Game 84 - Burnett, Yanks Get the Job Done

It wasn't pretty, but AJ Burnett gutted out a win, as the Yanks triumphed 4-3 over the Twins. AJ only allowed 2 ER in 6.1 innings, despite walking 4 and throwing 3 wild pitches while improving his season record to 8-4. He didn't record his first strikeout till the final out in the 5th inning when he K'd Michael Cuddyer with the bases loaded. His only other strikeout stopped a Twins threat in the 6th, too. Burnett's wildness started in the 3rd inning with 2 outs. After allowing a single to Denard Span, he walked the harmless Brendan Harris and then uncorked 2 wild pitches that led to a run. Joe Mauer followed up with a run scoring double.

The Yanks jumped out to a 3-0 lead against heralded Twins rookie pitcher, Anthony Swarzak, in the 2nd. With the bases loaded, Nick Swisher hit a dribbler towards first for their first run and Brett Gardner followed up with a 2-out, 2-run single. Hopefully, this will keep Melky Cabrera on the bench for another game. The only other offense the Yanks mounted came in the 5th when ARod drove in Derek Jeter. The Captain led off the inning with a double. Strange stat of the night: the Yankee hitters didn't have a single strikeout.

Phil Coke came in to relieve Burnett with 1 out in the 7th and the M&M boys coming to the plate. He promptly served up a long ball to Mauer, but came back to strike out Justin Morneau. Phil Hughes, the other half of the "Philtys", came in and retired Cuddyer to end the inning. He retired the first 2 batters of the 8th before being relieved by Mariano Rivera after surrendering a single. The Great Mo retired the final 4 batters to record his 22nd save of the season, getting the dangerous Mauer to line out to SS to end the game.

The Yanks have won 12 of their last 14 and are 6-0 against the Twins. They wrap up their season series tomorrow with Alfredo Aceves making his first start of the year. It's a shame they don't play the Twins more!

Yankees Record: 50-34