Results tagged ‘ Texas ’
The End of the Road…
Thus endeth the season…
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Antonelli/NY Daily News
The Yankees were outplayed and outpitched by an
inferior Texas Rangers squad and it was very disappointing to watch. The truth is these Yankees have looked very
subpar since August. Their ALDS victory
over the Minnesota Twins was most likely a fluke given their dominance of the
Twins in recent years. The Yankee bats
were silent during the ALCS with the most visible being Alex Rodriguez. But I really think, as many do, the primary
problem was the lack of consistent and quality pitching.
Antonelli/NY Daily News
CC Sabathia had a few starts where he looked like
an ace, but he had more starts that looked very average. Unlike last year, there wasn’t a sense of
invincibility when CC took the mound…at least not like when Cliff Lee takes the
hill for the Rangers or Tim Lincecum for the San Francisco Giants or Roy
Halladay for the Philadelphia Phillies.
A.J. Burnett was an absolute disaster this
year. I am not sure what happened. He pitched so great for the Yankees in 2009
and for the Toronto Blue Jays the year before.
But this year, he was clearly gasoline on the fire. He needs to re-dedicate himself to his craft
this off-season to see if he can dig deep to re-find his talent.
I thought Andy Pettitte did a very good job this
year, but there was obviously much down time with the injury that put him on
the DL. At his age, there is no doubt
that we’ve seen the best of Andy. If
Andy doesn’t decide to retire in the off-season and returns to the Yankees next
year, I’d prefer they make him the #4 or #5 starter and accept whatever you can
get from him.
Phil Hughes is a primary key for future
success. He is another guy that needs to
find a way to take his talent to the next level. He has the stuff so he needs to find a way to
become the pitcher he is capable of becoming.
An 18-game winner, it’s been said that he was probably a 12-13 game
winner on any other team. That’s
probably true. As the pitcher who took
the loss that sent the Yankees home for the season, I hope that he is able to
harness the frustration into a desire to come back stronger than ever next
year.
The trade for Javier Vazquez was clearly a
mistake. As much as I wanted Javy to
succeed in the Bronx, I was fearful when I first heard the Yankees had
re-acquired him. Those fears turned out
to be justified. A free agent, there is
no way the Yankees will attempt to bring him back.
I am not quite sure what the future holds, but the
Yankees need to find a way to improve the pitching staff. The obvious target is Rangers ace Cliff Lee,
a free agent at the end of the season.
However, the Rangers will be making a very hard run at him after the
World Series and of course he will have a sentimental attachment to being part
of a World Series club. So, I’d have to
believe, at this point, that the Rangers have the advantage over the Yankees in
signing Lee.
Antonelli/NY Daily News
Another potential target is Kansas City Royals
starter Zach Greinke, who the Royals intend to move. Any way you slice it, GM Brian Cashman has his
work cut out for him this off-season if he intends to bring the Yankees back to
a championship-caliber club. Age is not
the Yankees friend and they cannot win again if they remain status quo.
As for the World Series, I still think the
Philadelphia Phillies are the favorite.
I realize they are down 3 games to 2 to the San Francisco Giants, a
situation the Yankees failed to overcome.
But the difference is the Phillies pitching staff and the fact that the
remaining games are in Philly. Don’t get
me wrong, I’d love to see the San Francisco Giants close out the series and
advance. I live in the Bay Area and many
of my friends are Giants fans. I am also
a fan of Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti and would like to see him working
with the Giants pitching staff in the World Series. So, I’ll be cheering for the Giants but I am
fully aware the NLCS is far from over.
Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle
Congratulations to the Texas Rangers for reaching
their first World Series. I lived in
Dallas for 14 years and it was clearly a town dominated by the Cowboys. The Rangers were never successful during my
years there and the fans didn’t have the passion for the team that I saw
watching the ALCS this year. So, it is
clear that the baseball fans in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex are starving
for a winner and now they have their chance.
