Saturday YanksBlog.com game recap

CC Sabathia pitched seven shutout innings in the Yankees 3-0 victory over the Red Sox this afternoon.  Read all about it on YanksBlog.com.

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And on that note, I’d like to offer up an apology.  I obviously have not been blogging much this month.  I’ve been busy with school and the newspaper, and maintaining this site has been moved to my mental backburner.  I hope to write more as the playoffs are set to begin.

Gardner, Duncan back

Peter Abraham reports the Yankees’ latest roster moves this morning.

Brett Gardner has been activated off the disabled list.  He hasn’t played since July 25 with a broken left thumb.  Shelley Duncan has also been recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

The Yankees and Rays are playing a doubleheader at the Stadium today.  CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett get the starts.

Yanks hit 5 home runs, win 9-6

Jorge Posada hit two home runs and drove in three runs in the Yankees’ 9-6 victory over Baltimore Tuesday night.  Robinson Cano, Eric Hinske and Nick Swisher joined in on the home run fun as well.

A.J. Burnett did not fare as well, allowing six runs and 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings.  He allowed a two-run home run to Felix Pie and a three-run home run Luke Scott.

Damaso Marte earned his first win of the season after retiring all three batters he faced.  David Robertson, Phil Coke and Mariano Rivera also had scoreless outings, with Rivera earning his 38th save of the season.

The Yankees will go for the sweep tomorrow night with CC Sabathia on the mound.

Cano walks off

Robinson Cano hit a walk-off three-run home run in the 10th inning to defeat the Chicago White Sox 5-2 Friday night at Yankee Stadium.

The duel between CC Sabathia and Mark Buehrle lived up to the hype for the most part.  Sabathia struck out 10 through seven and Buehrle only allowed two solo home runs – from Derek Jeter to lead off the game and Johnny Damon in the third inning – over six innings.

Sabathia had a 2-0 lead until the seventh.  But Jermaine Dye led off with a double, Carlos Quentin walked and Alex Rios hit an RBI double to cut the lead to 2-1.  After a line out, Alex Rodriguez, with Ramon Castro batting, made a nice throw home to cut down the lead runner at the plate.  He also saved another run when he made a diving stab at third to hold Jayson Nix to a leadoff single.  Gordon Beckham then singled to right to tie the game at 2, but Nick Swisher’s throw home beat Castro to the plate for the third out of the inning.

After that, it was a battle of the bullpens.  Phil Hughes, Mariano Rivera and Brian Bruney each pitched scoreless innings, while Matt Thornton and Scott Linebrink combined for three shutout innings as well.

But in the bottom of the 10th, Randy Williams walked two batters with two outs before Cano came out.  He then belted one into the Yankees’ bullpen in right center to win the game.

The Yankees have now reached 80 wins with tonight’s victory.  Sergio Mitre will start tomorrow’s game, with first pitch at 1:05 p.m.

Walks ruin Burnett’s start, Yanks lose 7-2

A.J. Burnett was cruising well into the fourth inning Thursday afternoon at Yankee Stadium against the Texas Rangers.  In fact, he was perfect through 3 2/3 innings.  However, after two two-out walks, Burnett gave up a three-run home run to Ian Kinsler.  After that, the Rangers were well on their way to a 7-2 victory.

It wasn’t all Burnett’s fault.  The Yankees left 12 runners on base and couldn’t capitalize on starter Dustin Nippert’s seven walks.

Burnett was done after six innings.  He struck out a season-high 12 and only allowed two hits, but the three-run home run he allowed was more than enough to cause the defeat with the lack of run support he received.

Once Burnett was out, Phil Coke allowed a three-run home run to Nelson Cruz and Kinsler added his second home run of the game against David Robertson.

The Yankees will look to rebound tomorrow when they begin a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox.  CC Sabathia gets the start.

Beckett bombed in Yankees' 8-4 victory

(Originally posted for Baseball Digest)

The New York Yankees belted five home runs against Josh Beckett, a career high, Sunday night at Fenway Park in their 8-4 victory, to win the three-game series against their archrivals.

Derek Jeter led off the game with a home run and Hideki Matsui added two home runs to give him a total of four in this series. Alex Rodriguez and Robinson Cano also hit home runs.

CC Sabathia went 6 2/3 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) while striking out eight to record his 15th victory of the season.

