The Yankees have made it easy to feel optimistic these days. Sitting alone atop the AL East and sweeping their first two series after the break has virtually erased any memory of their pitiful performance a couple weeks ago in Anaheim/LA/California/wherever it is Angels fans don’t go to watch their team play. The Bombers wrapped up their series against the Orioles, winning 6-4, however, as your Little League coach probably told you, there is always room for improvement! At one point I thought I might have to stretch to find any weak spots in this game. Alas, it wasn’t so hard after all (ahem…Brian Bruney, I’m looking at you!).
Boos:
Brian Bruney: After striking out the first two batters in the ninth, Bruney looked like perhaps he was back to his old form. I was ready to give him a big pat on the back for finally putting together a decent outing–but it was not to be. Bruney gave up back-to-back homeruns, forcing Girardi to bring in Mo to close it out.
Jeter: Okay, he played solid defense and started off the game with a great hit and scored a run. He ends up on this list because after the first inning he went 0-4, striking out twice and leaving 5 runners on base. You can’t leave that many runners stranded.
Godzilla: Matsui went 0-4. His hitting has been fantastic in July, but this time he struck out twice and left 3 runners on base. I do give him credit for beating out a potential double play in the first, that can’t be easy with his knees.
Cheers:
AJ Burnett: The Yanks got another solid outing from one of their starting pitchers. AJ went 7 innings, giving up 6 hits and 2 earned runs. He struck out 6 and walked 3. AJ found himself in trouble a couple times, but was able to work out of it and pick up his ninth win of the season.
Hughes/Mo: Both put in the performances we have come to expect from them in the late innings of a game. it’s nice having some trusty arms in the bullpen!
A-Rod: Alex went 2-4 with an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base.
Swisher: I thought he was destined for the Boos section when Swisher started off the third inning with a dreadful play on Roberts’ fly ball. It was so bad I thought perhaps I was actually watching a middle school JV game (or the Mets). Swish redeemed himself, however, making a spectacular grab on a ball that I thought had RBI double written all over it. He would later make another great play up against the wall in the 6th and also contributed a hit, 2 RBIs and walked twice.
Key Moments:
Swisher’s grab to end the 3rd: kept the Orioles scoreless and erased his misplay earlier in the inning. That hit drops in and it would have been a whole different ballgame.
Mo: After Jones and Markakis homered off Bruney to put the Orioles within 2; Rivera struck out Huff to save the game.
Overall, it was another successful outing for the Bombers. Both the defense and the offense came together early on and showed just why this team is not the same one that sent most Yankees fans into mourning last October. Next up CC kicks off a four-game set against the A’s, giving the Yanks another chance at a series win.
Thanks Tamar!