I never became fond of the Rangers while living there, perhaps because I
always went to the games when the Yankees were in town so I was constantly
rooting against them. However, my son is
a Rangers fan so he’s excited. When he
was about 2 or 3 years old, we were in a restaurant near the ballpark in
Arlington, Texas after a Rangers game.
Nolan Ryan was pitching for the Rangers at the time, and he happened to
be in the same restaurant with his family.
There weren’t too many people in the restaurant and my son was wearing a
Rangers cap we had bought at the game. My
son walked over to Nolan and asked for his autograph. Nolan took my son’s hat and signed his name
on the bill. He still has that hat today
and it has been a prized possession. It
solidified the Rangers as my son’s team of choice despite my numerous attempts
to make him a Yankees fan.
Antonelli/NY Daily News
Well, now that baseball is over for me, I’ll have
to look to my other teams for hope.
However, the prospects do not look good at this point. The Minnesota Vikings are struggling at 2-3
and have to play the Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots in the next two
weeks. Brett Favre has not been healthy
and is starting to look like a 41-year-old quarterback, not to mention the
recent text messages that have been a distraction. As for the San Jose Sharks, the season is
early but they just won their first game in the United States after a few
consecutive losses following the opening game victory in Stockholm. I think they’ll be there at the end but the
competition in the West is tough this year.
I always have the Los Angeles Lakers but they’ll have their share of
challenges this year too.
So, when do the baseball winter meetings start?…
–Scott
Playing With Heart…
With their backs to the wall, the Yankees rebounded
on Wednesday with a 7-2 victory over Texas to bring the series to a 3-2
advantage for the Rangers.
Sipkin/NY Daily News
It can be argued that the Rangers played less than
their best to ensure clinching on their home turf, but the Yankees clearly
played with a purpose and showed the heart that has been missing for the last
few months.
The last time to overcome a 3 games to 1 deficit
was the Boston Red Sox in their World Series winning year of 2007. They also erased a 3-to-0 deficit in the 2004
ALCS against the Yankees enroute to their first championship since 1918. So, it can be done, but the Yankees face a
long road that would end with Cliff Lee staring them down from the mound
(assuming they can get past Colby Lewis on Friday night). CC Sabathia is done for the series, except
perhaps in a relief role.
Sipkin/NY Daily News
The Yankees will also be without Mark Teixeira who
has been lost for the duration of the play-offs due to a hamstring injury. The acquisition of Lance Berkman now looms
very large as he’ll be asked to cover first.
It will be good to get both his bat and that of Marcus Thames into the
lineup at the same time, but it will still be a step down from Teixeira. With Robinson Cano moving to the third spot
in the order, hopefully, he’ll continue his hot hitting and maybe give A-Rod a
spark.
Realistically, I do not think the Yankees will be
able to win two games in Texas. But, of
course, stranger things have happened.
The Yankees certainly have the talent and potential to succeed.
Win or lose, I am proud of today’s effort by the
Yankees. I am glad that they didn’t roll
over and let the Rangers celebrate on Yankee Stadium ground. Now, if the Rangers win, it’ll be on their
own turf, in front of their own fans. It
will be a long plane flight back to New York, but that’s better than watching
the visitors pouring champagne in your house.
Simmons/NY Daily News
Here’s hoping the Yankees can keep up the intensity
and continue playing with the same heart they showed today. A 3-game winning streak. Is that asking too much?…
Simmons/NY Daily News
I was surprised to see that the Chicago Cubs have
already named their manager, removing the interim tag from manager Mike
Quade. I really thought the Cubs would
try to woo Joe Girardi back to Chicago.
