Game 69. Yanks snap losing streak, escape vs. Angels 6-5.

It looked good going into the bottom of the 9th. Yanks up 6-0 and CC doing well.

It ended 6-5 when Mo had to strike out Pujols with the bases loaded to end the game.

The Yanks got five in the third when Travis Hafner broke an 0 for 23 skid with a two-out, 3-run HR (11). Wells then singled, Overbay doubled him in and Nix (3 hits) singled in Overbay. For the way this team has been lately, it was an offensive eruption.

A double by Cano, groundout by Hafner and SF by Wells made it 6-0 in the eighth and the Yanks needed it.

The first two men reached on CC in the 9th.

CC (7-5, 3.93) 8 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 3 walks and 6 K.

Robertson could only get one out.

1/3 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 1 walk and 1 K. 2.93.

Mo finished it, barely, but was hardly vintage Mo. Save #24 and #632 of his career.

2/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 walk and 1 K. 1.80.

Reid Brignac (ugh) an 0 for 4 and he is now 4 for 40 as a Yankee.  I hate picking on him everyday but it is what it is.       

The Yanks are off Monday (travel day) as they come home. They welcome Donnie Baseball and the Dodgers for a two-game set Tues. and Wed.

Game 66. Offense reaches new low in 18-inning loss, 3-2

I know I’m one of Mo’s biggest fans. I also know that he came in with a man on, one out, and gave up a hit, int. walk and hit and the Yanks then lost 3-2.

But he isn’t the story of this game. For he didn’t lose it (figuratively and realistically—-the L was put on Claiborne).

The Yankees offense lost it. For they reached a new low today.

In losing 3-2 in EIGHTEEN innings, consider this: Robbie Cano hit a 2-run HR in the first.

I had a 1/2 day of work today since I work a 1/2 day on Saturday. When I pulled into the parking lot at work today to start my shift, Robbie hit his HR. 2-0. 1st inning.

When I got out of work, it was 2-2 in the 15th. I drove to a bar for a few before heading home.

The Yanks lost 3-2 in 18. You aren’t dumb. You can do the math. The Yanks got 2 in the first on Cano’s 16th HR. They lost 3-2 in 18. You can figure out the rest.

The Yanks’ offense put up SEVENTEEN straight goose eggs on the scoreboard.

Mo should not have been in this game. Esp. after his ass picked up splinters off the bench for SEVENTEEN innings.

Kuroda was masterful. I feel most sorry for him and Warren (more on him in a bit). Kuroda 8 IP, 2 R, only 2 H. 2 walks and 3 K. 2.78 ERA but only a 6-5 record to show for it.

Robertson a scoreless 9th. 0 R, 2 hits, 0 walks and struck out the side. 3 K. ERA to 2.30.

Logan 2/3. 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks and 1 K. 1.45.

Kelley 1/3. 0 R, 0 H 0 walks and 1 K. 4.62.

At this point, it became painful to watch. It was a war of attrition.

God Bless Adam Warren, who with this offense putting up nothing but zeroes, went out every inning knowing that if he gave up a run the game was over.

Warren tossed six shutout innings. 0 R, 4 H, 2 walks and 4 K. ERA to 3.12. He got some help when Wells gunned down a runner at the plate.

Six shutout innings in an extra-inning game. Where you knew in each one of those innings that if you gave up one run the game was over.

Great job.

Claiborne pitched a scoreless inning in the 17th but with one out gave up a hit in the 18th.

Then Mo picked out the splinters from his ass from sitting on the bench so long and gave up a hit, int. walk and a hit. Ballgame over and a 3-2 loss.

Claiborne 1 1/3, 1 R, 2 H, 0 walks and 1 K. 0-1, 0.86.

Mo’s ERA stays at 1.48. 0 IP, 2 H, 1 walk, 0 K. 

The 4-5-6-7 hitters in today’s lineup, Teix/Hafner/Youk and Wells, went a combined 0 for 28 with 12 strikeouts.

