The Yankees limped into this series, but it hasn’t mattered much; if the Twins didn’t have bad luck against the Yankees, they wouldn’t have no luck at all. Minnesota lost two one-run games in the space of an evening – the second half of last night’s suspended Scoreless Wonder, which ended up a 1-0 Yanks win thanks to Derek Jeter’s solo home run (and lead-preserving nifty defensive play), and then tonight’s 3-2 duel, which saw Andy Pettitte prevail over Francisco Liriano. Mariano Rivera saved both games, and if he didn’t quite radiate moonbeams and rose petals and ride off the field on a pegasus like he normally does, it was at least a step in the right direction.
I figured on the bullpen being a minefield today (as just getting through nine innings has proved plenty tough enough for those guys recently), but David Robertson, Joba Chamberlain, and Mo staggered through to the end of the first game unscathed, and Andy Pettitte gave everyone a break tonight by throwing 72 of his 94 pitches for strikes — “attack-tastic,” as my friend put it — powering through eight relatively smooth innings with a little help from his good friend the DP grounder. Safe to say he’s showing no ill effects from his recent elbow issue (…well, safe to say, but I’m knocking on wood anyway, just in case). He hit a few speed bumps: in the first inning, when my guy Denard Span doubled, stole third, and was delivered to home plate by Joe Mauer; and in the seventh, with Delmon Young’s RBI double. Beyond that, though Pettitte allowed eight hits, he walked no one, struck out four, and was generally able to keep his anguished, muttered self-criticism on the mound to a minimum. When he induced Joe Mauer to hit into the Twins’ third DP of the night and end the eighth inning, his fist pump was downright Joba-esque.
With the Yankees still staging their community theater adaptation of Waiting For Godot, starring Mark Teixeira’s offense (“We are all born mad. Some remain so”), they patched together a few runs from the bottom of the lineup. In the fourth Francisco Cervelli went all speed-demon on the Twins, beat out a potential double play throw, and scored from first on Kevin “Strong Island” Russo’s double; Russo himself scored in the seventh inning when Brett Gardner tripled. (“Let us do something, while we have the chance! It is not every day that we are needed. But at this place, at this moment of time, all mankind is us, whether we like it or not. Let us make the most of it, before it is too late!”).
Each team had two runs and eight hits when Nick Swisher came to the plate in the top of the ninth to face Jon Rauch and his neck tattoos. The third pitch of the at-bat was a ripe fastball, and we can only hope its violent death was quick and painless, as Swisher absolutely creamed it. It soared over the right field wall and gave them a 3-2 lead that they held onto, thanks to a much more Mariano-like Rivera appearance than we saw in the first game. Take a deep breath, the Yankees won another series.
Tonight backed up my "never trust someone with a neck tattoo" philosophy.
Doesn't he know you're not supposed to get tattoos in places where they can't be covered up by a dress shirt in court?
He must be a member of the Twinkie Crips.
[0] yesterday evening we spent blathering about nothing in particular. That's been going on now for half a century.
[1] I bet Swisher admired the tattoos.
5) Almost as much as he admired his dinger.
Man, that home run SOUNDED sweet, didn't it? Must feel some kind of wonderful to hit a ball like that, nevermind in a real game.
[4] Boy, that was just about as pure as you can hit one, wasn't it? Nice to have Swish in the lineup again.
I had a minor quibble w/ Girardi pulling Andy - as if it's illegal to let your starter pitch the 9th with a one run lead - but it's not really fair 2nd guessing going to Mo for the save. I just would have liked seeing Andy finish the game - he only had 90-some pitches - and I would have liked to have Mo available for today's finale. Again - minor quibble. Good solid win.
Last year a sweep of the Twins was a springboard to the season. I know the Yankees have the 2nd best record in MLB right now, but it sure doesn't feel like it lately. Let's hope they can sweep this series and start getting that April groove back.
[0]
I just have to say that every time I read an Emma post, I experience severe writer's envy.
I consider myself a decent one ... at times even a very good one ... but Emma gives a quality AB every time she steps to the plate.
(raises a glass to Ms. Span)
"The air is full of our cries but habit is a great deadener."
Nice Godot stuff, Emma. I remember getting to see the Mike Nichols limited-run production in the late 80s with Steve Martin and Robin Williams in the leads, F Murray Abraham as Pozzo and Bill Irwin, who stole the show, as Lucky.
Also recall studying that play in high school and college and the meaning became clear once I realized that the play's title, if literally translated from French, means "While Waiting for Godot..." It's what we do while we wait, not really WHO that Godot is.
it's like Christmas in May! Sing it wit 'cha Sliced, kids!
Here comes Granderson! Here comes Granderson!
Right down Centerfield Lane!
Cashman and Jeter and all the Yankees are pulling on the reins.
He'll bat 6th, Gritner's back to 9th
and the lineup shines a little more bright.
DFA Winn, and say goodbye to Thames glove
coz Granderson comes tomorrow night!
Here comes Granderson! Here comes Granderson!
Right down Centerfield Lane!
He's got a bag that's filled with tools - and maybe even Tex's bat!
Hear those sleigh bells jingle, see the Centaur's ring-le...
Posada's almost in sight!
Even if Javy loses we can go to bed happy
coz Granderson comes tomorrow night!
[9] Brilliant!
Let's hope he doesn't break anything in the next 48 hours.
It's remarkable how the Yankees dominate Minny. If it wasn't for the aberrant walk in a run, give up the grand slam by Mo game at the stadium, the Yanks would be 5-0 against them. The Yankees are the best weapon the Tigers have against their rivals.
Swish's blast was prolly the hardest hit ball this year by the yanks, considering how this park keeps the HR man down.
And, a great recap this is a pleasure to read.
[11] aw, Grandy's no Nick Johnson.
I'm just hoping they keep Russo up with the team figuring he brings more than Winn, and even Thames. (not gonna happen, but that's what I'd do)
[10] thanks, dude. That Gene Autry cornball shit is easy to riff on.
Why in heck is Gardenhire chirping about letting Andy do his warm up in the ninth to let Mo get a couple of more tosses in the pen. That's just standard baseball.
[9]
I (heart) you.
[13] And even tossed in a Centaur reference!! Nice.
[13] I'd also like to see Russo stick around. I could get behind a compromise: send Russo down for the 10 (or is it 14?) days an optioned player must stay in the minors before returning. If in that time Winn doesn't look a heck of a lot better, jettison Winn in favor of Russo. And while Russo is down, keep moving him all around the field: OF, SS - make him into a regular Jerry Hairston Jr.
[15] The MN commentators were livid about it. They practically accused Girardi of cheating by sending Andy back out with no intention of pitching him. They were all, "There oughta be a rule where if you go out to the mound you have to face at least one guy...."
That ref should have been [14]