Derek Jeter homered (to deep left center, moments after Ken Singleton and John Flaherty said that Ken Griffey Jr told them that was the worst part of the park for the ball to carry) and Hideki Matsui added two long balls from the clean up spot, going 4 for 5 with 4 runs scored and 5 RBI.In addition to Matsui and Jeter, Johnny Damon, Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano, and Jerry Hairston Jr all had multi-hit games with two apiece. Every starter had at least one hit except for Melky Cabrera and Nick Swisher, who walked once and twice respectively. Jeter, Damon, and Teix all scored twice.
Even without all that offense, the Yankees would have been in great shape thanks to another masterful August pitching performance from CC Sabathia. The Big Fella went eight strong on just 105 pitches (74 strikes), allowing just three hits, two walks, and a lone run on a two out solo shot from Josh Wilson in the fifth. CC fanned a season high 10.Brian Bruney threw a perfect ninth on just eight pitches (six strikes) as he's quietly pitching his way back to reliability.
You couldn't have drawn this one up much better. Down two big bats, the rest of the line up stepped it up, not only making up for their absence, but building a big enough lead to give Johnny Damon and a hobbled Derek Jeter the late innings off. On a night where the bullpen needed a bit of rest as well, Sabathia went eight, and Bruney appears to be righting his ship.
Not a bad way to start the season's longest road trip. The win, coupled with the Tigers victory over the Red Sox, runs the gap in the AL East back to 6.5 games, giving the Yanks a bit of a cushion as they toil out west for a week before heading into to Boston for a big three game set next weekend.
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I can't tell you how happy it would make me if Bruney gets back to where he was. That would be HUGE
ReplyDeletePretty much shortens the game to 6 innings if that happens. Hughes/Coke/Bruney/Alf and then Mo? Yeah, that's a pretty solid bullpen right there.
ReplyDeleteTotally agreed about Bruney. His return to efficiency would be a boon to an already good bullpen.
ReplyDeleteI like that the productivity was well dispersed throughout the lineup, though clearly Matsui was the big bat. He and JD have been hot as pistols lately, as has Cano.
Minor complaint: I really don't know why C.C. was pitching the eighth in an 11-1 game. I can see keeping him in if that were the score after 5 or 6. But he was already at 89 pitches, and the game was well in hand. He must have felt strong, and all's well that ends well. He certainly looked strong, and 105 pitches didn't exactly abuse him. I just think that if there are times to spare a guy as important as important as C.C. some work now and then, take that and dole it out. Admittedly, a minor issue after a banner game.
Yankees went into extra innings in the previous game. Yankees have starts from guys who aren't as reliable coming up, so it's good to keep those guys rested for when they're really needed. Like when Mitre takes the mound again.
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