Game 119 Wrap-Up: NYY 11 LAA 3

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I had honestly forgotten what these games feel like.  The games where you stop paying attention and go to bed early because you know the team is going to win.  The Yankees have now rattled off 2 of those in a row and 4 wins in a row overall after last night's drubbing of Jered Weaver and the Angels.  Weaver had been pitching really well lately, something that normally doesn't bode well for the Yankees.  They slapped him around silly last night, and for all intents and purposes this game was over after the 1st inning.  If you don't already know, spoiler alert, it was another Alfonso Soriano show.

Game Notes:

- With 2 outs in the bottom of the 1st, the Yanks loaded the bases on a Robinson Cano single, Alex Rodriguez double, and Curtis Granderson walk.  Soriano strode to the plate and smacked an 0-1 fastball out to center for a grand slam and an immediate 4-0 cushion for Ivan Nova.

- Nova needed that cushion last night.  His fastball command wasn't what it's been and he kept leaving it in good spots in the hitting zone.  After a 1-2-3 1st, Nova gave up 2 runs on 3 singles and a HBP in the 3rd and another on 3 more singles in the 5th.

- The offense gave Nova all the insurance he would need in the bottom of the 2nd.  They got things started with 2 outs again and eventually plated 4 runs, the big hit a 2-run Soriano double.

- Soriano homered to lead off the bottom of the 5th to make it 9-3 and capped off an impressive 2-day run.  4 HR, 6 R, 13 RBI in just 2 games, and he set his new career high RBI mark in each game.  Incredible.

- Just to add insult to injury, the Yankees tacked on 2 more runs in the 7th on a Chris Stewart 2-run single.  When TCS is dropping 2-out ribbie hits on you, you know it just ain't your day.

- Nova was sharper in his final 2 innings of work, holding the Angels at 3 and working into the 8th.  Preston Claiborne relieved him and took the game home to give the bullpen aces another day of rest.


F*ck Yeahs:

- Soriano: 3-3, 2 HR, 1 2B, 3 R, 7 RBI, 1 BB.  Do I even have to explain this?

- Cano: 4-4, 2 R, 1 RBI.  All singles, but those were just as effective setting the table for Soriano as XBH would have been, especially with Gardner and Ichiro not getting on base in front of him.

C-Grand: 2-3, 1 2B, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 LOB.  At least 2 H and 1 R scored in 3 straight games.

Oh Nos:

- Brett Gardner & Ichiro Suzuki: Combined 0-9, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 2 LOB.  What's the matter, guys?  Not interested in getting on base when the middle of the order is actually raking?  I know that's a foreign concept to you but come on.

Next Up:

Series finale is this afternoon and the Yanks are going for another 4-game sweep.  They don't have the right man for the job on the mound in Phil Hughes, but the sun shines on a dog's ass every now and then, right?