All too easy.
Darrell Rasner pitched well, but in bad luck, Bobby Abreu launched a two-run bomb and Robinson Cano picked up two more hits and two runs batted in as the
Yanks slammed the Twins 8-2 at The Stadium. This one was a pitchers' duel through six, but the Bombers exploded for three runs in the sixth and four more in the seventh to stay unbeaten since the All-Star break and moved a season-best 10 games over .500 with their fifth straight victory.
Rasner gave up only two runs through 5 2/3 innings, but left trailing 2-1. David Robertson came in to relieve and was the beneficiary of the offensive outburst. D-Rob vultured his second win in four days with just one pitch. Yep, sometimes baseball is just unfair. The bullpen continued to flex its muscles as Jose Veras, Kyle Farnsworth and Dan Giese wrapped things up with three innings of one-hit ball.
The Good:Bobby Abreu. The Yanks seemed destined for another dismal offensive performance when Abreu stepped up to the plate with the score 2-1 Twinkies in the sixth. But El Comedulce sparked the Yankees with one swing of the bat. Abreu crushed a 1-1 pitch deep into the Bronx night with Johnny Damon aboard to give the Bombers a 3-2 lead. The Yanks would go on to score five more runs and coast to the win. Bobby has been slumping in July (.234 average heading into Tuesday night) and his dinger was his first since June 25 at Pittsburgh. Maybe this will jump-start his bat. Abreu finished 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored and 3 RBI.
Robinson Cano. Another night, another two hits for Robbie. Cano continued to wield a mighty stick with his fifth straight multi-hit game. Robbie's RBI-single in the second gave the Yankees an early 1-0 lead. Cano added another ribbie-single during the Bomber's three-run sixth to extend the lead to 4-2. Keep on keepin on, Rob. Cano finished 2 for 4 with 2 runs batted in.
Derek Jeter. Cano's hot-hitting has garnered most of the attention (and rightfully so), but The Captain is also starting to heat up. DJ's two-run double in the seventh gave the Yanks a more comfortable 6-2 lead. Jeter drove in two runs for the second straight night and is working on a modest four-game hitting streak. It's been well documented that Cano is a strong second-half hitter, but Jeter also comes alive when the weather turns oppressive. DJ is a career .322 hitter after the All-Star Game. Jeter finished 1 for 5 with a run scored and 2 ribbies.
The Bad:Melky Cabrera. The Melk-Man has been hitting well since the break (.353 in four games), but he didn't have a good one Tuesday night. Cabrera went hitless and also committed his fourth error of the year in the first inning. And it was an egregious one. Denard Span singled to center to open the game and Melky came in to field the ball, but misplayed it and Span advanced to second base. Physical error? Negative. Melky fumbled the ball because he was waving his hand in acknowledgment to the bleacher creatures' roll call. Inexcusable! The error didn't cost the Yanks, but Melky has to know better than that. Cabrera finished 0 for 4.
The Ugly:Screw you, doc. This news is a day old, but I forgot to mention it. Doctors recommended season-ending knee surgery for
Hideki Matsui, but Godzilla will try and make it back without going under the knife. "I still have a strong desire to come back this year and be a force for the
team," Matsui said Monday. I like Matsui's grit, but GM Brian Cashman didn't seem to think it would make a bit of difference. "I wouldn't say I'm optimistic, personally," Cashman said. "I think it speaks a lot to his heart. The doctors looked at him and
recommended surgery, but he wants to see if he can fight through it and continue
to play. And there's no harm. He's not going to make it any worse by doing that.
So we'll see. But I'm not optimistic." Prove 'em wrong, Matsui.
The Yanks will go for the sweep Wednesday afternoon. Mike Mussina (12-6, 3.49 ERA) will battle Glen Perkins (7-2, 3.84 ERA). Perkins has won five of his past six decisions and hasn't dropped a game since May 30 when the Yanks drubbed him for five runs on 10 hits in four innings. The Moose has been spectacular in July (2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in three starts) and is 21-6 with a 3.18 ERA in 31 career starts against Minnesota. Mussina was the winning pitcher for the Yankees in their May 30 win against the Twinkies at the Metrodome.
Time to take this winning streak to six.
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Not having Matsui's bat is a big downer. Cano does look really focused. He's making it look easy now. The Rays, as most predicted, are slipping. As usual, will probably come down to Yankees and Red Sox.