Game 73 - Sabathia, Gardner Manhandle Mets

The Bombers blasted the Metropolitans, 9-1, to win their 3rd straight. They've scored 28 runs in their 3 wins, after only scoring a total of 18 in their previous 7 games. CC Sabathia, after being pulled in the 2nd in his last start for biceps tendinitis, pitched 7 solid innings, giving up 1 run on 3 hits with 8 Ks. His lone run came on a Gary Sheffield blast, as the Yanks continued to donate to their favorite charity "Revive an Aging Slugger". It's Sheffield's 3rd homer of the year against the Yanks. Sabathia helped his own cause at the plate, too, going 1-4 with a run and an RBI single. Bret Tomko tossed 2 hitless innings to finish up for the boys from the Bronx.

With Derek Jeter sitting out with a respiratory infection, Brett Gardner took over the leadoff spot and looked like a man who doesn't want to go back to the bench. Gardner had his best day as a major leaguer, going 5-6 with a triple, HR, SB and 2 RBIs. Who says it's hard to hit HRs at the new Citifield? Melky Cabrera and/or Nick Swisher may want to stock up on their sunflower seeds, because Gardner has clearly regained his starting CF position.

ARod continued his recent hot streak, hitting a dinger for the 2nd day in a row and passing Reggie Jackson for 11th place all-time with HR # 564. It's bittersweet, though, as Reggie was a childhood hero of mine, and despite being an ARod apologist, I can't help feel his HR total is tainted with his steroid admission earlier this year. However, it's obvious the Yanks offense clicks when ARod is hitting.

The starting lineups looked like the Yankees B-team vs. the Mets C-team. The Yanks were missing Jeter, Posada, and Swisher from their lineup while the Mets were playing without Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, and Carlos Delgado. It was real apparent that the Mets were fielding an inferior team during their embarrassing 3-error performance in the 2nd inning that staked the Yanks to a 4-0 lead. Meanwhile, Jeter's replacement, Ramiro Pena, had a nice day at the plate. He went 3-5 with a pair of doubles and an RBI in the Yanks 14-hit attack.

Of course, I can't finish my blog without reference to my 2 favorite subjects - Robinson Cano and RISP. Despite going 2-6 with a double, Cano stranded 7 men on base. Nothing astounds me more than his 42 RBIs on the season. He if could hit close to his average with RISP, he'd probably be leading the league without 70+ RBIs. As for the team, despite scoring 9 runs, the Yanks were an abysmal 3-17 with RISP. Thank God for the Mets porous defense and the long ball.

AJ Burnett will face off against Tim Redding in game 2. However, what looks like a mismatch on paper in the Yankees favor has proven to be anything but in this interleague rivalry.

Yankees Record: 41-32