The Crooked One gave up the A's fourth HR of the year (that's not a misprint, as a team they've hit 4!) to new Yankee killer, Kurt Suzuki (a.k.a. the Suzuki That Swings Like a Man). It was a 3-run shot that gave the A's a quick 3-0 lead in the 2nd. Matsui and Cabrera followed up with back-to-back HRs in the bottom of the inning for the Yanks, cutting the lead to 3-2. The Coughing Clown, however, negatively responded all day whenever the Yankees gave him runs. He promptly gave 1-run back in the fourth. Yankee hitters, to their credit, kept coming back, taking a 5-4 lead on Jeter's fourth HR of the year, a laser to deep, dead center in the 4th. Sabathia had another coughing fit in the 6th, giving up a 2-out hit to Mark Ellis to tie the game. The Yanks once again went ahead 7-5 with 4 straight hits in the bottom of the 6th. In the top of the 7th, you guessed it, CC coughed up another 2-run fur ball, with Matt Holliday getting another 2-out hit to score the tying run. Please, CC, buckle down with 2 out.
To CC's credit, he probably shouldn't have come back out for the 7th inning. He reached the 100 pitch plateau through 6 frames, but Girardi got greedy. If anything, he should have been removed when he gave up a single to Bobby Crosby to start the 7th inning. Amazingly, Girardi came out to visit Sabathia with 2 outs, a man on third, and righty hitting Holliday at the plate. Girardi inexplicably left him in. Bad move, coach, bad move, as Holliday tied the game.
The hometown boys had their chance to score more runs and take the lead in the bottom of the 7th against 40-year old journeyman Russ Springer. Loading the bases with no outs, up steps the Melk-man. He forgot to deliver, striking out on a pitch over his head and once again, justifying why he's considered a fourth or fifth outfielder at best. Then Girardi made what I thought was another questionable move - he pinch hit Ransom for Gardner. Now, I've been one of Ransom's harshest critics, but I believe he has more potential to hit a sac fly than Brett Gardner. He also doubled in his previous at bat and Girardi needs to boost this guy's confidence. My hunch was right, as I listened to Yankee radio announcer, John Sterling tell us how Gardner looked terribly overmatched by Springer's 90 mph fastballs. Gardner popped up. Jeter also followed with a pop out, thus stranding the bags full.
Suddenly then, the pitching either got very good or the hitting very bad, as both teams were shut down till Melky's winning shot. Jose Veras got the win in relief, overcoming his "Walk the First Batter" disease that he recently contracted. After the lead off walk, he settled down to retire the last 10 batters he faced with 4 strikeouts.
Yankee Bomber Doghouse: Sabathia, obviously. A disturbing trend I've noticed about CC - his lack of strikeouts. He only had 2 today (both ol' friend Giambi) and has 12 Ks in 24+ innings. Not his usual ratio. It will be something to monitor in his upcoming starts. Damon made the list with his embarrassing drop on a fly ball, which led to an unearned run. Jeter was camped under it when Damon called him off. Hey Johnny, never call off Jeter, who is probably the best infielder I've ever seen going back on pop ups. Gardner enters the doghouse, for his pathetic pop up with the bases loaded and less than 2 outs. Melky does make my list, despite winning the game in the 14th. He could have saved the pen 5 innings if he hit a simple sac fly with the bases loaded and NO outs in the 7th. Hell, a double play would have brought in a run. And finally, Girardi, for his questionable choice of leaving Sabathia in and pinch hitting Ransom with the light hitting Gardner.
Next up, the blazing hot Red Sox. Joba just aim for the Nugget's (Youkilis) head. Need to cool him off.
Yankee Record: 9-6
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