a home game for PSU.

But you never know. One game, one play at a time.

For the old lion, one last roar?

Out in the AFL, Austin Jackson has hit a slump after a good opening day. I believe he was 2 for 4 in the opener. He is 1 for 13 since.

Remember that YFCR is on hiatus. When YFCR returns, I’ll let you know.

Games 147 & 148. The final homestand. The last DH? Yanks, Moose lose opener 7-1; win nightcap 6-5.

Day/night separate admission DH. I’ll try to keep in touch while also catching the PSU-Syracuse game on ABC this afternoon (and, if it’s the blowout it’s expected to be (PSU by 26) catching some of ND-Michigan) .

My mom has a cousin in the Houston area. Hopefully he is safe.

GAME ONE
YANKEES (77-69 2 games behind Toronto for 3rd)

See yesterday’s post for details.
Damon CF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B

Giambi 1B
Nady LF
Matsui DH (see yesterday’s post. Why? Get the surgery now, Godzilla.)
Ransom 3B (A-Rod scratched with stiff neck).
Cano 2B
Molina C
Mussina RHP (17-8, 3.48, ERA+ 122). Mussina looking to tie Jim Palmer on the all-time list with 268 wins. NY Post reports that should Mussina win, he would have the EXACT same w-l record as Palmer.

Same lineup as it would have been for Ponson last night. I’d expect Pudge to catch Game 2 tonight with Ponson on the mound.

Pete Abe reports that Hughes has been called up. He may (should?) get the start on Wednesday. In his two playoff starts for SWB, Hughes pitched 13 innings (would have been more but last night was a blowout and Hughes was pulled after 5 with an 11-1 lead), 1 R, 8 H, 4 walks and 23 Ks. Outside of two bad outings vs. Lehigh Valley, his minor league outings weren’t that bad, and he was getting better each time out.  We’ll see. He needs innings and will be going to the Arizona Fall League this winter.

Various places are now reporting what I wrote yesterday…that Pettitte has been scheduled for Tuesday and then will start the Stadium finale. The appropriate choice. Pettitte, of course, has had more on his mind. Deer Lake, TX is outside of Houston, and Andy went home to bring his family to NY.

Has anyone noticed WHY Toronto has passed the Yanks for 3rd (besides the poor Yankees RISP, the better pitching [Burnett, Halladay] of Toronto and other matters)….could it possibly be Cito Gaston? Cito is 44-28 (.611) since taking over the Blue Jays this year. It’s amazing to me how this guy wasn’t hired by ANYONE from 1997 until this year, when the Blue Jays brought him back. I mean, how many other guys out there have won two World Series or took his team to four postseasons? To me, it is inexcusable that he wasn’t hired by anyone for eleven seasons. As much as I hate seeing the Yanks in 4th, I’m glad that Cito is basically telling all those who passed him by to stick it. Good for him.

Yanks face Shields in Game 1 (weather permitting, and it appears good) and Garza in Game 2. Pete Abe reports that Evan Longoria may come off the DL today and that David Price has been called up by the Rays. Tampa # for eliminating the Yanks from the division title is 7. Boston’s is 9 for eliminating the Yanks from the Wild Card.

I’ll be in and out tomorrow. A VERY busy day. My parish has their annual picnic (hoping for good weather) and I’m scheduled to work for a few hours tomorrow afternoon during the Yankees game. I should make it home in time for YFCR (pausing to gorge myself with food at the picnic beforehand of course) and then comes the Steelers-Browns game tomorrow night. I’ll have to mute Olbermann though.

I’m a Steelers fan in Eagles country. Talk about going overboard, a Philly TV station (ABC of course, being that ESPN—associated with ABC—has the Monday night Dallas/Eagles game) is hyping the game as the battle for first place. Never mind it’s the second game of the season. Give it a rest, for crying out loud.

DH, Trenton (Game 3 of AA Championship), PSU…a busy day for me. I hope you enjoy today as much as I hope to enjoy today myself.

Forgot to mention. SWB goes to Oklahoma City for a one-game showdown with the PCL champ on Tuesday. It’s nice to see on Pete’s blog that an award from the game has been named in memory of Bobby Murcer. 

