The hits and runs keep on coming.
Jason Giambi belted a three-run homer, Robinson Cano was a doubles-machine and Bobby Abreu drove in four as the
Yanks slapped the Mariners 12-6 in the Bronx. Hideki Matsui turned in his third straight multi-hit game and Melky Cabrera collected two RBIs to help lead the offensive attack. Mike Mussina went five decent innings (despite giving up four runs in the third on the strength of two Seattle homers) as he improved to 7-4 and Joba Chamberlain pitched two scoreless frames as his transformation to a starter continues.
The Yanks have now won four straight and have crept back toward the mendoza line at 24-25.
The Good:Jason Giambi. I don't know when Giambi became a dead-pull hitter. I remember him as a player who hit to all fields when he was with Oakland. I suppose it started gradually, just as all things do in life. Anyway, he recaptured some of that old glory on Saturday when he socked a three-run bomb over the 399 foot sign in left center to give the Yanks a 3-0 lead. I doubt teams will stop shifting against him, but Giambi looks like he's making more of an effort to go the other way. Jay Jay also ripped a double and finished up with an excuse-me single for his first three-hit game of the season. Don't look now, but The Giambino's average now stands at .234 (and climbing). Giambi finished 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored and 3 RBI.
Robinson Cano. If I didn't know better, I would swear that Cano's bat was literally on fire. Robbie ripped three doubles on the day and finished with four hits. Some guys are just slow starters (for whatever reason) and Canu seems destined to be one of those players, but it looks like he's poised to string together a bunch of hits the rest of the way. Robbie now has a robust .352 average for the month of May. Cano finished 4 for 4 with a walk (intentional), a run scored and a run batted in.
Melky Cabrera. The Melk-Man has been slumping lately (his average has dropped from .286 on May 1 to .248 at the start of today's game), but he put the Yanks ahead 5-4 with a two out, RBI-single in the third. Much like last night's game, this one was close during the first half, but the Yanks put things on ice with two runs in the sixth and five more in the seventh. And Melky helped get things started. Cabrera finished 2 for 5 with a run scored and 2 ribbies.
The Bad:Kyle Farnsworth. I'm not really sure why Joe Girardi turned to Farnworth in the eighth with the Yanks up 12-4. Doesn't make much sense to put him out there with a eight run lead if he's going to take Joba's place as the set-up man for Mariano Rivera. Unless he's not the chosen one. Anyway, Farnsy was given the ball and he didn't get things done. Oh, he didn't give up the lead (could you imagine?), but he gave up a two-run blast to Richie Sexson which sliced the deficit in half to 12-6. It was a subpar performance from Kyle, but thankfully, it didn't occur with the Yanks clinging to a one-run lead. Farnsworth's totals: 1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HR.
The Ugly:Premature exultation. The umps have been having a devil of a time getting things right in the Bronx recently. First, they got the call wrong on Carlos Delgado's homer-that-wasn't on Sunday night. Then Alex Rodriguez was robbed of a home run on another blown call on Wednesday night. This one didn't involve a tater, but home plate umpire Larry Vanover lost track of balls and strikes in the ninth inning. Vanover punched out Adrian Beltre to end the ballgame on a pitch by Jose Veras. The Yankee dugout spilled out onto the field, Frank Sinatra was singing "New York, New York" and all was right with the world. But there was a small problem. It was only strike two. Beltre stood shocked at home and explained the count to Vanover. Vanover kept his helmet on, but I'm sure his face went red with embarrassment. Play resumed and Beltre eventually grounded out to second. No harm, no foul, but the boys in blue haven't been sharp lately.
The Yanks will pull out the brooms on Sunday as they go for the three-game sweep. Chien-Ming Wang (6-2, 3.51 ERA) will go toe to toe with Jarrod Washburn (2-6, 6.99 ERA). Washburn has given up a ton of hits this season (64 in 47.2 innings) and is a big reason why the Mariners are struggling, but he has pitched well in his career against the Yanks. The record may not show it (5-5 in 11 starts), but Washburn's ERA against the Bombers sits at a stingy 2.52. He's 1-4 at The Stadium with a 2.78 ERA. Wang was pushed back a day after injuring his calf against the Mets on Sunday. The Wanger owns the Mariners -- he's 7-0 in seven career starts with an impressive 2.39 ERA, which includes a 5-1 victory May 2 in New York.
A win on Sunday and the climb back to .500 will be complete.
Leave a comment
