Game 131 - Pettitte Nearly Perfect

Andy Pettitte loves pitching against Baltimore, as he improved his career record against them to an unbelievable 26-6 in the Bombers 5-1 win. His performance tonight was just as spectacular as his career has been against the Orioles. Pettitte was perfect for 6.2 innings till Scott Hairston, playing for a resting Arod, let a grounder go through his legs for an error in the 7th. Andy may have lost his focus, because Nick Markakis followed with an opposite-field hit on an 0-2 count to break up the no-hitter. The shutout would also disappear when Pettitte allowed a HR to Melvin Mora in the bottom of the 8th, but it didn't put a damper on his fantastic performance. He tossed 8 great innings of 2-hit ball with 0 walks and 8 strikeouts.

Nick Swisher continued his strange road/home splits by going 3-4 with a HR, double and 2 RBIs to lead the Yanks. Robinson Cano had 2 doubles and 2 RBIs, unbelievably knocking in both runs on a 2-out hit in the 8th. That's 2 days in a row he's done that, despite hitting less than .200 in those situations. This guy would be dangerous if he ever overcame his inexplicable inability to knock in runs. Despite his RBI-phobic tendencies, he has 72 RBIs for the season. If he hit near his average, he'd probably be leading the league.

Joe Girardi made things interesting in the 9th. Instead of going to a well-rested Mariano Rivera to seal the victory, he decided to use Brian Bruney in the non-save situation. I thought Mo could use the work. Bruney, of course, made Yankee fans, and I'm sure Pettitte, nervous, when he gave up a hit and walk sandwiched around an out. Girardi stopped fooling around though, and Mo earned his save, getting the final 2 outs to wrap up the 227th career win for Pettitte. With the win, the Yanks improved their lead to 6.5 games over the idle Red Sox.

Yankees Record: 83-48

Game 130 - Tex, Yanks Bullpen Help Yanks Sweep

Joba Chamberlain only pitched 3 innings with his new set of "Joba Rules", but the Yankee bullpen tossed 6 solid innings in their 8-3 victory and 3-game sweep of the White Sox. In an effort to limit Joba's innings but keep him in the 5-man rotation, the Yanks will mete out his unknown innings limit in his starts till the end of the season. The limit is believed to be in the 150-inning range. Joba currently is at 133+. Joba allowed 2 runs in his short stint, but Alfredo Aceves tossed 3 scoreless frames to pick up his 9th win of the season.

The Yanks marched out 4 other relievers after Aceves, using Damaso Marte, David Robertson, Phil Hughes and Phil Coke to finish the final 3 innings. Hughes came on in the 7th with 2-out and 2 men on with the Yanks holding a slim 3-2 lead. He got them out of the jam and pitched a scoreless 8th. In the bottom of the inning, the Yanks offense put 5 runs on the board to put the game out of reach.

Mark Teixeira was the offensive hero, knocking in 4 runs to give him a league-leading 101 RBIs. He hit a 3-run shot in the 8th. Johnny Damon's homer earlier in the game, his career-high tying 24th dinger, put the Yanks up 3-2. The Captain collected 2 more hits in his quest to pass Lou Gehrig for the team's all time hit record and Jorge Posada had 2 hits in his return after injury his ring finger 3 games ago.

Although the new version of "Joba Rules" has riled up some fans and media members, it's essential they protect their young talented arms. The Yanks don't want Joba to fall victim like Dwight Gooden or worse, Mark Prior, both tremendously talented pitchers who were overused (abused) in the early stages of their careers. I assume the plan is to have Joba build up his innings as the season nears its conclusion to gear up for the playoffs.

With the win, the Yanks still have their 6-game cushion over Boston, who once again defeated a dead from the neck down team in Toronto. Even Roy Halladay, who hasn't pitched well since his "near" trade can't save them.

Yankees Record: 82-48

Game 129 - Mitre Makes Mince Meat Out of Chisox

The much-maligned Sergio Mitre held the White Sox to one hit in 6.1 innings and the Yanks mounted a 14-hit attack for a 10-0 beatdown. Mitre was perfect through 4.1 innings before Jim Thome ripped a shot down the right field line for a double. He only allowed 1 more runner on with a walk in the 7th before he had to leave the game when AJ Pierzynski lined a shot off his forearm. Mitre bounced off the mound to throw Pierzynski out, but the Yanks removed him for precautionary members. He had only thrown 73 pitches to that point and may have had an excellent shot at completing the game. He induced 12 ground ball outs in his spectacular effort

Chad Gaudin was pressed into emergency relief and finished off the 1-hitter, tossing 2.2 scoreless innings while walking 1 with 4 strike outs. The Yankee hitters jumped on ex-Yankee, Jose Contreras, for 4 runs in the 2nd inning and another 4-spot in the fourth. Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano led the way with 3 hits apiece. Johnny Damon, ARod, Cano and Jerry Hairston each finished with 2 RBIs. ARod capped the scoring with a solo shot in the 8th, the only HR of the game as the Yanks used a steady barrage of hits to score the first 9 runs. Tex and Jose Molina were the only Yankee starters who didn't join the hit parade.

