Game 8 Wrap-Up: NYY 14 CLE 1

(Cano, so hot right now.  Cano.  Courtesy of Getty Images)

I don't consider two straight wins a winning streak.  I know a lot of people do, but that just seems a little aggressive to me.  The Yankees had two straight wins to their credit heading into last night's game, and they had the chance to make it three and make it a legitimate winning streak in my eyes.  They had the right pitcher on the mound to get it done in Andy Pettitte, who was hands down the best starter the first trip through the rotation, and the right offensive trends to get it done after putting up 18 runs in the previous two games.  Both of those things combined in the perfect way and this baby was over early.

Game Notes:

- Brett Gardner started a rally in the top of the 1st that got killed by a Travis Hafner GIDP.  In the 2nd, Gardner cashed in a 2-out rally with a big 2-run single to give the Yanks an early lead.  The suddenly red-hot Robinson Cano followed up with a 2-run double and they were off and running.

- Andy was on the money early, retiring 5 in a row on groundballs through 2.  His pitches had good life, and he was mixing them well again to get around a few walks and keep the Indians scoreless through 4.

- I don't know how he did it, but Robbie went from ice cold to molten hot in like 5 at-bats.  He hit a 2-run HR to left in the top of the 4th to make it 7-0 and the rout was on.

- Sadly, Cano wasn't able to come through in his next AB in the top of the 6th.  But Kevin Youkilis did, hitting a 2-run HR of his own to score Gardner for a third time and make it a 9-0 game.

- Andy had a heat check in the bottom of the 6th after he tried to challenge Asdrubal Cabrera with a first-pitch fastball down the middle and lost, but he got it back together and went K, K, groundout to end the 7th in style.

- Just to make sure there was no doubt, the offense chipped in more runs in the 8th on a Lyle Overbay solo HR and an RBI double by Cano ...

- ... And another 2-run HR by the pinch hitting Brennan Boesch ...

- ... And an RBI single by Francisco Cervelli in the 9th.

- Oh yeah, Adam Warren came on for mop-up duty to end the game and handled the task without issue.

F*ck Yeahs:

- Cano: 4-6, 2 2B, 1 HR, 2 R, 5 RBI, 2 LOB.  OK, Robbie.  I get it.  I undersold you on that post.  You're the best.  I'm sorry.

- Pettitte: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K.  Effectively inconsistent with his command, Andy made up for it by having really good stuff.  His 11 swinging strikes out of 63 thrown was proof of that and further proof that the guy actually is a Jedi master.  Absolutely outstanding start to the year for the old lefty.

- Gardner: 4-5, 2 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 LOB.  That's some good table setting, son.

Oh Nos:

- Hafner: 0-4, 2 K, 3 LOB.  Way to not show up, dude.  The only starter to not even get one hit, GAWD!

Next Up:

Ivan Nova tries to keep the momentum going tonight when he makes his second start of the season.  The Indians are in a bit of a pickle with their starting situation, as they had to use today's scheduled starter Brett Myers in relief of the ejected Carlos Carrasco last night.  We could end up seeing former Yankee prospect Zach McAllister.