Mess with Texas: Yanks-Rangers Gamer IV

Pudge returns to his old stomping-grounds, Joba gears up for 100-degree weather, and the Yankees take their 2-game win-streak on the road to face the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of baseball.  How bad is Ranger pitching?  They rank last in the AL in starters' ERA (5.44), last in IP/start (barely above 5.1 IP/start), and theirs are the only starters in the AL off of whom opponents are hitting .300.  How good is their hitting?  With 631 runs they've scored almost 100 more runs than the Yankees (538) and they rank first in the AL in this and most other team batting categories (.281 BA; .812 OPS; 1116 H).

The Yankees play 16 of their next 19 on the road and need to get off on the right foot with their young ace on the mound.  Speaking of which, Joba (4-3, 2.24 ERA) has given up 3 runs in three starts (19 IP) but struggled the last time he faced Texas - throwing 91 pitches over four innings in the Yankee loss.  The Rangers send Vicente Padilla (12-5, 4.52 ERA) to the mound who has been pretty solid since coming off the DL.

Yankee line-up follows (Nady working his way up the line-up and Justin Christian running himself into the # 9 hole).  Comment away...

Damon - DH

Jeter – SS

Abreu – RF

A-Rod – 3B

Giambi – 1B

Nady – LF

Cano – 2B

Pudge – C

Christian – CF

Joba - P

Comments

[Lar]

The Yanks making Padilla look good.

Okay, Abreu just took one the other way for a single. Here's Clutch-Rod.

[Lar]

ARod apparently leading the league in batting average. Of all the things, I'm vaguely surprised at this one. Maybe he'll get hot and win the triple crown! ;P

[Lar]

And walks in 4 pitches. Almost hit him too. A 6 pitch walk for ARod after dow 0-2.

[Lar]

Big G, now without the Stash, is trying to grow a new streak. So to speak. Let's go Yanks!

[attackgerbil]

Weird seeing him without the caterpillar.

[Lar]

Padilla possibly getting squeezed. But since this is a YF, I will ignore that and pretend I didn't see that.

[attackgerbil]

That 2-2 looked legit.

[Lar]

Okay, sure, this guy is Padilla, but that's what this lineup should do more often.

5 pitches for Abreu, 6 pitches for ARod, 8 pitches for Giambi, who, on the 8th pitch, dumps one to center for a single. 1-0 Yanks.

[attackgerbil]

Giambi comes through with a single to score Abreu and move ARod to third.

[Lar]

Also, a 2 out hit! Yay.

[Lar]

Of course, Nady grounds out on the first pitch. Ah well.

Okay, got to go running. Go Yanks!

[attackgerbil]

Kinsler facing Joba. He flies out to left on the first pitch.

[attackgerbil]

Laird down looking for the second out on a slider.

[attackgerbil]

Young takes a 1-2 fastball the other way over Cano for a single.

[attackgerbil]

Joba starts Hamilton out with a strike. That's four first-pitch strikes. Hamilton hits a nub in front of the plate. Pudge fields and guns to first. Tough play. Great throw.

[attackgerbil]

Byrd makes a great diving catch in right to thieve extra bases from Cano.

[attackgerbil]

Pudge grounds out 6-3.

[IronHorse (yf)]

There hasn't been a Yankee starter that was this much fun to watch since Gator.

[attackgerbil]

Christian grounds out 5-3 to end the Yankee 2nd.

[IronHorse (yf)]

Nice to see Joba throwing the curve for strikes often today. He was almost all f-ball/slider in his last outing.

Booby Abreu catches one hear the all. Stop the presses.

[attackgerbil]

Abreu down swinging after fouling off a few 0-2s. Alex up with two away.

[attackgerbil]

ARod swings at the first two pitches, then takes strike three when he asked for time and didn't get it.

[attackgerbil]

That was a crappy mistake by Alex there. But Padilla is holding the ball for about 8 or 9 seconds once he comes set. It's insanely frustrating.

