Looks like we’re going to have another nice season with our arch rivals. The Yankees were an inning away from sweeping the so-called best team in the majors (Detroit Tigers) and then the Yanks took two of three in Baltimore. And they’re doing it all with about half of a team. Although that’s really not an excuse, because the Red Sox are just as banged up as we are. As it stands, we’re a half game back (one more loss) of the Red Sox and the Blue Jays are hot on our tails two games back of us. And with the White Sox and Tigers on cold streaks, the Wild Card race (I know it’s early) is a lot tighter then it was last week.
On Friday, the Yankees needed a ninth inning run to put the Orioles away. Although that was after Ron Villone and Scott Erickson gave up eighth inning runs to tie the game. Kyle Farnsworth actually gave up the tying run even if it was inherited and while he blew the save, he did pick up the win. Jason Giambi hit his fifteenth homerun and drove in two runs and Derek Jeter had three hits and two RBIs. Johnny Damon scored twice in the 6-5 win.
It was deja vu all over again (thank you Yogi Berra) on Saturday, and the Yankees prevailed by exactly the same score as the day before, 6-5. Johnny Damon’s tenth inning homerun broke a 5-5 tie but once again it was the pen that gave up two eighth inning runs to eventually send the game into extra frames. Johnny Damon finished the game three for five with the homerun, one RBI and two runs. Bernie Williams drove in three runs and Melkie Cabrera scored twice. Scott Proctor picked up the win, and Chien-Ming Wang got into trouble in the bottom of the tenth but he picked up his first career save.
Today, Aaron Small got knocked around. He didn’t even last three innings and he gave up seven runs on nine hits. The final was 11-4. Scott Erickson was also hit hard, and he gave up four runs later in the game. Kevin Thompson, in only his second career game, had a pinch hit bases clearing double to give him three RBIs (his first three RBIs). Miguel Cairo drove in the other Yankee run and Johnny Damon and Andy Phillips both had two hits.
So it all comes down to this. Four games against the Red Sox at majestic Yankee Stadium. If one team can take three of four, they’ll be the one in first place. And I haven’t checked the schedule, but I’m sure at least one of these games is on ESPN, because they’ll be good ones.