Want to know their batting averages?  Teixeira (0-5, 3 K), just off the DL, is now 8 for 49, .163. Hafner (0 for 8, 3 K) is in a HUGE slump and down to .220. Youk (0 for 7 and 3K) is down to .219 and Wells (0 for 8, 3 K) is down to .229.

Read that last paragraph again. 4-5-6-7. 0 for 28. 12 K.

Averages now .163=.220=.219 and .229.

Need I say more?

On top of that, Brignac came into the game late. He’s now 4 for 30 as a Yankee.

But the Yanks don’t promote OF Thomas Neal, who was at what, .339 for SWB entering tonight? Granted he doesn’t have power (2 HR for he AAA club) but how long will they let Hafner/Youk/Wells struggle? They were ok in April but have coming crashing down to earth and in doing so are showing why their previous clubs let them go.

Today was painful and excruciating to watch. Great pitching performances were wasted by a pathetic offense putting up 17 straight goose eggs.

Today, the phrase “Bronx Bombers” was laughable.

“Bronx Banjo Hitters” was more like it.           

 

 

Game 63. Phelps matches King Felix, Yanks win 2-1.

David Phelps matched Seattle’s King Felix, and Chris Stewart’s RBI single in the 8th  9th (oops) gave the Yanks a 2-1 win to up their record to 37-26.

Phelps went 6, 1 r, 3 H, 3 walks and 6 K as he lowered his ERA to 3.90. He has solidified a place in the rotation.

Brett Gardner had four of the Yanks’ 7 hits, and drove in the Yanks other run in the second inning. He now leads the team with a .284 batting average. Stewart had two of the other three hits and is now second at .276. The slumping Cano is down to .272.

It was a rough day for Teixeira, 0 for 5 with 4 K, and Vernon Wells (.238) continues to slump. The Yanks offense continues to struggle but the pitching is carrying them as you can see by the 3-1 win yesterday and 2-1 win today.

Boone Logan 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H,  0 walks and 2 K. 1.53.

Robertson escaped a man on third, one out jam in the 8th. He gets the W, 4-1, 2.39.

Mo 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 walk and 0 K. 1.48.

The Yanks are off tomorrow (Monday).

Game 62. Yanks win 3-1. #250 for Andy, 630 for Mo.

Andy Pettitte pitched 7 1/3 great innings and got career win #250 on the same day the Yanks drafted his son, and Mariano Rivera saved a Pettitte win for the 71st time (extending their record) as the Yanks beat Seattle 3-1.

For Rivera, it makes 22 saves in 23 opportunities and was career save #630.

Pettitte went 7 1/3, 1 R, 3 H, 0 walks and 6 K as he was just dominant. He goes to 5-3, 3.82. He passes Vic Willis on the all-time list for wins and with his next win will tie Bob Gibson. Meanwhile, Pettitte also found out that his son, a righty pitcher, was drafted by the Yanks on the same day he got career win #250.

David Robertson 2/3, 0 R, 0 H, 1 walk and 0 K. 2.49.

For Rivera, who perhaps is having the greatest farewell tour ever (that is, people know this is it, as opposed to, say, Koufax), 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 walk and 3 K. 1.54. 62 games in, 22 saves, 1.54 ERA at age 43 1/2 after missing most of last year. Amazing.

The top of the lineup did the damage. Brett Gardner had three hits, two of them doubles, and Jayson Nix had two hits and two rbi. Nix also got his seventh SB of the season and hasn’t been caught yet.

Game 58. Mo saves… again. #629. Yanks win 4-3.

When you are embarrassed, you want to make it up… right away. You carry a chip on your shoulder and want so much more to succeed the next time out.

I can only imagine that that was the feeling that David Phelps took to the mound tonight. After all, the last time out, Phelps was knocked out in the first inning.

Well, that chip that may have been on his shoulder tonight was a good thing, for Phelps tossed six shutout innings, giving up just one hit, as the Yanks won 4-3 tonight. He impoves to 4-3, 4.15.

6 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 4 walks and 7 K. But the bullpen almost blew it.

