These guys aren't so tough.
Andy Pettitte twirled eight shutout innings, Derek Jeter contributed with his bat and glove and Melky Cabrera started a three-run eighth with a home run as the
Yanks blanked the Rays 5-0 on a sticky night in the Bronx. Bobby Abreu, Jorge Posada and Robinson Cano each collected two hits and Edwar Ramirez added a perfect ninth to help move the Bombers to within 7.5 games in the AL East.
The Good:Andy Pettitte. The word "gem" is thrown around a lot these days, but I don't think anyone could fault me for using that word to describe Pettitte's performance Tuesday night. Pettitte gave up two bloops, two infield singles and didn't walk a batter through eight stellar innings. The Rays mounted their only serious threat in the seventh when they put runners on the corners with two outs, but Pettitte got out of it (with help from a great play by Jeter) without allowing a run. I was a bit surprised that Joe Girardi sent No. 46 out for the eighth, but Pettitte responded with his fifth 1,2,3 inning to shut me up. Pettitte improved to 10-6 on the year with this: 8 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K.
Derek Jeter. The Yanks were on the verge of wasting a third inning that began with runners on second and third with nobody out, but The Captain refused to allow that happen. Jeter's two-out, opposite-field double brought in Robinson Cano and Jose Molina to give the Yanks all the runs they would need. DJ then made the defensive play of the night in the seventh. With runners on first and third and two outs, Willy Aybar grounded a ball between short and third. Jeter ranged far to his right, made the backhanded stab and threw a strike to Cano at second base to nip Dioner Navarro. End of threat and end of inning. Jeter finished 2 for 4 with a run scored and 2 RBIs.
Robinson Cano. Robbie's bat continued its summertime sizzle. Cano singled to open up the third and came around to score the Yankees first run on Jeter's two-run double. Cano then drove in the final run of the night with an RBI-single to center in the eighth after a grueling at-bat. There have been many false starts with Cano's bat this season, but I think the hits are finally here to stay. Canu is batting .407 so far in July and upped his overall average to .255 with a two-hit night. He also made some snazzy plays in the field. Cano finshed 2 for 4 with a run scored and a run batted in.
The Bad:
Wilson Betemit. The Yanks are going to be without Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon for a while and that means Betemit will be getting more playing time. He didn't make the most of it Tuesday night. Betemit struck out twice and lined out to center with runners on first and second and one out in the eighth. Betemit had a decent June (.267), but he's off to a rocky July (.150). Wil finished 0 for 4.
The Ugly:Fireworks on the Fourth. In another case of rivalries spilling out of control, a Massachusetts man was charged with attacking another man with a baseball bat because he thought the victim was a Yankees fan.
Robert Correia, 20, of East Falmouth, allegedly struck William Nestor, 29, in his side and forehead following a July 4 fireworks celebration. Correia pleaded not guilty Monday and is being held until a hearing on his bail status Wednesday. Can't we all just get along?
The Yanks will go for the mini-sweep Wednesday afternoon and send Sidney Ponson (5-1, 4.19 ERA) to the hill. The Rays will counter with Edwin Jackson (5-6, 4.08 ERA). Jackson will be making his fourth start against the Yanks this season. He's 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in his previous three starts and is holding the Bombers to a .212 average. Jackson is coming off a stellar performance against the Kansas City Royals (8 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 K). Ponson was battered in his last start against the Texas Rangers (5 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 3 BB, 2 HR), but picked up a no-decision thanks to the Yankee bats. The Rays handed the Arubian Knight his first loss of the season on May 26 when he was a member of the Rangers. Tampa Bay bruised Ponson for five runs on 12 hits in five innings.
It will be Ponson's third start with the Yankees this year. So far, it's been one good one and one bad one.
I guess that means the Yanks should expect a good one on Wednesday.
Right?
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Yeah, good to see Cano hitting. Hopefully, it will last. Maybe his buddy Melky will be inspired and start hitting, too. His homer last night would be a nice kickstart.