NYCurve Yankees Blog

Rays Win Again

Today was Andy Pettitte’s first start after the rough offseason, but it didn’t go as planned. The Yankees dropped another game to the Rays in a 6-3 loss. Pettitte pitched for 5 innings, allowing 8 hits and 5 runs. He was applauded by Yankee fans as he entered the stadium and he felt remorse afterwards for not being able to give a solid performance. I would just like to say, that we aren’t disappointed, it happens to everyone. Despite the bad day, Pettitte was still happy to be playing ball again. Here is a quick post-game quote: “I’d be lying if I didn’t say that it was great and (I’m) much appreciative.”

Pettitte should be back to his normal self soon enough, but our offense really needs to start stepping it up as well. We ended with nine hits and only three runs off the Rays. It has been five games and we still haven’t scored more than three runs a game. Hopefully they will be able to pick it up soon and give our hurlers some more run support.

Just a side note on the game: Joe Girardi was not there for the second day today due to an upper respiratory infection. He later said that he hopes to be back for tomorrow’s game when the Yanks take on the Rays again. The game is at 1:05 EST and will be on YES. Chien-Ming Wang will take on James Shields.

Oh yea, and Giambi is injured again. He is day-to-day after leaving in the 5th with a sore left groin. Who didn’t expect it?

Tough Loss to the Rays

The Yankees are now 2-2 on the season after a 13-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays tonight. Ian Kennedy struggled against the Rays in his first start of the season. He pitched only 2.1 innings in which he didn’t have good command over the ball, leading to six runs by the Rays. We aren’t used to seeing this kind of performance from Kennedy because he usually has great command. Hopefully he can get his command back before his next start.

Following Kennedy came in Jonathan Albaladejo, who had a good night. He pitched 2.2 innings, allowing only one hit and striking out four. After Albaladejo were Traber, Hawkins, and Farnsworth in that order. Hawkins had a horrible night allowing six runs to the Rays in .2 innings. Farnsworth closed and gave up the last run to the Rays.

On the offensive side, the Yanks had only six hits. Four runs off of six hits is good, but the offense really needs to start picking it up soon because everyone knows that they can do better.

Overall this game was all over the place for the Yanks. Hopefully everything can come back into place fro tomorrow’s rematch against the Rays. Andy Pettite will make his first appearance of the regular season against Edwin Jackson. The game is at 1:05EST and will be aired on YES.

Yankees Beat Blue Jays, Win Series

In the third game of the opening series for the 2008 season, the Yankees pulled through with a close victory. Bobby Abreu’s single in the eighth inning put the team on top 3-2. Phil Hughes started the game and looked magnificent. He pitched six innings, had four strikeouts and allowed only four hits. Looking at his command and pitches no one would guess that he is the youngest starter in the majors. He looks like he has been doing it for years and that bodes really well for the Yankees because as he progresses he will get even better.

Following up were Traber and Bruney who both pitched less than an inning each. Joba came into the game in the eighth and had another good game as setup man with one K and one hit allowed in one inning. He would walk away with the win. Mariano Rivera came into the ninth and successfully closed the game, getting three straight outs and securing another save.

Next up are the Tampa Bay Rays at 7:05 EST tomorrow. The game will be on YES as we get to see the third man in the “Big Three”, Ian Kennedy. He will face off against Rays’ pitcher Andy Sonnanstine.

First Loss of the Season

The Yankees lost today against the Blue Jays. It was a little earlier for a first loss than I had hoped for, but Toronto’s pitchers really should be given the credit they deserve. They pitched a great game, striking out seven and allowing only two runs on seven hits. The Yankees lost 5-2. Guess who was responsible for the two runs on our end. It was none other than the $275 million dollar man, Alex Rodriguez. He has picked up right where he left off at the end of last season with another good game today. The two runs came off a homer in the bottom of the seventh (Abreu was the man on base.)

On the other side of the ball, Moose struggled. You can expect the questions as to whether he will be able to hold a spot in the rotation to begin. Mussina pitched for 5.2 innings, allowing eight hits and four runs. I think it is still too early to judge him on the year, so I won’t say anything  drastic at this point. Hawkins came in to relieve and allowed the other run. Farnsworth and Olendorf both pitched a scoreless inning each after that.

Tomorrow is game three against the Blue Jays. The game will be on YES at 7:05 EST. Phil Hughes will start for the Pinstripes and Dustin McGowan for the Blue Jays.

McNamee Auctioning Off Clemens’ Memorabilia

I swear, the whole McNamee-Clemens thing keeps getting more and more like a couple breaking up. Today, Brian McNamee has put all of Clemens’ old things up for auction. Objects include a signed baseball which was going for upwards of 4k this afternoon, several hats and uniforms, and pictures of Clemens, Pettitte, and Canseco. McNamee added his own little touch by signing the memorabilia, so that all of those hardcore PED fans (because there are so many right?) can have a keepsake for the ages. Well, atleast McNamee is giving the money to charity.

Yankees Win Opening Day

The last Opening Day at Yankee Stadium was a success as the Yanks beat the Blue Jays, 3 to 2. Chien-Ming Wang, who started, went away with the win after pitching seven innings. He had a pretty good day, allowing only two runs and six hits. He had an ERA of 2.57 and struck out two. Setup man, Joba Chamberlain came out in the eighth and struck out two. He allowed no runs and no hits. Rivera came in to close and he also didn’t allow any runs or hits (and he had one K.)

On the offensive side of the ball the Yankees had a combined 8 hits. Melky Cabrera, A. Rod., and Matsui each had one RBI. Melky’s had a good day with a solo shot and a few nice defensive plays. Alex Rodriguez looks like his old self again with two hits and a RBI today.

The Yankees looked nice as they began the last season at the stadium. This game was also the debut for skipper Joe Girardi, so it is great that the Yanks won. Hopefully we can repeat tomorrow against the Blue Jays again. The game is at 7:05 EST and will be on both ESPN and YES. Starting for the Yanks is Mike Mussina and for the Blue Jays it will be A.J. Burnett.