Curtis Granderson singled to left in the bottom of the second, to get the Yankees started again. Eduardo Nunez followed with a single and Jeter was called safe when A’s pitcher Brett Anderson made an error, allowing Granderson to score. Nunez stole third base with Swisher at the plate. Swisher worked a walk, loading the bases with two outs. Teixeira then singled on a grounder to left, scoring Nunez and Jeter and putting New York up 4-0.
Burnett kept the Athletics scoreless through three, but struggled in the top of the fourth. Kurt Suzuki lined a double to right to start the inning. Kevin Kouzmanoff then connected with a homer to right, making the score 4-2.
Rajai Davis hit a ground-rule double to left center in the top of the fifth. He stole third, his 40th steal of the season, with Coco Crisp up, and scored on Crisp’s ground out. Oakland had pulled to within one, as the score sat at 4-3.
The score stayed the same as both teams scattered a few hits, but were unable to score as the game moved along. In the bottom of the eighth, Lance Berkman pinch hit for Nunez and drove a double to center. Jorge Posada replaced Francisco Cervelli at the plate and was called out on strikes. Posada pointed out to the umpire that the pitch had been in the other batters’ box, but the man in blue immediately booted the veteran backstop from the game. Posada was fired up, but the Yankees got him out of there and were probably relieved to have just brought Chad Moeller up for the expanded rosters. Jeter grounded out to end the Yankees threat and Mariano Rivera came in to protect New York’s one run lead.
Rivera gave up a single to Daric Barton, but otherwise it was business as usual for the Yankees’ closer. He kept Oakland from scoring and picked up his 28th save with the Yankees 4-3 victory.
Bronx Cheers:
Robsinson Cano: Robbie went 0-4, stranding four runners on base.
RISP: The Yankees had plenty of opportunities to get some breathing room, but they were 1-9 with runners in scoring position.
Curtain Calls:
Mark Teixeira: Tex’s bat stayed hot, as the Yankee first baseman went 3-4 with three RBIs.
Curtis Granderson: Grandy went 2-4 with a run scored.
A.J. Burnett: A.J. wasn’t at his best, but he made a big improvement over his miserable August. He went six innings, giving up three runs on six hits. He walked just two hitters and struck out eight as he picked up his 10th win of the season.
Bullpen: Joba Chamberlain, Boone Logan, Kerry Wood and Mariano Rivera combined to keep the A’s scoreless over the last three innings, preserving the New York win.
In The On Deck Circle:
The Yankees are going to try to complete the four-game sweep of the Athletics this afternoon when their old foe Dallas Braden steps on the mound at Yankee Stadium. Braden is coming off his second shutout of the season, having held the Rangers to just four hits on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Yankees’ big ace, CC Sabathia, will try to bounce back from a disappointing outing in Chicago. He picked up the win, but gave up five runs on nine hits. First pitch is this afternoon at 1:05pm.
