It started ugly but ended, if not pretty, than well enough for the Yanks today in the Bronx as they beat the Mariners, 9-5. Ichiro! led off the game with a home run against Javier Vazquez and then Russell Branyon became the first man to hit a home run into the right field upper deck at the new Yankee Stadium (Branyon is also the only player to hit the Mohegan Sun bar in center). The Yanks scored four in the bottom of the first (two-run single by Robinson Cano and a two-run dinger by Jorge Posada) but Vazquez gave it back and didn’t last long–three innings. This after not making it into the fifth in his previous two starts.
Right now, it’s CC Sabathia and pray for the Score Truck…
Jason Vargas, meanwhile, retired fifteen straight Yankees after the tough first inning. The score remained tied at four until the bottom of the sixth when Eduardo Nunez got his first big league hit–punching a high change-up, well out of the strike zone, through the hole in the right side of the infield for an RBI single. The ball came back to the infield and was passed over to the Yankee dugout. On its way, Nunez, briefly held it. He was standing on first, smiling. He kissed the ball, smiled some more and tossed the ball to Gene Monahan, the Yankee trainer, for safe keeping.
The Yanks added a couple of more runs, then another one in the ninth on their way to the win. Mariano Rivera, that bum, that zero, that dog, allowed a run in the ninth raising his season ERA to 1.18 (bum!). Otherwise, the Yankee bullpen was terrific, especially Chad Gaudin, who pitched three scoreless innings.
A nice win for the Yanks, though another rotten outing for Vazquez does nothing to help the digestion. On top of that, Alex Rodriguez is headed to the DL. “We’re going to play it safe,” Joe Girardi said after the game. “We don’t think he’s any worse than the time before.”
Right-handed pitcher Ivan Nova will take his place on the active roster. Nova will make his first major league start on Monday.
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Elsewhere, around the majors, Cliff Lee got beaten about the face and neck again today, this time by the Orioles (eight runs in 5.2 innings). The Red Sox and Jays play at 7, the Rays are in Oakland again later tonight.
[Picture by Bags]
Really... I've had it with Mo. Trade the bum for a bag of balls!
If ARod's issue isn't somewhat serious... why the DL? Do we need the roster spot? This is not good news. I wouldn't think a calf strain was that disabling.
Just watched the game on replay here this morning, despite the win I have heartburn from watching Jome Run Javy..that Branyan shot was ridiculous, HAD to be more than 440ft they announced.
Girardi continues his journey into confusion, but here we are again with a very good bullpen. Much as I'd like to chalk it up to coincidence, I feel the urge to give ol' sour puss credit.
The handling of A Rod's injury, however, leaves something to be desired.
And isn't it incredibly rare that a Mo earned run doesn't involve at least one poorly-struck ball? What a guy, yes, his earned runs even kinda amaze me.
I wonder if, with a little elbow grease, we could have 14, 15, maybe even 16 pitchers on the roster.
Speaking of elbow grease: Stephen Strasburg left his game early with extreme elbow pain. You hate to see that.
Also: BoSox blew a lead, now looking for the walkoff with Drew on first, one out, Papi at the plate...
[4] Keep me posted. I can't possibly navigate to SI.com or anything like that. Bring good news. Alert the women.
Papi GIDP.
I do feel that RSN is poised to jump ship, so it's important to squeeze every ounce of agony out of them that's can be squoze.
Snider doubles to lead off the tenth, but stupidly runs into an out on Fred Lewis's grounder to short, and on the next pitch Bard induces Yunel Escobar to GIDP. Very efficient extinction of the Jay threat.
[7] Telekinetic Run Prevention inducement by the Sox, 21st century grit!
[6] I agree. One problem is the rats jumped pretty quickly last year. At least the rats I know personally. Not a lot of agony there. They can quite comfortably give up if there isn't enough tease. What we need is to string them along as long as possible, then bring down the axe.
The Sox go down easy in the tenth. Ah, here's Papelbon!
[9] Indeed. A rusty axe. Although I don't really expect the fans to hang in much longer.
Papelbon has no serious trouble. Bottom of the 11th. The Jays must be nearly out of pitchers. Janssen can handle this one, but they'll need another to win it.
But it won't be necessary, because Jed Lowrie takes Janssen yard for the walkoff win!
[12] Ouch...but A's are up on Tampa Bay now..
It was probably asking too much of the A's to win three in a row.
Can't wait to see Ivan Nova. I predict he's going to be one of the biggest (best) stories down the stretch, and through the postseason.
No pressure, though, kid.
Its time to get Javy an MRI and a circulation test (dye). See if its muscular. He says he's not hurt ...