NYCurve Yankees Blog

Series Split With Another Win

The Yankees beat the Indians tonight, in the last of a four-game series. Moose took the mound and pitched for five innings allowing seven hits and two runs. Jonathan Albaladejo, Kyle Farnworth, Joba Chamberlain, and Mariano Rivera each pitched an inning after that in that order. None of them allowed a run and Albaladejo was the only one to give up a hit. Rivera got the save, which is his eighth on the year.

The offense finally managed to drive in more than a couple of runs, with five. They only had five hits, but with a 1:1 hit:run ratio it worked out. The win was great, but like the last one it was also bitter-sweet. The injury bug is really bitting bad early on for the Bombers. This time it was Alex Rodriguez again, who left in the top of the eighth due to the same quadriceps problem as last time. It still isn’t anything serious, but Girardi will probably bench him tomorrow as a precaution.

The Yanks head home tomorrow and will take on the Tigers at 7:05EST. Phil Hughes will take on Kenny Rogers. The game will be aired on YES.

Finally A Win

The Ace pulled through again to lead the Yankees to a 1-0 win over the Indians. Chien-Ming Wang pitched seven innings and continued his great start today with an astounding 9 strikeouts! Looking at his April, the critics seem to be quiet for now- hopefully they’ll stay that way. Wang only allowed four hits in his outing and let up no runs. Oh yea, and on top of that Wang out-pitched the reigning AL Cy Young winner, C.C. Sabathia. If he keeps this up he’s going to be in contention for the Cy Young come the end of the season.

Sadly this was more of a bitter-sweet victory for the Yanks. Why? Jorge Posada is headed to the DL. What makes it especially shocking is that this is the first time ever in his career. He is certainly disappointed with it, but its just a part of the game. The reason for the placement was because he continued to have trouble with the strained muscle in his back. More tests are going to be taken soon to find out if it is something more than a strain. Let’s hope its not and that Posada can come back sometime soon.

Jose Molina, who started in place of Posada today will continue to catch for the team. He is a good catcher as well, so there isn’t much to worry about, but Posada just has such a big presence on the team. Molina worked with Wang, Chamberlain, and Rivera today in a great show by the pitching staff. Joba and Rivera continued their great seasons with an inning of hitless ball each. The Wang-Chamberlain-Rivera combo is going to be a tough one for opponents come October, assuming that all three are healthy.

The pitchers looked great and the batters, like recently, didn’t. With four runs and one hit there is really nothing to talk about.

Next game is against the Indians again at 7:05EST tomorrow. Mike Mussina will take on Aaron Laffey. The game will be on ESPN.

Another Loss

The offense had another dismal performance today as the Yankees dropped the third straight. This time we were only able to score three runs. What makes it even more sad is that the lineup combined for twelve hits. This is in line with a lot of the season; our problem isn’t getting on base, its driving runs in. The three runs that the Yanks did manage to score were thanks to Jorge Posada, who tripled in the top of the 6th with the bases loaded.

Masa Kobayashi, Cleveland’s new reliever from Japan, got his first win in the majors at the Yankees cost. He was excited to have beaten arguably the most famous baseball team in the world. Kobayashi pitched well, closing the game with two scoreless innings. The Yankee pitchers weren’t shabby themselves, with Ian Kennedy having a good start that lasted five innings with only three runs and four hits allowed. LaTroy Hawkins pitched a couple of scoreless innings after Kennedy. Farnsworth and Ohlendorf pitched the rest of the game, with the latter giving up the winning single to Victor Martinez. But again, you can’t really blame the pitching in this one; they deserve more run support than they are getting.

Let’s see if the offense can start knocking in some scores against C.C. Sabathia tomorrow. Chien-Ming Wang will start for the Yankees and looking at his year so far he should do well. The game is at 1:05EST and will be broadcasted on TBS.

Indians Win, 6 to 4

Andy Pettitte took the mound for the Bronx Bombers today, in a loss to the Indians. Cleveland scored five of their six runs off of Pettite, who pitched five innings. Billy Traber pitched an inning after him and Jose Albaladejo wrapped up the game by pitching the last two innings. Four of the six runs that Cleveland scored were on two homers allowed by Pettitte in the bottom of the fifth. Other than that all three pitchers had pretty good days.

The offense could have won this one for the Yanks, but it continues to be lackluster for the most part. The Yankees only managed to get six hits. Both Posada and Rodriguez played today, but the offense continued to play like it has been. There isn’t really much more to say about it.

Next game is tomorrow at 3:55EST in Cleveland again. Ian Kennedy will square off against Jeremy Sowers. The game will be aired on FOX.

Close Game Ends in Loss For Yankees

The Yankees lost in a close one against the White Sox today after Joe Crede drove in a run in the bottom of the ninth, giving the White Sox the go ahead run. Phil Hughes started for the Yankees and only pitched two innings. But, it wasn’t because of bad play this time that he didn’t go into the third. In fact, he pitched well, only giving up no runs and only one hit. The reason he didn’t continue playing was because there was a rain delay and Joe Girardi decided not to put Hughes back in after a 51-minute rain delay.

Instead of Hughes, Ross Ohlendorf and LaTroy Hawkins pitched a couple of innings each. Ohlendorf had a rough night, allowing five runs, while surprisingly Hawkins only allowed one. Farnsworth relieved and Joba Chamberlain pitched the last inning and some. Joba ended up taking the loss after Crede hit the game winning single off of him. Definitely no worries though, as this is only the fourth run Joba has allowed in his 20+ innings pitched in the majors.

Tonight’s offense was ok, with nine hits and six runs by the Yankees. It could be better, but it could also be worse. Also, Alex Rodriguez was out again (Morgan Ensberg took his spot.)

Tonight’s game was the last of a three game series with the Chicago White Sox. Next up are the Cleveland Indians, in what will be a rematch of last year’s infamous ALDS. Andy Pettitte will take on Paul Byrd. The game is scheduled for 7:05EST.

$175k For a Battered Jersey

The David Ortiz jersey that was thrown in the cement of New Yankee Stadium in an attempt to curse the Yankees was auctioned off on Ebay in an auction that ended today at 12:30. The jersey fetched an astounding $175,000 and the Yankees have decided to donate the money to the Jimmy Fund, a cancer charity. At least some good came out of Gino Castignolli’s (the construction worker who threw the jersey in the wet cement) action. The winner of the bidding will also get a pair of Red Sox game tickets and a new jersey with the latest artifact from the Red Sox-Yankee rivalry.