[attackgerbil]

Saltalamacchia singles to right to lead off the Rangers 3rd.

[SF]

Type that three times fast, Gerb!

[attackgerbil]

Now Salty overslides second on an attempted steal. He had the bag but rolled past the base; Jeter tags him out.

[attackgerbil]

Vazquez flies out to left.

Now Kinsler doubles to left center.

[attackgerbil]

Heheh SF...

Jeter makes a great diving stab on the apron on a grounder by Laird to save a run. No play to first but kept Kinsler from scoring.

[attackgerbil]

Whew... Joba suckered Young, who can't check his swing on the breaking pitch away. Huge way to get out of a jam.

That was tense.

[SF]

Joba is the anti-Clay. Composed, gets out of jams, etc. The Sox game is like the exact opposite of this one.

[attackgerbil]

No doubt on that swing, as Giambi launches it to the second deck in right. POW.

[attackgerbil]

Nady wasup 2-0 but then goes down swinging. Cano comes to the plate with one out.

[attackgerbil]

Cano works a long long at bat, then strokes a payoff pitch upper deck, not far from where Giambi put his.

[attackgerbil]

Singleton says Cano's dinger measured 432 feet.

[attackgerbil]

Pudge grounds out 4-3.

Christian grounds out 6-3.

Yankees lead 3-0 in the middle of four.

[attackgerbil]

Hamilton out on a broken bat grounder that almost gets past Cano.. nice play by Robi.

Byrd walks.

[attackgerbil]

David Murphy homers to right, scoring Byrd. Man these Texas kids rake.

[attackgerbil]

Saltalamacchia down swinging to end the Texas fourth, Yankees leading 3-2.

[attackgerbil]

Time to feed the kid. Catch you all later.

[Lar]

Balks Damon home - 4-2.

[Lar]

Young smacks a 3 run HR. The non-out coming back to haunt him..

Well, Yanks should be beating up Padilla more.. so we'll see.

[Lar]

Joba's pitch count getting high, and also now throwing behind people..

[Lar]

Joba coming out of the game - possible shoulder injury. Let's hope it's nothing.

[Sam-YF]

oh jesus. we kinda need him.

[stuck working]

Since it's 100 degrees out there, my guess is that it's probably just a cramp. My guess is pseudo-informed, thanks to the magic of ESPN showing a ton of random game tonight.

[Lar]

What a waste of back-to-back lead off singles. Couldn't even squeeze in a run..

[Sam-YF]

Yanks get first two on in the sixth and cant score.

[Lar]

Tampa already lost. Yanks need this game to pick up a game..

[Lar]

Top of the order went 1-2-3. 6 more outs..

[Lar]

I've still been skeptical of Nady. Okay.

But he just tied the game. Go Yanks! Game tied at 5.

[IronHorse (yf)]

And the X-Man Cometh! Again! Nady ties it up off fire-throwing Francisco in the 8th with 2 outs. He has been a monster this past week. I love it.

[IronHorse (yf)]

Not sure we have Mo tonight with the back issues. Besides, it's a tie game and all. Looks like Bruney gets to keep going...

[Lar]

Or not.. =P Marte comes in to face the lefties.

[IronHorse (yf)]

In the Sox gamer they're saying Joba went out with a sore shoulder. That's not encouraging. I can't fathom how much that would suck if this is more than a cramp.

[Lar]

And Marte gives a long triple with one out. That was kind of not clutch.

[IronHorse (yf)]

Nice outfield play guys...one of you want to hold up for the carom next time. Not like keeping a guy on second with one out in a tie game is important or anything.

[Lar]

They're calling it a "stiff" shoulder for now. Ya...

[IronHorse (yf)]

That was one of the worst swings I've seen in a while. A good sign I hope. Certainly better than triple.

And he Ks...

[Lar]

Marte strikes out Davis, giving the infielders some breathing room, and here's Salty..