Beckett allowed eight runs and nine hits over eight innings, throwing 120 pitches. He has now given up 15 earned runs in his last 13 2/3 innings. The eight earned runs also tied a season high, which also came against the Yankees on April 25.

Phil Hughes struck out one and allowed one hit in 1 1/3 relief innings, and Mariano Rivera struck out two and walked one to close out the game in the ninth. Both pitchers hadn't pitched since Aug. 19.

After a day off on Monday, the Yankees will begin a three-game series at home against the Texas Rangers.

AP Photo

What goes around, comes around

Earlier today (technically yesterday) I was still basking in the glory that was the 20-11 victory, saying how great the photos of Green Monster scoreboard are after a big victory.  Well, Yankees Universe was handed a blowout defeat of its own this afternoon.

See you all tomorrow (technically today).  CC Sabathia’s on the hill and Eric Hinske better not be in left field.

(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

CC cruises to victory

Despite allowing solo home runs to Kurt Suzuki and someone named Tommy Everidge in the first two innings, CC Sabathia was able to recover and dominate the Oakland Athletics over his next six innings to record his 14th victory of the season. The Yankees defeated the A's by a score of 7-2, as Oakland committed four errors.

Derek Jeter recorded his third straight three-hit game in the process, raising his team-leading batting average to .330. Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui and Melky Cabrera also added two hits apiece.

The game was tied at 2 until the sixth inning, when the Yankees broke the game open with five runs on four hits against Jay Marshall and Santiago Casilla.

The Yankees stay seven games ahead of Boston after they defeated Toronto last night 10-9. Chad Gaudin takes the hill for the Yankees in tonight's rubber game. First pitch is slated for 10:05 p.m.

As Pettitte settles down, Yanks come back

Andy Pettitte’s evening began rather inauspiciously at Safeco Field Saturday night.  Though the Yankees eventually won 4-2, it didn’t look like Pettitte would hang around for a while.  Ichiro Suzuki led off with a single, followed by a Franklin Gutierrez single, a Jose Lopez RBI single and an RBI groundout from Ken Griffey Jr.

After retiring four of his next five batters via the strikeout, he had trouble with the Mariners’ top of the order in the third inning.  Suzuki led off with a single and Gutierrez walked.  But after that, Pettitte closed the door.

When the dust settled, he struck out a season-high 10 batters over six innings, allowing six hits and two earned runs.  For the second straight game in Seattle, the Yankees’ starting pitcher struck out 10.  Pettitte, CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett now each have one game of double-digit strikeouts this season.

The Yankees began their comeback in the second when Jorge Posada doubled off the top of the right center field wall.  The play was reviewed, but the call stood.  Jerry Hairston Jr. eventually drove Posada home on a fielder’s choice to halve the Mariners’ lead.

For the next few innings, Seattle’s starter, Ryan Rowland-Smith, held the Yankees in check.  However, in the fifth, he was hit with some bad luck.  Melky Cabrera singled with two outs and took second on a wild pitch.  Derek Jeter followed with a single through the left side of the infield, somehow getting under both Josh Wilson’s and Jack Hannahan’s gloves to score Cabrera and tie the game.

The game remained tied at 2 until Mark Teixeira led off the ninth with a solo home run against Mark Lowe.  The Yankees would add another on Nick Swisher’s RBI single following Robinson Cano’s bloop double.

New York is now 30 games over .500 and remain 6.5 games ahead of Boston following a dramatic comeback of its own in Texas (they scored six runs in the ninth to win by four).  Sergio Mitre gets the ball tomorrow night.

Teixeira: Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images
Pettitte: AP Photo

Sabathia, Matsui power Yanks to victory over Seattle

(Originally written for Baseball Digest)

CC Sabathia struck out a season-high 10 Mariners and Hideki Matsui hit two home runs and drove in five runs in the Yankees’ 11-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners Thursday night at Safeco Field.

Sabathia went eight innings, allowing one earned run and three hits while walking two and throwing 104 pitches to earn his 13th win of the season.

The Yankees recorded 15 hits, including four from Matsui and two from Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon, Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano and Jerry Hairston Jr. The only Yankee starter without a hit was Nick Swisher, who went 0-for-3 with two walks.