Listening in. A-Rod scratched with a stiff neck.

End of 4. Yanks offense collectively has a stiff neck. Moose down 2-0. Moose more or less needs this for any shot at 20.

IF I HAD A VOTE: AL CYA: Cliff Lee. MVP: Tough call, but I’ll go with Pedroia. In a year where Manny has been traded, Varitek has been horrible, Ortiz has missed 50 games and is at .265, Beckett is 12-9, 4.10, Wakefield 8-10, 4.11, the Red Sox are still playoff-bound. Pedroia leads the league in BA, hits, runs and doubles and sets the table for the team. 17 for 18 in SB, too. Hence my vote.
NL CYA: Tim Lincecum. 16-3 for a lousy team. Leads in ERA and K’s. MVP: Delgado. The Mets were 39-39 when he had his 2 HR, 9 RBI day vs. the Yanks. His revival and the Mets’ revival happened at the same time. No offense to Pujols, but without Delgado’s revival, where are the mostly Pedro-less, Alou-less and now Wagner-less Mets?
5-0 Tampa in the 5th. Forget this one. Forget 20, Moose. Yanks have just two hits through 4, both by Jeter. 7 to tie now, 8 to pass Gehrig for most hits at the Stadium. Looks like Moose is gone for the game, too.
May as well prep for the PSU game. Later.

Yanks lost the opener 7-1. Only run a HR by Abreu in the 9th. He and Jeter had 5 of the Yanks 8 hits. Jeter’s 3 hits mean that he needs 6 to tie Gehrig for most at the Stadium, 7 to pass him. Here is betting that he does it.
Moose gave up 5 in 5 IP. Giese gave up 2 in 2 IP, 1 ER. Britton went the 8th.
PSU up 38-6 at the half.

PSU won 55-13. ND beating Michigan, so Ty and Joe must be happy. As for PSU, I’ll have to see what happens when they get into the Big 10 schedule.

Jeter up to .299, Abreu .298 going into Game 2. Abreu’s 17th HR means most since 2005.

GAME 2

Gardner is in CF, leading off. Ransom at 3b, but Alex is DHing. Betemit at 1B, Pudge C.

During the PSU-Syracuse game, the announcer said that during his days at Brown, Paterno was coached in basketball by Weeb Ewbank. Fine. He also said that Paterno guarded Boston College guard Bob Cousy. The announcer should have done his homework. Paterno could have guarded Cousy, and most likely did at one point, but Cousy went to Holy Cross. 

Two walks, a balk and a SF by Alex in the 1st. 

Trenton up 1-0. HR by A-Jax. Game 3 of their Eastern League Championship and Trenton looking to defend the title they won lat year. Series even at a game apiece.

Robertson is up and available.

Gardner strikes out in the 3rd with two on. I knew he K’d a lot in the minors, ok. But too many K’s I’m seeing are of the caught looking variety. Swing the bat, Brett. Even if fooled, if the guy hits a 40 foot nubber, he beats it out. Swing the bat. 

Another hit for Jeter. 5 to tie, 6 to pass.

Ponson gives up a granny in the 4th. Coke in. Yanks offense non-existent again. This team seems to have rolled over and died, and that is an indictment of the leadership.

Trenton is up 3-1 in the 8th.

Betemit HRs. 4-2 Rays.

Gardner RBI groundout. 4-3. Jeter gets another hit. He’s going after that record like on a Mission from God. 4 to tie, 5 to pass.

2 2/3 scoreless from Coke. Nice job. Scoreless 7th for Marte.

ANOTHER hit for Derek. He’s attacking that record and a .300 average with a vengeance. 3 to tie, 4 to pass. Is there any doubt now that he will get it? Tie game in the 7th due to a Tampa error.

…and Nady unties it with a hit. 5-4 Yanks.
Joba has a 1-2-3 8th. Going to the bottom of the 8th, then Mo.

RBI single by Abreu. Insurance run. He and Alex with RBIs in this game in their drives for 100.

Mo saves it. Melky came in for D. Gardner shifted to LF. Mo gives up a run (rust shows in Mo’s 2nd outing of the month) but Yanks win 6-5.