The Yanks got all their runs in the third. Overbay doubled, Stewart singled, Overbay being held at third but Stewart thrown out at second. Ichiro singled in a run. Nix singled, the Teix hit HR #2, a three-run shot, to make it 4-0. Teix’s HR was his 340th, tying him with Jack Clark on the all-time list.

The Yanks almost blew it. Joba gave up a 3-run HR in the 7th.

Joba 2/3 IP, 3 R, 2 H, 1 walk and 1 K. ERA to 5.11.

Logan 1/3, 0R, 0 H, o walks, 1 K. 1.69.

Robertson had two on, no one out in the 8th when Swisher’s liner found mitt. Lucky, but a DP. 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 walk and 0 K. 2.55.

Then Mo. 21 for 22 in save opportunities this year. 1-2-3 with 2 K. ERA to 1.61. Save #629.

The greatest farewell tour ever. He’s going out at the top of his game, unlike players like Mays and Carlton.

Think about it. He’s 43 1/2. He missed most of last year due to an ACL. He’s retiring. He has 21 saves as the Yanks are 33-25. He’s saved 21 of their 33 wins. His ERA right now is 1.61.

Soak that in. We won’t see his like again.

Game 57. No 250 for Andy, but Yanks win 7-4.

Andy Pettitte has found it tough picking up career win #250. He couldn’t do it again tonight.

He went 4 2/3, 4 R, 7 H, 3 walks and 3K as his ERA climbed to 4.17.

Shawn Kelley got the win (3-0, 5.24) 1 1/3, 0 R, 0 H, 1 walk and 2 K.

Andy gave up a run in the third, but Teix’s first HR of the year in the bottom of the third was a grand slam that barely cleared the wall. 4-1 Yanks after 3.

Pettitte couldn’t hold the lead and left with the game tied in the fifth.

Gardner broke the tie with a two-run single in the sixth, and Hafner’s 9th HR made it 7-4 in the seventh.

The triumvirate of Joba, D-Rob and Mo closed it out.

Lyle Overbay started the game in RF, his first game in the OF in about 12 years as the Yanks sent Brennan Boesch to AAA to clear room for Pettitte.

Two Yanks struggling with the bat, Brignac and Romine, each had two hits tonight.

Joba 1 IP, 0 R 0 H 1 walk and 2 K. 3.09.

D-Rob 1 IP, 0 R. 0 h. 0 walks 0 k. 2.66.

Mariano save #20 on the year, #628 of his career.

1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 walks and 1 K. 1.69.

 

Game 54. CC comes through, Yanks end skid, 4-1.

The Yanks snapped their five-game losing skid as CC finally pitched the game we have waited all year for him to pitch, winning 4-1.

CC went 7 1/3, 1 R, 6 H, 0 walks and 10 K. When I mentioned recently that I was waiting for that dominating outing from CC which we didn’t see this year, this is what I meant. CC goes to 5-4, 3.71.

Robertson 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks and 1 K. 2.78.

Mo the 9th. After that blip against the Mets, back on track. 19 for 20 in save opportunities this year. 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 walks and 1 K. ERA to 1.77. Save #627.

The Yanks got two in the second on singles by Nix and Ichiro.

They got one in the fifth on a single by the just reactivated Youk, and Gardner drove in a run in the seventh.

To make room for Teix and Youk, Nuno and Nova were sent to AAA. Together with Wang, that AAA rotation might be pretty good right now (I am going there June 8th).

 

Game 51. Mo’s streak ends at 18 as he blows it, 2-1 Mets.

Mo is usually automatic. This year he was 18 for 18 in save opportunities.

But all streaks end sometime.

The Yanks took a 1-0 lead in the sixth when Gardner singled, went to second on an error, to third on a groundout and scored on an Overbay single.

But that was the only run they’d get all night as Met phenom Matt Harvey was tough.

One thing about the NL parks and losing the DH. It really exposes the weak Yankees lineup to have Hafner out of it. A 5-6-7-8-9 of Adams (in the majors just two weeks), the aging Ichiro, Brignac, Stewart and the pitcher is weak, and so the Yanks lose 2-1 to the Mets again.