In addition to Matsui’s two home runs (hit 18th and 19th of the season), Jeter hit his 14th home run to lead off the third inning.

New York got to Ian Snell, Seattle’s starter, early and often.  He settled down around the middle of the game, but the Yankees piled on as he continued to get tired.  He gave up eight earned runs in six innings, walking three and striking out four.  He has give up 13 earned runs in 13 1/3 innings in three starts since being traded to Seattle.

The Yankees are now 29 game over .500 and have a 6.5-game lead over Boston.  Andy Pettitte and Ryan Rowland-Smith get the ball tonight in a battle of southpaws.  First pitch is set for 10:10 p.m. ET.

The 2009 Michael Kay/YES Network Drinking Game

Love or hate Michael Kay, he is here to stay. After years of listening to him, both on television and the radio, I have noticed some of Kay’s favorite sayings and actions from the booth. I call these “Michael Kay clichés,” or “Kaychés.”

The 2008 Michael Kay/YES Network Drinking Game is still one of Scott Proctor’s Arm’s most popular posts. In response, I have made an updated version for this season. I hope you enjoy it and please drink responsibly should you decide to play along. I take no responsibility for you or your actions as a result of playing this game. And no, I don’t really expect you to take 22 drinks if Kay says, “Deuces wild.”

• Kay shamelessly plugs his ESPN radio show – 1 drink / Take additional drink if he says the time of day it’s on
• Kay screams, “See ya!,” “there it goes,” and/or “looking up” – 1 drink / If he says all three in the same call, finish drink.
• Kay says, “Fallacy of the predetermined outcome” – 1 drink
• Kay laughs like a maniacal moron, and then is joined by the others in the booth – 1 drink
• Kay says, “Put a bow on it” – 1 drink
• Kay says, “We’ll make sense of it all” – 1 drink
• Kay gets on his soapbox – 1 drink
• Kay says, “We thank you for joining us” – 1 drink
• Kay says, “If you’re just joining us” – 1 drink
• Kay says, “The crowd is still buzzing” a few minutes after something big happens in the game – 1 drink
• Kay asks if the batter should get the green light on a 3-0 count – 1 drink
• Viewer notices that the YES cameras cut off the top of Kay's head during a booth shot – 1 drink
• Kay talks about baseball strategy, and is probably incorrect – 1 drink
• Kay uses a word you have to look up in the dictionary – 1 drink
• Kay says, “Hey!” (i.e. “Hey, Yankee fans!” or “Hey, check out…”) – 1 drink
• Kay says, “Who but?” – 1 drink
• Kay says, “Tough league” when a pitcher throws a changeup or breaking ball when down in the count – 1 drink
• Kay says, “If it’s fair, it’s gone/trouble/a base hit/etc.” – 1 drink
• Kay talks about how Nick Swisher always has a full count on him – 1 drink
• Kay says, “Lineups, first pitch, BASEBALL!” – 1 drink
• “Jeterian” or “Jeteresque” is said by anyone in the booth – 1 drink
• Food is mentioned by any of the announcers – 1 drink / If Kay gets made fun of because of his weight, take an additional drink and eat a slice of pizza
• Kay refers to a ball as “driven,” “laced” or “served” – 1 drink / Take 2 drinks if it’s a different verb
• There is awkward silence in the booth – 1 drink
• Kay says, “Big healthy cut” – 1 drink / Take an additional drink if the “big” is emphasized
• Kay says, “Works into, and out of, trouble” – 1 drink
• Kay says that Melky Cabrera was the last Yankee to hit for the cycle – 1 drink / Take an additional 2 drinks if Kay says anything about Tony Fernandez
  