[IronHorse (yf)]

20-letter-name man up.

[IronHorse (yf)]

2-2...

[IronHorse (yf)]

Full count. Whose on deck?

[IronHorse (yf)]

Whew...nice job, in the end.

[Lar]

And Marte got out of what he got in. Still tied game in a very hitter-friendly park, 9th inning, here we go!

[attackgerbil]

Gotta get back in front of the tube!

[Lar]

IH - Vazquez, but probably Bradley will pinch hit.. that guy is dangerous.

[IronHorse (yf)]

Let's go Pudge - new guys are coming up big tonight...

[IronHorse (yf)]

Forgot about Bradley - yeah, you're right.

[IronHorse (yf)]

Working the full count. Melky chomping at the bit to get in this game but not sure he is that much faster than Pudge frankly. Still got to get on though...

[IronHorse (yf)]

D*%n.

Sexy in. Every time he comes in he looks taller.

[IronHorse (yf)]

Sox and Rays lost.

[IronHorse (yf)]

Looked bad there. 2 down.

[Atheose]

Here's what's gunna happen: Eddie "Mustache" Guardado is going to strike out the side, and then Mo is going to come in--during a tie-game--and blow it.

Sexson completes 1/5 of my prediction.

[IronHorse (yf)]

Damon on second. Let's go captain - dink one into right please.

[Atheose]

Or Johnny Damon will double. That's possible I guess.

[IronHorse (yf)]

Mo may still be unavailable Ath.

0-2 to Jeter.

[IronHorse (yf)]

Just a little late on that.

[IronHorse (yf)]

Jeter battling.

[Atheose]

Why's Mo unavailable? Just from frequent use?

[IronHorse (yf)]

Great f*%king catch by Hammilton - his second of the night. He is fun to watch, except tonight (or any of the next 3 nights).

[Atheose]

Fear the Latin mustache!

[IronHorse (yf)]

Tightness in his upper back last night, which is why he wasn't warming in the bottom of the 8th when the Yanks took the lead (but before they blew it open). Likely/hopefully nothing serious, but yeah. I don't know though - he may be available tonight. I haven't heard. I don't think Girardi will use him in a tie game away anyway given the tightness, but we'll see.

[IronHorse (yf)]

Marte gets another inning.

[IronHorse (yf)]

Anger management is up - 2-2.

Melky in CF now...

[IronHorse (yf)]

Full count. BB. Way to go after going 0-2 Damaso. Pudge's arm likely to get tested. It hasn't impressed so far with the Yanks.

[IronHorse (yf)]

Kinsler up - bunting. This guy is unreal fast.

[IronHorse (yf)]

0-2. Bunt off now.

[IronHorse (yf)]

1 down, 3-1 on Blair. Young on deck. Feeling queasy.

[IronHorse (yf)]

Great. 1 out, 2 on, Young up, Hamilton on deck. Very much teetering on the edge.

[IronHorse (yf)]

Popped him up.

Story of the year at the plate...

[IronHorse (yf)]

3-1. gulp

[IronHorse (yf)]

Marte gets the high strike call. 3-2

[Lar]

And Marte loses the game. Bah.

[IronHorse (yf)]

And Marte gives up his 3rd walk. Girardi leaves him in to face the righty Byrd, who hits the GS.

[IronHorse (yf)]

Good night.

Or night anyway.

[Lar]

With the Rays and Sox both losing, this was a great chance to pick up a game. Ah well.

The Twins are up 6-0 right now.

[Lar]

I guess Mo not available.

[IronHorse (yf)]

The Yanks feel like a 3rd place team. 1 step forward 1.5 backward. Again and again.

[Atheose]

Hey, Rangers win!

Sorry for the schadenfreude, but after seeing the Sox lose in horrible fashion I had to get a smile on my face somehow.

[IronHorse (yf)]

Yanks are 3-7 since winning 8 straight.