Kuroda went 7, 0 R, 4 H, 0 walks and 7 K. ERA 2.39.

Robertson went the 8th, 1 R, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks, 1 K. 2.86.

Gardner saved a run with a great catch in the sixth.

But Mo couldn’t get anyone out. A double, single and error and another single led to two runs and dropped Mo to 0-1, 1.86 on the season.

Thank goodness the next couple of games are at the Stadium. They need the DH back.

UPDATE 1: From the LoHud blog.

Mariano Rivera made his 1,072nd appearance tonight, passing Dennis Eckersley for the fourth-most ever. Remarkably, this was the first time in all those games, on all those nights pitching where the cushion was nothing or close to it, that Rivera had blown a save without recording an out.

UPDATE 2: Joba back. David Huff Dfa’d. That didn’t last long for Huff.

Game 50. Yanks waste an opportunity, and I question Girardi as Yanks lose 2-1

Now don’t get me wrong. I think that Joe Girardi should be considered for the Manager of the Year in getting the Yanks to a 30-20 mark after 50 games, considering how banged up the lineup is and how, frankly, pathetic it is. (Entering tonight’s game, OPS+ 95, ERA+ 116, meaning the offense is 5% below average while the pitching is 16% above average).

But I second-guess him on something tonight. Something that may have cost the Yanks the game.

For one thing, the Yanks lost the DH tonight playing the Mets at Citi Field. Which meant the Yanks leader in adjusted OPS (OPS+), Travis Hafner, was benched (he made the last out of the game as a pinch-hitter).

Chris Stewart hurt the Yanks twice tonight.

The first time was in the top of the second. He came up with the bases loaded and hit into a DP. Not only couldn’t he get a SF (and the Yanks would lose 2-1), but the DP ensured that the pitcher, Hughes, would have to lead off the next inning. Playing in an NL park, that is inexcusable. He MUST get a SF fly there to get a run home, especially since Hafner is unavailable.

In the sixth, the Yanks broke the scoreless logjam when Gardner’s bloop down the left field line wasn’t caught by Duda on a diving attempt and went for a triple. Nix singled for what turned out to be the Yanks only run of the game.

In the bottom of the sixth, with one on and two out, Gardner robbed Murphy of a two-run HR.

Then came the point where I second-guess Girardi. The Yanks got two on with one out. Instead of pinch-hitting for Hughes and going for the big inning to break open a 1-0 game, Girardi let Hughes hit, and he laid down a bunt to move the runners up. But 2nd and 3rd, two out and Gardner grounded out.

I’d have PH for Hughes there and gone for the big inning to break it open.

But the Yanks are carrying 13 pitchers, even though they are in an NL park and losing the DH. WHY????? You know you are losing the DH, and need to PH more. Why 13 pitchers? Seriously.

So they don’t PH for Hughes after the last out in the sixth was a play that robbed Murphy of a 2-run HR.

So Joe lets Hughes in to bat in the top of the 7th, which may have cost the Yanks a big inning.

So what does Hughes (who pitched a good game) do to the first batter he faces in the bottom of the 7th? He gives up a HR to David Wright to tie up the game. As if the robbed HR ending the previous inning didn’t tell you something. As if you really needed him to hit with two on, one out in a 1-0 game. Instead, you leave him bat, then he gives up a game-tying HR to the next batter he faces.

Sorry, Joe. I was and still am, screaming about that one.

You have a depleted team. You are even more depleted since you have lost the DH in a NL park. Your pitcher was just saved from giving up a 2-run HR. But you let him bat with 2 on and 1 out where you can break the game open? And now that pitcher on the next batter he faces gives up a jack? Sorry. BAD MOVE.

