Chien-Ming Wang retired the first 22 Mariners he faced yesterday afternoon before losing his perfect game, no-hitter, and shutout all on a single swing when Ben Broussard poked a homer just over the wall in the gap in right field.
Jeff Weaver, meanwhile, had his first solid start of the season allowing just one run through five innings before melting down in the sixth. Bobby Abreu led off the bottom of the sixth with a bunt single (yes, he finally got one), Alex Rodriguez followed with a ground ball up the middle, Jason Giambi walked, and Weaver nailed Hideki Matsui in the thigh to force Abreu home (Matsui was fine and played the rest of the game, making a key running catch on a warning-track shot by Ichiro Suzuki to keep the perfect game going in the top of the seventh). Jorge Posada followed Matsui with a single off the end of the bat to plate the third Yankee run. After Robinson Cano struck out and Doug Mientkiewicz (who was 2 for 4 and briefly got his average above the Mendoza line) hit into a fielder’s choice that forced Giambi at home, Weaver walked Melky Cabrera to plate another run and Derek Jeter finally delivered the knockout blow by doubling in two more to make it 6-0 Yankees. They’d add another run in each of the following two innings to make the final score 8-1.
As for Wang, the scary thing was he didn’t really look that dominant. He went to four three-ball counts and gave up four fly ball outs through the first five innings. The Yankee Stadium crowd really came alive after Wang got two strikes on Jose Lopez with two outs in the sixth. Lopez worked the count full, fouling off a couple of pitches, but then grounded out to Alex Rodriguez, who had made a nice backhanded stop on a hard hit ball down the line by Lopez to end the third. With two out in the seventh, Wang fell behind Raul Ibanez 3-0, but poured in two perfect strikes low in the zone to run the count full, then, after a foul, struck him out on a sinker in the dirt. The pitch that Broussard hit out of the park was supposed to be another of those sinkers at the knees, but stayed up thigh-high and right over the plate. It was the only bad pitch Wang would make all day. He gave up a single to Jose Gillen after the home run, but erased it by getting a double play in the only opportunity he had for one in this game. All totaled, Wang threw 103 pitches (63 percent strikes), struck out four, and got 14 of his remaining 20 outs on the ground. Brian Bruney pitched a perfect ninth.
The Yankees have now won four of their last five and five of their last seven. In the first game of that smaller stretch, Phil Hughes took a no-hitter into the seventh. He and two relievers limited the Rangers to just 29 batters. Yesterday afternoon, Wang and Bruney combined to face just 28 Seattle Mariners. The Yankees have scored 19 runs in the first two games of this series and have finally won starts by Wang, Andy Pettitte, and Mike Mussina in the same turn through the rotation.
Johnny Damon didn’t start yesterday after pulling up lame with a calf cramp in his final at-bat on Friday night. Joe Torre said that Damon could have played yesterday, and one expects he’ll do so today. Alex Rodriguez was hit on the elbow leading off the seventh inning yesterday. He played the field in the top of the eighth, but came out for a pinch-hitter after Wang lost the perfect game. The pitch hit him on the elbow pad, but might have triggered his funny bone. There’s likely no cause for concern, after all, the Yankees had a six-run lead in the eighth inning when he came out of the game. Carl Pavano is back with the team, but despite rumors of Tommy John surgery, the Yankees have not made an official announcement about his meeting with Dr. James Andrews. Cashman was supposed to speak to Andrews yesterday and could give some information today. Phil Hughes finally had his MRI and Cashman has suggested that his hamstring tear may not be as severe as originally thought, though he’ll still likely miss the expected four to six weeks. Finally, Darrell Rasner, who starts today, takes Colter Bean’s place on the roster. Word is Rasner will be optioned out on Monday to make room for Matt DeSalvo, whom the Yankees hope will be able to stick as the fifth starter.
Meanwhile, the availability of Mariners’ reliever Julio Mateo is in question following a police investigation.