Or at the very least, they’d give Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg a shot. By hiring Quade, it kind of reminds me of how
the Yankees bypassed Don Mattingly to hire Joe Girardi when Joe Torre
left. Circumstances were different, but
the outcome will most likely be the same…the departure of the legend to another
team. I am proud of Mattingly and he’ll
always be one of my favorite Yankees, but it’s still tough watching him in a
Dodgers uniform. Don’t get me wrong, I
will be rooting for him to succeed but it will still sting that he doesn’t wear
the pinstripes anymore. On the same
token, it will be hard for Cubs fans to see Sandberg get an opportunity with
another team.
Speaking of Girardi, the Cubs decision virtually
guarantees that he’ll be back as Yankees manager (assuming the team and the
manager are able to come to terms on a new deal). So much for leverage…
–Scott
To Lee Or Not To Lee…
I didn’t really expect the Yankees to go into Texas
and sweep the Rangers, so all things considered, I’ll take a split in the ALCS as the teams
make their way to the Bronx…
The Yankees took the first game in dramatic fashion
as they overcame a 5-0 deficit to win 6-5, thanks to a five run 8th
inning. It was a disappointing
performance by CC Sabathia at a time when you expect nothing but perfection
from your ace.
As bad as Sabathia was, Phil Hughes was worse in
Game 2 as the Yankees fell to the Rangers, 7-2.
The Rangers will now have Cliff Lee available in Games 3 and 7 if
necessary. It definitely gives the
Rangers an advantage, but if the Yankees can start pitching like they are
capable of, they can neutralize the advantage.
Sipkin/NY Daily News
As the San Francisco Giants showed in Game 1 of the NLCS, great pitching
can beat great pitching (Tim Lincecum over Roy Halladay). For Game 3, the Yankees need for Andy
Pettitte to keep the game close until they can get Cliff Lee out of the
game.
Michael Macor/The Chronicle
If they lose, the Rangers are almost certain to
face CC Sabathia rather than A.J. Burnett in Game 4. Given the short outing in Game 1, it’s
possible that Sabathia may be a go for Game 4 regardless of what happens in
Game 3 against Lee. The Yankees will
want to posture the rotation for a potential Sabathia-Lee showdown in Game 7 if
the series goes that far. I know that
Joe Girardi is saying that Sabathia is still the scheduled Game 5 starter, but
I really think he’ll announce a change.
I know Andy is a big-game pitcher, but I’d rather have Sabathia in an ‘all
or nothing’ situation.
The Yankees also need to work on the bats. In yesterday’s loss, the Yankees squandered
multiple scoring opportunities as they left 12 men on base. They were 1-for-11 with men in scoring
position. That’s definitely not the way
to ensure a return trip to the World Series.
AP
Time for Mystique and Aura to make an appearance at
Yankee Stadium…
–Scott
Pick Up The Pieces, Chin Up High, and Move On…
So, after an 8-game win streak, the Yankees have
failed against the Baltimore Orioles in the Bronx and the Texas Rangers in
Arlington, Texas. For the last six
games, they have a 1-5 record to show for it.
That’s not exactly the way to win friends and influence enemies. Now the Yanks head for St. Petersburg, FL, to
face the second place Tampa Bay Rays who stand only .5 games behind the Yankees
in the AL East Standings. The Rays are
confident, and even the Boston Red Sox have to have a renewed sense they can
catch the Yankees.
Boston Globe
GM Brian Cashman knew that the starting pitching
would be the Yankees’ Achilles Heel, and of course, had he been successful in
capturing Cliff Lee from the Seattle Mariners, things would look very
differently in the AL East standings.
Even Ted Lilly could have made a difference. So, the Yanks prepare for their AL East
showdown with the Rays, who figure to have the advantage due to their starting
pitching.
James Borchuk/St. Petersburg Times
Game 1 will feature CC Sabathia against fellow Cy
Young candidate David Price in what should be a marquee pitching duel. The Yankees need a victory, and this game is probably
the single most important game of the season if the Yanks want to win the
division. It is not the end of the world
if they lose, but the Rays have a chance to make a huge statement in this
series. They are a very good team, no
doubt, and they do have the horses to capture the AL East flag. Watching the Rockies win their 10th
in a row tonight thanks to ex-Yankee Jason Giambi is proof positive that
someone, anyone, can stand up and deliver.
