Andy Pettitte gave up a three-run home run to Carlos Pena in the first inning but the real pain game a couple of innings later when Pettitte was removed from the game with what has been diagnosed as a grade-one strained left groin. Pettitte is likely headed to the disabled list and if anyone was still sore at AJ Burnett, well, I can’t expect they’re feeling especially forgiving now even if it is Sunday.
The Yanks rallied against Tampa’s ace, David Price, and ran away with another slow-moving game, 9-5. The offense clicked, Brett Gardner running, a big RBI single by Derek Jeter, couple more base knocks by Nick Swisher, and a couple of base hits by Alex Rodriguez–one that nearly decapitated Price, another that bounced off the back of the bullpen wall, good for career home run number 598.
The bats got it done, and so did the Yankees’ bullpen. David Robertson, who relieved Pettitte and immediately worked work of a jam, and Chan Ho Park were particularly strong.
So…it was a good, albeit costly, win. Losing Pettitte is no small matter, though it would have been difficult to imagine him not getting dinged-up along the way at some pernt. With the trade deadline fast-approaching, you can bet Brian Cashman will be working the phones.
[Photo Credit: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images]
