There may be a lot of wear and tear on the elbow, but the ol' lefty still knows how to win.
Andy Pettitte was splendid through six, Jason Giambi collected three hits and drove in two and Mariano Rivera nailed down his 21st save of the season as the
Yanks bested the Reds 4-1 to avert the sweep. It took the Bombers a while, but they finally broke through against Cincinnati pitching with a run in the fifth on a Robinson Cano sacrifice fly and three more in the sixth on back-to-back doubles by Giambi and Jorge Posada to secure the victory.
The Good:Andy Pettitte. The Yanks entered play on Sunday riding a mini two-game losing streak and had their best "stopper" on the hill. Michael Kay gave the stat on YES and in case you missed it I'll regurgitate it for you. Pettitte is 3-0 with a 1.33 ERA this season when given the assignment to prevent a sweep. The lefty breezed through the first three innings and then wiggled out of a bases loaded, one out jam in the fourth by striking out Joey Votto and Jay Bruce. Rain halted action for nearly an hour after the sixth, but I think Pettitte was out of gas at that point, anyway. Pettitte extended his scoreless inning streak to 19 innings and picked up his third straight win. Pettitte moved to 8-5 with this: 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 hit batsman.
Jason Giambi. The big guy's mustache looked thicker and darker for some reason on Sunday (
Just for Men? Is it a fake?) and that translated to a perfect afternoon at the plate. Giambi singled in the fifth and came around to score the first run of the ballgame on Cano's sac fly. It was first time the Yanks held the lead in this series (how sad is that?). Then the Giambino delivered the death blow with an opposite field double just past the reach of Norris Hopper to stretch the Yankee lead to 3-0 in the sixth. Jay Jay rounded it up with a broken-bat single in the eighth. Giambi also made a nice throw to Derek Jeter on an Andy Pettitte pickoff in the fifth and swiped second in the second inning. There's nothing he can't do with that 'stache! Giambi finished 3 for 3 with 2 runs scored, 2 ribbies, a HBP and a stolen base.
Mariano Rivera. I know he's just a man, but he sure doesn't pitch like one. Rivera came into the game with a runner on second and two outs in the eighth. No problem -- he endued pinch-hitter Jose Valentin to hit back to the box. Things got a little interesting in the ninth -- the Reds brought the tying run to the plate with no outs -- but I never felt like Mo was going to blow it. Sure enough, The Sandman didn't disappoint. A fielder's choice, a strikeout and another grounder back to the box and the ballgame was over. Rivera has now converted on 21 of 21 save opportunities this year. Amazing. Rivera's line: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.
The Bad:Kyle Farnsworth. There's no shame in giving up a home run to Ken Griffey Jr. (I mean the guy has gone deep a few times in his career), but it was the 10th gofer ball Farnsworth has given up in 34 innings this year. That's just too damn many -- especially if you're being counted on to pitch late in games. It didn't get any better for Kyle. Brandon Phillips came up next and smashed a ball that Farnsworth deflected with his bare hand. It ricocheted to Alex Rodriguez, but his throw was wild and Phillips went to second on the error. But that wasn't the worst of it. Farnsworth left the game holding his hand. Turns out all
Farnsy needed were some stitches and he doesn't expect to miss any time. And as much as it pains me to write, the Yanks need Farnsworth in the pen. Maybe not as the eighth inning bridge, but they do need him. Farnsworth's afternoon: .2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HR.
The Ugly:The
Baby Kid. I guess some grudges just never die.
Ken Griffey Jr. was asked about his favorite Yankee Stadium moment since this is probably his last trip to the ol' girl. His response? "My favorite Yankee Stadium memory? It's
leaving Yankee Stadium." Griffey has yet to forgive Billy Martin for yelling at him when his pop Ken Sr. was a member of the Yanks. Who cares that it was Billy Martin and not the Bombers organization that wouldn't allow Junior Griffey to run on the field when he was a lad. Or that the former Yankee skipper has been dead for nearly 20 years? Grow up, Ken. You're not a Kid anymore.
Monday is an off day as the Yanks head to Pittsburgh to take on the Pirates in a three-game set beginning Tuesday night. It will be the Bombers first visit to the Black and Gold City since Bill Mazeroski's game-winning homer in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series. I wasn't around back then, but ask any old-time Yankee fan about that Series and I'm sure you'll get a profanity-laced recap. Game 1 will feature Darrell Rasner (4-4, 3.64 ERA) against Tom Gorzelanny (5-6, 6.59 ERA). Gorzelanny has had a tough season, but June has been his best month so far (and that's not saying much: he's 1-1 with a 5.11 ERA). He picked up a no-decision in
5-4 Yankee victory last season in the Bronx, giving up four runs in 6 1/3 innings. Rasner snapped a personal four-game losing skid in his past start against the San Diego Padres, but he sports a 5.57 ERA on the road this season.
My brother is going to be in Pittsburgh for the Wednesday and Thursday games. I may get some pictures from PNC Park, but my brother and I are very similar -- absent minded and lazy. His girlfriend may be my best bet to get some snapshots.
Help me Jen. You're my only hope.
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Good to see Giambi going the other way. Don't expect him to hit 300 but if he can stay in the 270 area and hit close to 40 homers, I'd say it would be a very successful season.