Now is the time for those unsung heroes of the 2010 Yankees to shine.
Kim Klement/US Presswire
Of all the missed opportunities this weekend, the
one that sticks out most in my mind is when the Yankees had the bases loaded in
the top of the 13th inning on Saturday night. The Yankees catcher was Chad Moeller and he
ended the inning with no runs in a game that the Rangers won in the bottom of
the inning. A healthy Jorge Posada could
have made such a difference, but it really exposed that the Yankees don’t have
anything behind Francisco Cervelli until Jesus Montero and/or Austin Romine are
ready for the major leagues.
Oh well, all things considered, the Yankees are in
great shape on September 12th.
Regardless of whether they go into the play-offs as AL East Champions or
the Wild Card, they’ll be ready for October baseball. Andy Pettitte should be back in the rotation
and even if he’s not in the starting rotation, Javier Vazquez should be a high
quality long man.
The Yankees just need to keep doing what they’ve
been doing since April. The team is good
and they need to understand that and continue to persevere. This is the time that makes champions…
–Scott
What Happened Tuesday Night?…
Mo showed why he is great…
A day after losing a game in walk-off fashion to
the Texas Rangers, Mariano Rivera bounced back to save the Yankees’ 7-6 comeback
victory over the Rangers. So many
relievers have a tough time “forgetting yesterday”, but not Mo. After allowing a lead-off triple to Elvis
Andrus, he retired the next three batters to strand Andrus at third with what
would have been the tying run.
When Austin Kearns bounced into a double play with
the bases loaded to end the top half of the 8th inning with the
score 6-5 Texas, I thought the Yankees may have exhausted their chances for
victory. However, or rather , fortunately,
Marcus Thames proved me wrong. He
homered in the 8th, and drove in the eventual winning run in the 9th. Not bad for a guy who gets mentioned as an
afterthought when you name off Yankee players.
AP
I am a bit disappointed with Kearns, who has failed to hit in key
situations since his arrival in the Bronx.
But to his credit, he did make a great shoestring catch in the 9th
in helping Mo to the save.
The other two recent acquisitions, Kerry Wood and
Lance Berkman, both played roles in Wednesday’s win. Wood pitched the 7th and 8th
innings in scoreless relief to pick up his first win as a Yankee. Berkman drove in a run in the 7th
on a ground rule double as the Yankees chipped away at what once had been a 6-1
Texas lead. Berkman, it should be noted,
was the only Yankees starter who did not strike out on a night when 17 Yankees
did, tying the dubious franchise record.
Nick Swisher, in particular, was an awful 0-for-5, with 4 SO’s.
Javier Vazquez, who had recently been diagnosed
with a “dead arm”, was very ineffective in the match-up against the almost
Yankee, Cliff Lee. Javy was out after 4 1/3
innings after he gave up 6 runs. I am
not quite sure what it will take to get Javy back to the level of pitching he
was at last month, but he needs to improve if the Yankees intend to hold off
the Tampa Bay Rays and the Boston Red Sox.
Matthew Emmons/US Presswire
Meanwhile, Cliff Lee was solid in striking out 11 Yankees although the Yankees were able to score against him late as he gave up a total of 4 runs through 6 1/3 innings. I remain hopeful that Lee will be the Yankees prime target in the free agent market after the season.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
The Yankees were fortunate to get a win out of a
two game series that looked like it would be a sweep for Texas. The Rays lost to the Detroit Tigers, but the
Boston Red Sox steamrolled over the team that gave the Yankees and Rays so much
trouble, the Toronto Blue Jays. For all
of the key injuries Boston has suffered this year, they are within striking
distance at just 5 games back.
