Well, that was a pleasant surprise.
Sidney Ponson got off to a rocky start but righted the ship, Derek Jeter knocked in a couple of runs and the bullpen finished things off as the
Yanks downed the Rangers 5-3 in Texas. The Bombers fell behind early (which seems to be their MO lately), but Wilson Betemit got the team on the board with an RBI-double in the
third and Jason Giambi added another mustacheless home run in the
fourth to extend the lead.
How important was this win? Well, Joe Girardi managed like it was the seventh game of the World Series, using three relievers in the eighth inning to secure the victory. Mariano Rivera returned after sitting a few days and recorded his 27th save in as many chances this season. The Rays and Red Sox also won Wednesday so the Yanks stayed even in the standings.
But it wasn't all rosy for the Yanks.
Ivan Rodriguez left the ballgame after getting run over at the plate by David Murphy in the bottom of the second inning. It was an old fashioned collision at home and I-Rod went down a hero, securing the ball and the out to end the frame. Bobby Abreu also deserves some praise for a making a strong throw to nail Murphy. Murphy left the game after an inning and was later placed on the
disabled list with a strained posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Rodriguez bruised his right knee in the crash up and is listed as day-to-day.
The Good:Sidney Ponson. The Arubian Knight has been hit or miss with the Yankees and Wednesday night was definitely a hit. Ponson looked destined for an early exit after giving up two runs in the second inning (and it could have been more if not for Abreu and Pudge), but regrouped and pitched a whale of a game. Sid gave up only two hits the rest of the way (one was home run by Michael Young) and I was a little surprised that Girardi took him out with one out in the seventh. That makes two solid starts in a row against two very good offensive teams for Sidney. Maybe the Yanks
can count on Ponson the rest of the way. Maybe. Ponson improved to 7-2 with this: 6.1 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HR.
Derek Jeter. The Captain is having a subpar season and has been grounding into a ton of rally-killing double plays lately, but he came through with a couple of big hits Wednesday night. Jeter put the Yankees ahead 3-2 with an RBI-single in the third and drove in a big insurance run with a ribbie-double in the fifth to push the advantage to 5-2. DJ also caught a bit of luck in the third after he was picked off first. Young muffed the throw from first baseman Chis Davis and Jeter took second on the play. It didn't come to anything, but maybe it's a sign that Jeter and the Yanks are due to catch a few breaks. Jeter finished 2 for 4 with a walk and 2 RBIs.
The Bad:Alex Rodriguez. It's been a rough three days in Texas for the reigning MVP. Rodriguez put up another 0-fer in his old stomping ground and is hitless in his last 10 at-bats. A-Rod is batting just .142 so far in August and has struck out eight times in 21 ABs. Take a deep breath and relax, Alex. Rodriguez finished 0 for 4.
The Ugly:Another pitcher down. It shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone, but the Yanks place
Joba Chamberlain on the disabled list with right rotator cuff tendinitis. The Bombers recalled Chris Britton and plan to call up Ian Kennedy to pitch Friday night in Anaheim. The plan is for Joba to rest a week and then begin a throwing program. I don't buy it. The Yanks babied Chamberlain when he was healthy. Does anyone think they'll take a chance with him now that he's injured? Unlikely. I hope I'm wrong and I hope Joba has a miraculous recovery, but I think we've seen the last of No. 62 this season.
Mike Mussina (14-7, 3.44 ERA) will try and give the Yanks a split and goes against Scott Feldman (4-4, 4.97 ERA) Thursday night. Feldman somehow finished 2-0 in July (four starts) despite posting a god-awful 7.06 ERA. He pitched marginally better in his last start against the Blue Jays (5.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R [3 earned], 3 BB, 4 K), but picked up his first loss since June 13. Feldman held the Yanks to one run through 5 2/3 innings in the Rangers' 2-1 victory June 30 at The Stadium. The Moose picked up the loss in that game in June, but he's been on the losing side only once since then. Mussina is coming off a dazzling performance against the Angels and hasn't issued more than two walks in his 23 starts this season. The Moose is 6-4 with a 3.94 ERA in 12 career starts in Texas.
Just take it one day at a time, fellas.
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