The Yanks send out Joba Chamberlain out for the sweep. The Red Sox, who have really begun to heat up, once again beat the hapless Blue Jays to remain 6 games back and 2.5 games in front of Texas for the wild card.

Yankees Record: 81-48

Game 128 - Not a Misprint: Cano Wins it With Walkoff HR

For the second time this season, the RISP-challenged Robinson Cano had the game-winning, walkoff hit to help the Yanks win 5-2 over the White Sox. In a rare moment, Cano came through in the clutch and connected for a 2-out, 3-run shot in the bottom of the 10th inning.

Through 6 innings, it appeared the Bombers would win a tight one, with CC Sabathia cruising through the White Sox lineup, with the Yanks leading 2-0. He struck out 10 while limiting the Chisox to 4 hits. Things fell apart in the 7th inning though, when Crooked Cap surrendered 4 hits and his only walk. He was bailed out twice when ARod and Nick Swisher threw out runners at the plate. With luck and poor running by the Pale Hose, Sabathia escaped the inning tied at 2.

Derek Jeter began the game with a bang against ol' Yankees punching bag, Mark Buehrle - tattooing a blast to deep center to pass Don Mattingly for 10th place on the Yankees All Time list with his 223rd career HR. Buerhle has a career 1-6 record against the Yanks with an ERA over 6.00, but danced out of trouble several times with the Yanks going 0-6 with RISP. Johnny Damon got the Yankees other run with a solo shot in the 3rd inning. Before Cano's extra-inning heroics, he had squandered 2 opportunities when he came up with runners on 2nd and 3rd in the 3rd and bases loaded in the 5th. At least the 3rd time was the charm.

Phil Hughes, Mariano Rivera and Brian Bruney each pitched 1 inning and retired all 9 batters they faced. Brian Bruney picked up the win and improved to 4-0. With Toronto Blue Jays rolling over once again against the Red Sox, the Yanks maintained their 6-game lead in the division.

Yankees Record: 80-48

Game 127 - Yanks Done in by RISP Woes

The Yanks faltered to Texas today, 7-2, dropping their first home series since June. They shot themselves in the foot, going 2-12 with RISP. Both hits came courtesy of Mark Teixeira and knocked in the Yanks only runs. Despite having Texas starter, Dustin Nippert, on the ropes with 7 walks, they couldn't manage the big knock. The Rangers bullpen picked up Nippert's slack and tossed 5.1 innings of scoreless ball.

AJ Burnett recovered from his horrendous outing in Boston to strike out 12 Rangers in 6 innings. He retired the first 11 batters he faced before walking Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz on back-to-back full counts. The .245 hitting Ian Kinsler took him deep to put the Rangers up for good. Of course, this all occurred with 2-out, as Yankee pitchers continue to falter in squelching 2-out rallies.

The Yankees 4-7 hitters were the main culprits in leaving men on base. ARod and the RBI-phobic Cano both left 5 on base, while Matsui and Swisher left 4 on. What is Nick Swisher's hitting allergies in Yankee Stadium? He came into the series carrying a 9-game hitting streak and went 1-12 against Texas. He's hitting around the Mendoza line at home, whereas, every other Yankee is putting up career numbers in the hitter-friendly park. And has anyone seen Melky Cabrera? He's 18 for his last 91 - that includes 2 four-hit games! Take those games away and he's 8-80! That is horrendous. Please, Brett Gardner, hurry back.

Jose Molina grounded into a double play today. Message to Joe Girardi - this guy should never be allowed to swing with a man on first. You're so fond of the bunt, as witnessed by your debacle call on Monday night's loss, you should make it mandatory for Molina without even giving him a sign. He's a double play waiting to happen.

Phil Coke was horrendous in his short relief stint. The lefty allowed a double and 3-run bomb to lefties David Murphy and the contact-phobic Chris Davis. T-E-R-R-I-B-L-E. At that point, the game was out of reach with the way the Yankee hitters were going down meekly.

Yankees Record: 79-48

Game 126 - Pettitte, Posada Pace Pinstripers

Andy Pettitte held the vaunted Texas Rangers lineup to 2 runs in 7 innings and Jorge Posada hit a monster 3-run homer to deep center to lead the Yanks to a 9-2 victory. Pettitte only allowed 5 hits while striking out 7. He also induced 3 DPs, including the decrepit Pudge with the bases loaded in the 1st (take notes Joba).

Posada's blast came in the 2nd inning, giving the Yanks an early 3-0 lead. Jerry Hairston, Jr., playing for Johnny Damon, hit a solo shot in the 4th to put the Bombers up 4-0. Pettitte's only problems tonight was David Murphy, who hit an RBI double and a solo shot to bring the Rangers within 2.