Mark Blinch/Reuters
The series in Texas was tough. It started with news that hot-hitting Mark
Teixeira would remain in New York with his wife, who gave birth to their third
child, William Charles. I hated to see
the removal of Teixeira’s bat from the lineup, and it was compounded when
Robinson Cano couldn’t start the first game of the series due to illness
(although he did later pinch hit and entered the game as a replacement at 2nd
late in the game despite his weakened condition). Jorge Posada also missed the game, so those
were three huge voids in the lineup.
The Yankees now head for Kansas City for a
four-game set against the Royals.
Teixeira will rejoin the team, and should be in the lineup tonight. On paper, tonight’s game looks like a
mismatch (CC Sabathia versus Bruce Chen), however, the Yankees have not been
playing great ball lately. They missed a
great opportunity to bury both the Rays the Red Sox and couldn’t do it. Hopefully, the team can catch fire soon and
put the pressure on the other teams instead of carrying the weight on their own
shoulders.
–Scott
Did I Win? I Am Not So Sure…
If I won the wager with Julia of Julia’s Rants, why do I feel as though I lost?…
The Yankees and Red Sox tied their four game series at two games apiece, but the Yankees took the tie-breaker in total runs scored, 16-12. Therefore, it will be Julia who has to appear in at least 6 photos showing her in different locations wearing a pink Yankees cap.
But although I won, I certainly do not feel like a winner. The most important game, to me, is always the getaway game. The Red Sox leave town as winners, while the Yankees head for Texas wondering what could have been. They had the chance to put the Red Sox 8 games back, but as it is, the Red Sox leave exactly the way the arrived, 6 games behind.
Elise Amendola/AP
People are constantly trying to bury the Red Sox but I’ve long known that the team simply does not have any quit in them. Now, they are starting to get their guys healthy, so they’ll be a force to be reckoned with during the stretch run.
The Yankees lost today, 2-1, against Jon Lester, Daniel Bard, and Jonathan Papelbon. Lester had entered the game on a four-game skid, but he is too talented to stay down for long. He proved he was up to the challenge today, and bested Phil Hughes in the pitching duel.
Chris McGrath/Getty Images
The Yankees had their chances in the late innings but couldn’t convert. Marcus Thames just missed a home run in the 7th inning when the ball hit the top of the fence and bounced back for a double. Just another inch or two and it would have tied the game. Bard also gets kudos for getting out of a bases loaded jam.
Mark Teixeira continued his hot hitting with an 8th inning home run, but that’s all the offense the team could manage.
The Yankees now head to Texas to play the guy who was nearly a Yankee, Cliff Lee, and the Texas Rangers. A.J. Burnett, scratched from Sunday’s start because of his back, will pitching the opening game against the surging C.J. Wilson who has enjoyed success as a starter this season. It will be a big test for the Yankees, and they’ll need to play better than they have in recent days. Maybe being in Texas will be good for Lance Berkman and he’ll hit his first homers for the Yankees.
A day after breaking Babe Ruth’s team hits record, Derek Jeter tied Mel Ott for the all-time record by a New York player at 2,876. When DJ was a skinny 16-year-old shortstop coming out of Kalamazoo, MI, I certainly didn’t envision the day that he’d be standing with baseball’s immortals. Congratulatons to DJ for another great milestone, but I suspect we’ll be doing this quite often between now and the end of his career.
–Scott
Reality Check…
What a letdown!…
After taking 2 of 3 from the Boston Red Sox last weekend, the Yankees landed with a thud in the Bronx. The Texas Rangers, normally a team the Yankees can handle, took 2 of 3 from the Bombers while Boston was busy taking 3 of 4 from the Chicago White Sox.
Kathy Willens/AP
The once expansive 7 1/2 game lead has been reduced to 6 games. But all things considered, a 6 game lead on August 27th is still a very good place to be.