  
• Kay talks about a starting pitcher’s pitch count before the third inning – 2 drinks
• Kay says, “Pretty play” or “Oh, what a play!” – 2 drinks
• Kay refers to a player by his full name (i.e. “Andrew Eugene Pettitte,” “Derek Sanderson Jeter,” “Carsten Charles Sabathia,” etc.) – 2 drinks
• Kay says, “People forget,” assuming that Yankees fans don’t have good memories relating to something that could be perceived as common knowledge (i.e. "People forget Cody Ransom was actually the starting third baseman at the beginning of the year") – 2 drinks
• Paul O'Neill makes fun of Kay for having too many shows on YES – 2 drinks
• Kay says, “Aforementioned New York Yankees” – 2 drinks
• Kay says, “If you’re scoring at home” – 2 drinks
• Kay says, “On what would be the infield grass” when a pop up is caught in the short outfield in a domed stadium – 2 drinks
• Kay explains the benefits of the staggered lineup – 2 drinks
• Kay says a player is “like the little girl with the curl” – 2 drinks
• Kay says, “Let’s take this baby _th inning” – 2 drinks
• Kay asks, “Do the Yankees have a rally in their bones?” – 2 drinks
• Kay holds out the “he” in “he struck him out” (i.e. “Heeeeeeeeee struck him out”), the “goes” in “there it goes” (i.e. “There it goessssssss”) or the “see” in “see ya” (i.e. “Sssssseeeee ya”) – 2 drinks
• Kay uses his “Philthies” nickname for Phil Hughes and/or Phil Coke – 2 drinks / If he calls both of them “Philthy” in the same game, take an additional two drinks
• Kay screams, “Bonus cantos!” and/or “Free baseball!” when a game goes to extra innings – 2 drinks
  
  
• Kay refers to a past conversation he had and says, “He said” at least three times (Seriously, pay attention to this. He really does this all the time.) – 3 drinks
• Kay says, “He ties a record held by many” when a fielder records all three outs in an inning – 3 drinks
• Kay mentions Fordham University – 3 drinks / If John Flaherty mentions George Washington University in response, take an additional drink
• O’Neill’s “Seinfeld” cameo is brought up – 3 drinks
• Kay says, “That’s a fan for life” when a kid receives a foul ball – 3 drinks
• Kay says, “How many times do you see a player make a great play and then lead off the next inning?” or some variation of that – 3 drinks
• Kay apologizes in advance for messing up any strike calls when Tim McClelland is the home plate umpire – 3 drinks
  
  
• Kay says, “Looking up” after the ball has already reached the stands – Finish drink
• Kay asks his analysts a ridiculous question and is promptly debunked – Finish drink / Take an additional drink for each time he responds with a “don’t you think...” question
• Kay says, “Hit DEEP to left/right/center” and the ball is then caught well in front of the track – Chug a beer
• Kay says, “Deuces wild” – 22 drinks
• Kay isn't calling the game – Spray champagne
  

Again, please drink responsibly.

Thanks to my Twitter followers for their various suggestions.

Saturday YanksBlog.com game recap

CC Sabathia and the Yankees shut out the Boston Red Sox for the second straight day, this time defeating them 5-0.  Read all about it on YanksBlog.com.

Failing to get clutch hit, Yanks get swept in Anaheim

(Originally posted for Baseball Digest)

When the Yankees began their series in Anaheim on Friday, they were tied for first place in the AL East.  Now as they head into the All-Star break, they are three games behind the Boston Red Sox after getting swept at the hands of the Los Angeles Angels.  The Yankees lost Sunday’s game by the score of 5-4.

The Yankees had the bases loaded with no outs in the seventh and eighth innings, but they failed to get clutch hits to put them on top.

Down 4-2 in the seventh, Mark Teixeira struck out and Alex Rodriguez grounded into a double play to end the threat.  And in the next inning, after CC Sabathia allowed the Angels to score another run to make it a 5-2 ballgame, the Yankees came within one run, but Nick Swisher lined back to the pitcher for a double play.

For the third straight game, the Yankees had a lead only to lose it soon after.  Derek Jeter drove in a run on the fielder’s choice in the third inning.  But Sabathia gave up four runs in the bottom of the fourth, including RBI doubles from Bobby Abreu and Howie Kendrick, as well as an RBI from Robb Quinlan and a run-scoring groundout off the bat of Brandon Wood.

John Lackey only allowed two runs and six hits over seven innings.  He struck out six and walked three.  On the other hand, Sabathia gave up five earned runs over 6 2/3 innings, bringing his season ERA to 3.86.

Jeter and Melky Cabrera had two hits apiece, but the nine combined runners left on base by Teixeira and Rodriguez effectively sealed the Yankees’ fate.

After the All-Star break, the Yankees will begin a 10-game homestand with three-games against the Detroit Tigers on July 17th.

