Godzilla!

Hideki Matsui blasted a two out, two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth to guide the Yanks to a 7-6 victory over the Twins on a Thursday afternoon in the Bronx.  The Yanks were down 2-0 after one, jumped ahead 5-2 in the second and then broke a 5-5 tie in the eighth. I missed pretty much all of this game now that I have "normal work hours," but I used ESPN's gamecast and Depressed Fan and Vinny from Kearny gave me regular updates throughout the day and I caught the end of the game on Yankees Encore when I got home.

Therefore, my roundup will be limited, but (I think) fair.

The Good:

Hideki Matsui.  It was encouraging to see that Joe Torre still has faith in Matsui when he gave him the green light on a 3-0 count in the eighth inning.  Matsui fouled the pitch off, but I liked the aggressiveness.  Matsui eventually deposited a 3-2 pitch deep into the right field bleachers.  Godzilla has now homered in two straight games.  Matsui finished 2 for 5 with a run scored, and the two-run game-winning homer.

Melky Cabrera.  Melky belted a three-run homer to cap off the Yankees five run outburst in the second.  The Melk-Man has really taken to his new slot in the order -- he's batting .473 this year in the number 2 hole.  Melky finished 3 for 5 with a run scored and three ribbies.

Robinson Cano.  Melky ended the second inning scoring, but his buddy Cano got things going by ripping his 5th home run of the season, a solo shot, which cut the Twin lead in half, 2-1.  Cano entered the game batting a putrid .174 in day games, but he finished 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored.  Maybe the hazy sky was all Cano needed to stroke a couple of hits.

The Bad:

Kei Igawa.  I didn't physically see Igawa pitch, but the gamecast told me all I needed to know about his performance.  It was rancid!  It made me want to retch and vomit!  It is now painfully clear that Igawa doesn't belong in the Majors.  He would easily be Cashman's worst ever signing if not for one Carl Pavano.  The only positive for Igawa was that he didn't give up any homers.  Igawa's no decision: 5 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 3 K.  His ERA is now 7.14.

The Ugly:

Day by Day.  Alex Rodriguez missed his first game of the year on Thursday because of his strained hamstring.  An MRI came back normal and A-Rod may be back in the lineup for Friday's game against the Angels, but this whole situation has disaster written all over it.  The All-Star break is next week and even though the Yanks need wins, I think it would be best to sit A-Rod out for the weekend and see if he can give it a go after the break.  Rodriguez is a gamer and wants to play, but it wouldn't do him or the Yanks any good if he winds up missing a month or more because he tried to push it.

Well, the Yanks took three of four from their favorite punching bags, the Twins, but now they welcome in their nemesis -- the Angels -- for the final three-game set before the break.  Andy Pettitte will look to bounce back from a horrific start against the A's and will go against the beefy Bartolo Colon.  

A sweep of the Angels will move the Yanks one game over .500 at the season's halfway mark.

Can they do it?