I was disappointed with the first game of the Texas series. Trailing 10-5 in the bottom of the 9th, the Yankees brought it to 10-9 with runners in scoring position. But the rally was killed by a failed bunt attempt by Nick Swisher and a game-ending double play by Melky Cabrera.
Henny Ray Abrams/AP
Andy Pettitte convincingly won the second game of the series, but further disappointment followed in the final game as the Yanks fell 7-2. A.J. Burnett continued his recent streak of no success. Despite 12 strikeouts and an otherwise dominating performance, he paid dearly for a mistake that resulted in a three-run bomb by Ian Kinsler.
Noah K. Murray/Star Ledger
Now the Yankees prepare for the Chicago White Sox to arrive in town. It won’t match the intensity of the last Sox team, but hopefully, CC Sabathia will right the ship and get the Yankees back on the winning track. After all, these Yankees have a division to win. Right, Alex?
So, the Yankees were apparently the team that filed the waiver claim on pitcher Brad Penny. The move forced the Red Sox to drop Penny for no compensation. Bummer for Theo. While I suspect, like everyone else, that Penny will return to the NL, I can’t help but think that he’d be an improvement over Sergio Mitre and Chad Gaudin. The Yankees should definitely consider being one of the teams lining up to talk to Penny on Monday when he clears waivers.
Reuters
I read tonight that the Yanks most likely won’t be buyers in the free agent market this winter. I guess that means no Matt Holliday or Jason Bay. Okay, I recognize that we are spoiled as Yankees fans by ownership committed to winning, but I do miss having at least one superstar outfielder (sorry Johnny!). Austin Jackson will enter the outfield mix in 2010 but there is no in-house answer for right field if Xavier Nady is allowed to walk at the end of the year. But of course, what you HEAR is not always what you SEE with the Yanks. Brian Cashman has gotten good at lying in the weeds, waiting to strike…
I hate to go off-topic (okay, not really). There are reports that a “schism” has developed in the Minnesota Vikings’ clubhouse with players feeling that either Tavaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels would give them a better chance to win than Brett Favre. I still remain hopeful that we’ll see the 2007 Packers version of Favre rather than the 2008 Jets version. Favre will play a half during Monday’s exhibition game and he needs to start showing his teammates that he is still the same player that terrorized them in Green Bay. This season has the makings of something really special…or something really rotten. The difference maker, in either direction, will be Favre.
Elizabeth Flores/Star Tribune
I am definitely looking forward to the Top 11 post by my friend Julia (of Julia’s Rants). The photos of her in a Yankees cap will be a special treat. Nevertheless, I recognize that September will be a dogfight and I look forward to the next battle with Julia. Hmmm, maybe we need to raise the stakes…
Hey Yankees, let’s roll!…
And Then They Were Tied…
So much for sole possession of first place…
The Yankees lost to the Texas Rangers on Wednesday, 4-2. Andy Pettitte gave up 4 runs in the first two innings, and the Yanks were never able to recover.
William Perlman/The Star Ledger
After knocking in a run in the first inning, Alex Rodriguez did his best impression of the 2009 version of Big Papi as he stranded five runners on base.
The Yankees had every opportunity for late inning heroics, but it was a night of no magic or miracle comebacks. Meanwhile, in Detroit, Josh Beckett and the Red Sox had a no-hitter going until the seventh inning, and ultimately won the game, 10-5. So, this morning finds the Yankees and Red Sox perched atop the AL East Standings together. Can they co-exist together?
Umm, probably not…
Julia has asked me to step aside, however, I’ll be the rude host and block her path! Hopefully, the Yankees can rebound today when Chien-Ming Wang faces Brandon McCarthy in the final game of the three game series with the Texas Rangers. Will we see the 2006-07 version of Wang, or will the April 2009 version make its ugly reappearance? I am obviously praying for the former. Phil Hughes should be available for long relief should Wang falter…and of course the ever reliable Alfredo Aceves.
