Friday’s game:
Hughes against Gio Gonzalez (8-2) is a tough
matchup and Gonzalez looked the part showing an excellent curve ball and a 95+
fastball. The Yanks really worked the
count even when they were getting out by going full almost every guy. This was huge in the game as Gonzalez allowed
only 3 runs, but could only go 6 innings and the Yanks scored 4 in the remaining
3 innings against the bullpen.
Hughes had a lively fastball and a
solid curve, but he was a bit frustrating when he didn’t field his position
well again and then walked a guy with 1st and 2nd 2 outs;
only to be followed by an 0-2 hanging curve.
Fortunately that sequence of bad pitching was pretty much it for Hughes
as he also struck out 9 guys.
The bullpen pitched the final 3
innings with Robertson allowing 1 run, but getting his feet wet. It was a very satisfying win beating such a
hot pitcher on a hot team that had won 6 in a row.
Nix made a very nice turn at 2nd
base and also made a Cano like play (OK maybe not, but pretty good) that Tex made a nice scoop
Granderson did a nice job going to
left on the hit that opened up the game. I know people get on his strikeouts, but the
guy has been excellent!
Saturday’s game:
Washington got on the board with 2 runs, but
I felt Ibanez should have caught the ball.
He gave up on it while at the warning track and the ball hit the base of
the wall; he should have it or at least a faster guy would have easily had
it. People dismiss defense, but a decent
LF’r makes that play.
Pettitte once again had his sharp
breaking ball, but had a little more control problems walking 3 in 7
innings. He was sharp though and with 95
pitches I expected him to stay in the game to start the 8th with the
Yanks holding onto a 3-2 lead. Cory Wade came in though and got the first 2
guys out and then had an 0-2 count going so he looked good. Martin called for a breaking ball that missed
and then correctly came back again but he missed again. I was thinking that the change was the pitch
to throw here or you could go with another curve. Martin and Wade went with the fastball away
and Wade left it out over the plate and the game was tied. While the pitch was in the wrong spot and a
change hung could have been a disaster also, the fastball was the pitch being
expected and I think it was poor pitch selection. After wade walked the next batter, Logan came on. After a stolen base, LaRoche singled to RF
where Wise charged and got rid of the ball quickly to home to get the called 3rd
out of the inning. The replay showed the
runner was clearly safe and the yanks got a huge break; most likely a game
saving one.
The game then went into extra
innings mode until the top of the 14th when Tex got a huge double knocking in 2
runs. This happened after the same ump
who helped us called a really low strike on Tex that made it 1-1 instead of 2-0. Fortunately, Brad Lidge hung his slider for the
double after making it 2-1.
Soriano got the 1st out
and then allowed 2 singles before getting a fly out and getting Bryce Harper to
ground out to end the game. Harper was
0-7 with 5 strikeouts! I was worried
because you felt like he was due up to that point…lucky for us his horrible day
continued (he did make a nice catch though)
A couple other notes:
·
Jeter booted a ball in the 13th and
was smiling more than I was comfortable with.
He did redeem himself after failing to lay down a bunt (and looking bad
in the process), he was able to get a single before the Tex double.
·
Chavez had good AB’s during the game and would
have had a 3rd hit if Harper didn’t make the nice play
·
Swisher left the game with a left quad bruise as
the catcher kneed him on a play at the plate were he was out. The announcers didn’t see it and kept saying
he hit the bat, but he clearly was hit with the shin guard.
·
After homering late in the win yesterday, today
the Yanks won without homering; that is the first time this year.
·
Rapada got his guy and Eppley got 5 outs and
Freddie Garcia pitched 2 perfect innings to hold Washington scoreless. Yes, Garcia pitched well and picked up the
win!
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