Pettitte, with help from long ball, leads Yankees to victory over M's

(Originally posted for Baseball Digest)

The first two times the Yankees took the lead Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium, Andy Pettitte gave it right back.  Once the Yankees took the lead for the third time, Pettitte was able to hold it, and the Yankees were on their way to a 4-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners to extend their winning streak to seven.

Pettitte pitched seven innings, allowing two earned runs or six hits while striking out five.

The Yankees took the lead in the third inning on Johnny Damon's 15th home run of the season, a solo shot to right field.  He has now homered 11 times at new Yankee Stadium.

The lead was short-lived, as Pettitte gave it right back in the top of the fourth.  Jose Lopez led off with a double and advanced to third on a fly out.  After a walk put runners on first and third with one out, Wladimir Balentien hit a grounder to first that Mark Teixeira bobbled.  Though he was able to get the out at second, the bobble cost the Yankees a shot at the double play.  As a result, the tying run scored.

It stayed a 1-1 game until the bottom of the fifth when Melky Cabrera snuck a ball just fair for another solo home run.  In fact, the play was so close that the umpires had to review it.  Ultimately, the call was upheld and the Yankees had a 2-1 lead.

But just like the last time they took the lead, Pettitte gave it right back in the next half-inning.  Ken Griffey Jr. hit a solo home run to right to tie the game at 2.

The Yankees didn't wait long to retake the lead.  Teixeira led off the bottom of the sixth with a single.  He was then followed by Alex Rodriguez, who hit a long two-run home run to center, his second in as many days, to give the Yankees a 4-2 lead.  The bullpen pitched two perfect innings after Pettitte left in the seventh, including Mariano Rivera's 20th save of the season.

The Yankees haven't trailed since Joe Girardi was ejected in the sixth inning Atlanta last Wednesday.  They are now 13 games over .500, which is their highest mark this season.

CC Sabathia takes the mound tomorrow night as the Yankees look for a sweep.

Principal Cano goes 4-4, Yankees win

Robinson Cano, who served as principal of PS 55 for the day, went 4-for-4 with two RBI – including the game-winning RBI – in the Yankees’ 5-3 victory over the Washington Nationals.

Things were kind of hairy for a while when CC Sabathia gave up a three-run home run to Anderson Hernandez, the 16-46 Nationals’ No. 9 hitter.  Hernandez only had one career home run going into that bat, and that home run came in 2006!

But alas, the Yankees were able to come back due to big hits by Mark Teixeira and Cano as well as bad center field play by Elijah Dukes.

Sabathia went 7 2/3 innings and dominated the game otherwise.  He threw 109 pitches while striking out two and walking one.  Brian Bruney made his return, retiring the only batter he faced.  Mariano Rivera then came in and pitched a perfect ninth for his 15th save of the season.

Chien-Ming Wang gets the start tomorrow night.

Tonight’s game has been postponed

So there you have it.  CC Sabathia and David Price tomorrow.  The makeup game will not be played in this series, reports Peter Abraham.

As you can see, I have not been posting as much as I’d like to.  On Monday, I began my summer internship in the city and am gone all morning and afternoon with no time to post at all.  I hope you understand.

Aceves stars in relief, propels Yanks to first place

Andy Pettitte left with lower back stiffness in the sixth inning with runners on first and second, no outs and a 2-0 count.  Alfredo Aceves came in to protect the Yankees’ 3-0 lead.  He walked the batter, struck out Kelly Shoppach on a nasty curveball, induced a sacrifice fly and got Asdrubal Cabrera to ground out to end the Indians’ threat.

Aceves would go on to pitch two more innings, allowing only one hit in the process to save the Yankees from using any other relievers.

Pettitte walked five in his five innings and didn’t have his best stuff at all.  But he only gave up one earned run, and the three runs the Yankees scored over the first three innings were enough.  Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher had the RBI for the Yankees.

Mariano Rivera recorded his 10th save of the season.  This was the 58th time that Rivera saved a win for Pettitte, setting a new major league record.

With the Red Sox’s loss, the Yankees have sole possession of first place by a half-game.

CC Sabathia makes his return to Cleveland tonight at 7:05.  Fausto Carmona will oppose him on the mound.

Tex, big first inning lead Yanks to sweep

Mark Teixeira hit home runs from both sides of the plate and the Yankees scored six runs in the first inning to complete a four-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins tonight at Yankee Stadium as the Yankees won 7-6.