Hughes went 7, 1 R, 4 H, 0 walks and 6 k. I knew going in to this game that Citi Field might be good for him. It’s a big ballpark, and he could give up fly balls here that won’t carry as in Yankee Stadium and what would be HR in Yankee Stadium would be outs here. I’m not as down on Hughes as most, but he is a free agent at the end of the year. Citi Field, or for that matter, SD, may work well for Hughes. If the Yanks are to trade him before losing him as a free agent, these places may work well for Hughes. Now the question is, what would the Padres or Mets have to offer? And could Phelps adequately then replace Hughes in the rotation? Or, for that matter, Nuno? Meanwhile the Kangaroo Court of the Yanks should fine Hughes $100, for two of the hits he gave up were to the Mets’ pitcher, Jonathan Niese. There is no excuse for that, giving up two hits to the opposing pitcher. Hughes’ ERA drops to 4.97.

In the 8th, David Robertson lost the game (3-1, 3.00). After a K, he gave up a bloop double, then a walk. A PB by Stewart took away the DP. Robertson did get a fielder’s choice, runner out at the plate, but fell behind Murphy 3-1. He didn’t want to walk Murphy to load the bases for Wright, and grooved a fastball down the middle which Murphy singled into CF. 2-1 and ballgame.

Robertson 2/3 Ip, 1 R, 2 H, 1 walk and 1 K.

Logan 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walk, 1 K. 1 batter, 1 K. 1.84.

I’ll say this for Nix. He can’t hit, despite 2 hits tonight (.239-1-12) but he is sure-handed at SS. Still, we miss Derek big-time.

Game 48. Best win of the year? Yanks comeback to win in 11, 4-3.

This may be the best win of the year. Down 3-1 in the 9th, down to their last strike, the Yanks rallied to win 4-3 in 11 innings to raise their record to 30-18.

With all the injuries so far. 30-18.

Vidal Nuno may change his first name to Vital. For he did a great job today in his second major league start. In his first MLB start he tossed five scoreless innings. Today he went 6+, 2 R, 5 H, 1 walk and 2 K. It’s too bad he almost got a loss. A ND, ERA 1.93.

The Yanks broke out with a run in the first on a double by Gardner and a single by Hafner. But that’s all they’d get until the ninth.

A couple of doubles tied it in the fifth for the Rays, then the Yanks bullpen couldn’t help Nuno in the seventh. Nuno gave up a single and was pulled. Shawn Kelley came in and faced one batter and gave up a double. Logan gave up a single for one run, then a grounder to short, and it appeared that the runner was out at the plate but the ump ruled differently. 3-1 Rays.

Kelley 0 IP, 1 batter. 1 R, 1 H, 0 walks or K. 5.49.

Logan 0 IP, 2 batters, 0 R, 1 H, 0 walks or K. 1.88.

Preston Claiborne once again did a great job. 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 walks and 2 K. ERA to 0.69. It’ll be hard to send Nuno and Claiborne down when Pettitte and Joba return.

The Yanks were down to their last strike in the 9th. Two out, no one on, and that arrow-shooting hot dog Fernando Rodney was on the mound. On a 3-2 count, he walked Lyle Overbay, then Brennan Boesch PH for Romine, who still isn’t hitting. Boesch doubled in one run then Gardner singled home Boesch (who barely made it) to tie the game at 3.

In the bottom of the 9th, with a man on second, Ichiro made a great catch of a liner that if it would have fallen, would have won the game for the Rays.

Robertson 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 walk and 1 K. ERA to 2.66.

Nova came in for the 10th. I was worried, for like Nuno the other day, he hadn’t pitched in a while and I thought he’d be rusty since he just came off the DL. But Joe, if the game goes extras, wants a long man in case the game goes plenty of extras. My fear was not unfounded as Nova loaded the bases with one out. But he got a K and a groundout to get out of it. As it would turn out, he got the win.

Nova (W, 2-1, 6.11) 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 walk and 2 K.

Overbay hit a HR (8) in the top of the 11th for the game-winner. 4-3 Yanks.

Of course, Mo came in for the bottom of the 11th. 1-2-3. K-GO-K. The G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time), at the age of 43, and retiring at year’s end, is now 18 for 18 in save opportunites this year. Save #626 of his career lowers this season’s ERA to 1.40.

1.40. 18 saves in 48 games.

Why retire?

He just continues to amaze.