The Yanks unleashed for 5 runs in the 7th to put the game out of reach. The Captain hit a 2-run bases loaded single, Nick Swisher doubled in another run and Tex finished off the scoring with a 2-run single. Yankee relievers, Brian Bruney and Phil Coke, pitched 2 scoreless innings to wrap up the victory and even the series. Bruney escaped a bases loaded, 1 out situation when he got the ancient Pudge Rodriguez to ground into his second bases loaded, inning ending DP (Joba, I hope you were taking notes on how to retire this fossil).

Posada injured his catching hand in the 8th on a foul ball and was removed from the game. According to Yankee announcer, Kenny Singleton, he injured his ring finger. X-rays were negative.

In other games, Big Sloppy Ortiz must have made another trip to "GNC" for his "vitamins", because he hit 2 HRs, including the walkoff shot in Boston's 3-2 win over the Chisox. After hitting just 1 HR for the first 2 months of the season, he's swatted 21 since June. Hmmmmm.

Toronto slowed down Tampa Bay's recent hot stretch with a walkoff wild pitch. JP Howell's pitch in the dirt allowed Marco Scutaro to score the winning run. Howell walked the bases loaded after allowing Rod Barajas to tie the score at 2 with 1 out in the 9th. Cheapness is so unbecoming, and the Rays frugal ways with the bullpen are costing them big time. They had an opportunity to put in a waiver claim for Billy Wagner before the Red Sox, but chose not to spend $3.5M to give them a solid shot at the wild card. They'll probably make that amount 10-fold in revenue sharing (they can thank the NY Yankees for that).

Yankees Record: 79-47

Game 125 - Joba Brutal After Week Layoff

The Yanks came out smoking for 4 runs in the bottom of the first, but the Rangers had the last laugh, crushing Joba and holding on to beat the Yanks 10-9. Joba Chamberlain allowed 7 runs in 4 innings, all after he retired the first 2 batters of the inning. He allowed 2 runs in the 2nd and 5 in the 4th, as the bottom of the Rangers batting order chewed him up. In both rallies, he allowed Pudge Rodriguez, Chris Davis and Elvis Andrus to reach base both times against him.

Pudge was absolutely useless in his short stint with the Yankees and his best days are long behind, but Joba found a way to allow a single and walk a guy who's only walked more than 40 times in a season twice in his whole career. Davis has been so bad, he was sent back down to the minors after he was on pace to shatter the strikeout record, but he touched Joba for 2 singles. Andrus came into the game with 23 RBIs all season, but he knocked in 3 runs. Pitiful performance as Joba continues to go full count to way too many hitters.

The mysterious 2-out run scoring rallies continue to haunt the Yankee pitching staff and it certainly cost them tonight. 9 out of Texas' 10 runs came after 2 outs were retired. Chad Gaudin relieved Joba and wasn't much better. He allowed 2 HRs and 3 runs. He did break up the monotony of 2-out runs when he allowed a 1-out, solo shot to Nelson Cruz. He almost allowed more runs with 2 outs when he escaped a 2-out bases loaded jam. All runners reached after he got 2 quick outs. This epidemic began in the White Sox series in Chicago and has gotten worse. According to a post by River Ave Blues, the Yanks have allowed over 42% of their runs to come with 2 out. The league average is near 36%. It appears the pitching staff is not buckling down or focusing on ending innings without further trouble. Trends like this could hurt the Yanks against playoff-caliber teams, especially a team like the Angels who have players that make contact and force things to happen.

The Yanks made one last charge in the 9th, plating 4 runs before Texas recorded an out. But with runners on 1st and 2nd, Joe Girardi inexplicably had Nick Swisher bunt. He fouled out to 3rd. Why in the hell would Girardi have Swisher bunt against a reliever who was clearly struggling and hadn't recorded an out? Swisher was up in the count 1-0 and he could work out a walk, take him deep or perhaps hit a fly out to move the runner to 3rd. But a bunt? Terrible managing, absolutely terrible. The next batter, Melky Cabrera, lined into a double play to SS to end the game and dreams of another miraculous comeback.

Jorge Posada and Robinson Cano both went deep in the losing effort. Cano's HR was his career high 20th, as he became the 6th Yankee this season to hit 20 or more. That tied a team record set in 1961 and 2004. Posada and Derek Jeter have outside shots to be the 7th player for 20 or more HRs. Speaking of The Captain, he continued his hot streak, going 2-3 and ended his Cano-like walkless streak at 114 plate appearances. In fact, he walked twice.

The Bosox defeated the Chisox and now trail the Bombers by 6 in the division. They were able to complete a trade with the Mets earlier in the day for Billy Wagner. This season is far from over.

Yankees Record: 78-47

Blown Game: 7