This is the kind of game we pined for during the first couple of months this season when the Yanks seemed like they were behind 2-0 before the game started. A laugher, free and easy.
That’s what we got tonight as the Yanks took advantage of some poor fielding by the Rays, who made three errors, and an off-night from James Shields. It was nice to see Nick Swisher smack a couple of base hits but even better to watch Russell Martin line a grand slam over the fence in right field (he had three hits in all).
Andy Pettitte pitched a wonderful game. Over seven-and-a-third, he allowed a couple of hits and a couple of walks and struck out ten, though after almost every inning he walked off the mound talking to himself. Not muttering it was more like lecturing. Just another old craftsman, working out some kind of private contest for himself, perfection required.
Final score: Yanks 7, Rays 0.
Ahhhhhhh.
[Photo Credit: Pus-Say; Sleepless Dreams; Mike Stobe/Getty Images]
Andy is no fluke. He is pitching beautifully.
...
On (what looked like) the last strike of the game, Salty hits a 2 Run HR to tie the game, Sox/O's, 6-6. O's score one in the top of the 10th and still have a little rally going.
Yanks 1/2 game out of 1st.
Love this write up, Alex. A beautiful thing too. Thanks.
Another hit and another Run for the O's... now up 8-6, still the top of the 10th.
Andy has been simply remarkable. Andy was definitely a chatterbox after each 3rd out. He's been fun to watch. Also, I look forward to the hitters improving with risp and the inevitable crash and burn of Buck's O's.
this really IS a beautiful thing to come home from work to. i wish i could've watched Andy. he's been fantastic. i'm going to 2 yankees games coming up and it's lined up in a way that i'll miss andy both times. : (
GO YANKS!!!
Dude. Andy.
Man, they're really coming around. First Phil's career night, a good 'un from Hiroki, and now yet another vintage performance from Andy. That's the rotation we need. Time for Ivan to get in line.
And don't look now, but Coltrane has crossed the Mendoza Line.
Andy.
Yeah, I've been big time wrong about the Return of Andy.
That's a cool picture. What is it a picture of?
Hey, with 256 runs and 226 against, the Yankees are now in first place in the Pythagorean AL East. We're also the only team that's smack on its Pythagorean estimate -- the Rays and O's are outperforming their expectation. (The Rangers, on the other hand, are way below their Pythagorean expectation.)
Cool Standings now expects every team in the AL East to finish the season with between 83 (Sox and O's) and 88 (Yanks) wins. Which I guess shows the limitations of using the Pythagorean estimate as a predictor.
Coming Friday: Red Sox vs. Stephen Strasburg.