That fickle mistress known as Mother Nature reared her ugly head Thursday night.
Johnny Damon, Derek Jeter, Bobby Abreu and Alex Rodriguez ripped off four straight extra-base hits in the top of the first to give the Yankees a quick 3-0 lead, but rain halted action after 2 2/3 innings with the Bombers up 3-1. The game will be made up
July 10.
Two positives (if you're that type of person) from the game: Johnny Damon returned after missing the past two games and laced a double in his first at-bat. He didn't bust it going around the bases, but he he looked good enough to go. And the Bomber bullpen should be plenty rested come tomorrow's doubleheader.
The Yanks head back to New York and begin a four-game set with a doubleheader against the Mets Friday afternoon in the Bronx. Game 1 will match Dan Giese (1-2, 0.64 ERA) against Mike Pelfrey (4-6, 4.30 ERA). Pelfrey has had a solid month of June (2-0, 2.81 ERA) and hasn't dropped a decision since May 26 against the Florida Marlins. This will be his first look at the Yanks. Giese pitched well in his first-ever start against the Cincinnati Reds last week, but was charged with the loss despite not allowing an earned run in his 6 2/3 innings of work. Giese has issued only one walk in 14 innings this season.
Game 2 will be played in Flushing and features newest Yankee Sidney Ponson (4-1, 3.88 ERA) going against Pedro Martinez (2-1, 6.57 ERA). Pedro has been inconsistent since coming off the disabled list and was smoked for six runs in 4 1/3 innings in his last start against the Colorado Rockies. Martinez is 11-10 in 31 career starts against the Bombers with a 3.03 ERA. Alex Rodriguez is a career .302 hitter (16 for 53) against Pedro with one homer and four RBIs. Ponson has given up 29 hits in his past 15 innings and is 1-1 with a 6.60 ERA in his past three starts. But he has good career numbers against the Metropolitans -- 1-1 in three starts with a 2.86 ERA.
I would be thrilled if the Yanks earn a split.
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Too bad the game got rained out. Mussina may have been well on his way to win number 11. Interesting to see how Ponson does.