Lucy Nicholson/Reuters
In Detroit, Tim Wakefield pitches against the Tigers’ Dontrelle Willis. Wake has been the source of consistency for the Red Sox this season, so it will be a challenge for the Yanks to maintain a share of first place. But, c’mon, an unhappy Julia is a great thing…at least when it comes to baseball! So, hopefully today will see a Yankees win and a Red Sox loss. The perfect day!
Have a great day! Well, everyone except Red Sox fans… 
–Scott
13 Hits, 12 Runs, and 1 Error…
Perfect no more…
The Yankees errorless streak was halted at a major league record 18 games. I had expected Derek Jeter or Robinson Cano to boot a routine grounder to end the streak, but it was a throwing error by catcher Jorge Posada that sailed into center field on a stolen base attempt. Truth be told, I am glad to see the streak come to an end so that it removes the “pressure” of trying to maintain the streak.
John Dunn/MCT
During the streak, Yankee players fielded 660 chances without an error.
But the end of the streak was the only negative to an otherwise joyous evening…well, for everyone except Mark Teixeira, who was hit by two Vicente Padilla pitches.
AP
The Yankees won the game, 12-3, over the Texas Rangers, and maintained their one game lead on the Boston Red Sox, who also won, in the AL East Standings. Early on, it looked like the game could go either way. The Yanks had taken an early 2-0 lead in the 2nd inning, thanks to a run-scoring single by Brett Gardner and a bases loaded balk by Padilla. After Mark Teixeira was hit by a Vicente Padilla pitch for the first time, Alex Rodriguez grounded out with the bags full to prevent further scoring. The next inning, the lead was quickly erased when Texas right fielder Nelson Cruz hit a three-run shot to left.
AP
In the bottom of the 4th inning, both Melky Cabrera and Derek Jeter walked. Johnny Damon hit a single which scored Cabrera with the tying run. Teixeira, the next batter, was hit by a pitch from Padilla for the second time. With Jeter at third and the bases loaded, Alex Rodriguez hit into a fielder’s choice. Teixeira was out at 2nd but his slide upended shortstop Elvis Andrus and prevented a double play. However, Jeter scored with his 1,500th career run and the Yankees had forged ahead, 4-3. Robinson Cano singled to right, to bring home Damon and Padilla’s night was finished. Texas reliever Derek Holland entered the game, and promptly surrendered a run scoring single to Jorge Posada. The next batter, Hideki Matsui, cleared the bases with a three-run homer to right center field, his 8th of the season. Cabrera, batting for the second time in the inning, hit a grounder to second for the third out. However, the Yankees had scored 7 runs in the inning, and the 3-2 deficit had become a 9-3 lead.
AP
Jorge Posada closed out the scoring in the 6th with a three run homer to right.
A.J. Burnett (4-2) picked up his first Yankee Stadium win of the year. He went 7 innings, giving up 8 hits and 1 walk. He allowed three runs on the Cruz homer, and struck out 8 batters.
John Dunn
The unsightly duo of Brett Tomko and Jose Veras pitched the final two innings of scoreless relief. When Veras entered the game, I have to admit that I began to feel somewhat uncomfortable…even with a 9 run lead.
Derek Jeter extended his hitting streak to 16 games. However, Mark Teixeira did not get a hit so his streak ended at 14 games.
The hostility between Teixera and Padilla dates back to June 5, 2005 when Teixeira’s Rangers played Padilla’s Philadelphia Phillies. Tex homered in his first two at-bat’s against Padilla, and when he came to the plate for the third time, Padilla plunked him with a pitch. The two were Texas teammates in 2006-07, however, the ill feelings between the two were never resolved. “That’s not the right way to play the game and, unfortunately, that guy’s been doing that his whole career,” Teixeira said after the game. Padilla, by the way, has hit a major league high 97 batters since 2002.
It was nice to see Tex play with emotion and without losing control.
It was also nice to see my friend Julia stay in second place… 
–Scott
Fid
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