With Andy Pettitte on the mound, the Yankees fell behind 2-0 after the top of the first inning.  However, they forced Twins starter Glen Perkins out of the game after retiring only two batters.

Teixeira started the scoring with a three-run home run after both Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon reached with singles.  Alex Rodriguez followed with a solo home run and Melky Cabrera and Francisco Cervelli added RBI singles as well.

Pettitte wasn’t great by any stretch of the imagination, but he essentially pitched to the scoreboard.  Up 6-2, he gave up 12 hits over 6 2/3 innings.  The Twins would score runs in the fourth and sixth innings off Pettitte before he was relieved by Jose Veras.  Veras walked a batter in the seventh to load the bases but got Carlos Gomez to fly out.

Up 6-4, Teixeira hit a solo home run in the seventh to extend the lead to three.  That would end up being huge.

Edwar Ramirez began the eighth inning and gave up a one-out home run to Denard Span.  After a two-out walk, Phil Coke was brought in.  Because Mariano Rivera had pitched three innings in two days, Coke stayed on for the ninth inning.

Coke walked two batters and gave up a run on a groundout, but because of Teixeira’s home run, the Yankees were up by two going into the inning.  Coke got Mike Redmond to ground out to second to end the threat and the game.

The Yankees are now on a six-game winning streak and will begin a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles tomorrow night with CC Sabathia on the mound.  The Yankees have won eight of their last 10 games.

Sabathia, Matsui lead Yankees to victory

CC Sabathia worked into and out of trouble all night, especially  in the seventh inning.  With runners on first and third with one out and the game tied at 2, Sabathia struck out John McDonald and eventually induced a fielder’s choice groundout to end the threat.

Hideki Matsui rewarded Sabathia with a leadoff solo home run in the top of the eighth to give the Yankees a 3-2 lead.  Sabathia improves to 3-3 on the season and Mariano Rivera recorded his seventh save.

Sabathia struck out five and walked four, but he gave the Yankees eight innings when he didn’t exactly have his best stuff.  He threw 111 pitches.

The Yankees struck first when Nick Swisher walked with the bases loaded in the top of the first inning.  The Yankees held that lead until the bottom of the fourth when Alex Rios hit a solo home run off Sabathia.  They would score again in the next inning on a Rod Barajas double to take a 2-1 lead.

The bottom of the fifth inning could have been worse for Sabathia and the Yankees.  After Barajas’ RBI double, McDonald singled to center.  However, Brett Gardner fired a one-hopper home that nabbed Barajas.  Sabathia was then able to record the third and final out to escape further trouble.

The young players on the Yankees started the team’s rally in the top of the seventh.  Gardner led off with a single and advanced to third on Francisco Cervelli’s single.  That ended Jays’ starter Brian Tallet’s night.  Jason Frasor entered and promptly gave up a game-tying single to Derek Jeter.  Matsui homered in the next inning.

The Yankees are now 17-17 and have won two series in a row after the five-game losing streak.  They will begin a four-game series against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium tomorrow night.  This begins a 10-game homestand.

AP Photo

Extra! Extra!

The Yankees recorded eight, count ‘em, eight extra base hits in tonight’s 8-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.  Amazingly enough, only one of those hits went for four bases and five of these came in their five-run second inning, including two triples.

Down 1-0 after the first, Melky Cabrera led off the second with a double.  Brett Gardner followed with his first career home run that just cleared the right field wall by the foul pole.  Ramiro Pena then hit a triple and scored on Johnny Damon’s triple.  After a ground out, Mark Teixeira doubled home the Yankees’ fourth run.  Robinson Cano added an RBI single for good measure.

This was all against Scott Richmond, a pitcher the Yankees have never before faced (which usually isn’t a good thing for the Yankees).  He only retired five batters, allowing five earned runs on seven hits.

Gardner hit an RBI triple in the fifth inning to give the Yankees three triples on the night.  The RBI gave him three.  Teixeira raised his batting average .011 points with his 2-for-4 night, driving in two runs.

Andy Pettitte pitched six innings, allowing only one earned run.  He walked four and struck out only two, but buckled down with runners on base.  Three of the four walks were in the first inning as well.

The Yankees are now 16-17 and will look to take the series tomorrow night with CC Sabathia on the mound.