(Courtesy of Getty Images)
Andy Pettitte has always had a reputation as being a stopper, a pitcher you could count on to turn in a good performance when your team needed a win. The season was only two games old heading into last night, but the Yankees certainly could have used a win to get some positive vibes going into the weekend series against Detroit and in typical Andy fashion, the old lefty gave them the good start they needed.
Game Notes:
- Pettitte got into a little trouble in the top of the 1st, putting 2 runners on base with singles and then throwing a wild pitch that he didn't cover the plate on. Francisco Cervelli made a great play to retrieve the ball and tag Shane Victorino out at the plate, though, and no harm was done.
- With 2 outs in the bottom of the 2nd, the Yanks took the lead, their first since Game 5 of last year's ALDS, on Lyle Overbay's 2-run bloop single to left. Credit Eduardo Nunez for his ground-rule double the AB before to put RISP.
- He's not known for his power, but Brett Gardner muscled a leadoff HR over the wall in right in the bottom of the 3rd to make it 3-0.
- A 3-run lead isn't insurmountable, but Pettitte made it stand up with some great work. He gave up hits here and there, but always seemed in control and mixed his pitches beautifully to keep Bahhston off the board through 6.
- They finally struck in the top of the 7th on a Jackie Bradley, Jr. RBI double to make it 3-1. Pettitte then turned around and worked a quick scoreless 8th to ensure no further damage.
- He also got picked up by another atypical power hitter in the bottom half of the 7th when Cervelli hit a bomb to left to re-extend the lead to 3 runs.
- Mo came on for the first time since the end of last April and locked down the win. It didn't come without a run scored, but fuck it. A win's a win.
F*ck Yeahs:
- Pettitte: 8 IP, 8 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K. I said it on the AB4AR Page last night that it was vintage Andy and I wasn't kidding. He was throwing all his pitches for strikes, throwing a lot of strike 1s and working ahead in the count, and dictating what he wanted the Fraud Sawck hitters to swing at. Fantastic first outing.
- Nunez: 2-3, 1 2B, 1 R, 1 LOB. He got bumped down in the order and didn't miss a beat. 2 hits, a run scored, and a really good day in the field, including 3 well-turned double plays.
- Gardner: 2-3, 1 HR, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 2 LOB. Gardner himself flashed the leather with a nice catch in the outfield and was on base 3 out of the 4 times he came to the plate. That's what you want from your leadoff hitter. The homer was gravy.
Oh Nos:
- Vernon Wells: 0-4, 1 K, 3 LOB. They can't all be winners. Just balancing things out after his 3-hit game the other day.
Next Up:
The Bombers hit the road for the first time this season, heading to Detroit for a rematch of last year's ALCS. Ivan Nova gets the ball against Doug Fister. First pitch is at 1:08 PM EST/12:08 Central.
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4 comments:
What do you think of the Cano shift that the Sox employed during the series?
I think it's smart strategy on their part. Cano has become more of a pull hitter recently, and he's a damn good one, so why not employ the shift and try to get him out of his comfort zone?
That being said, I think Cano is a good enough hitter to adjust if more teams start doing it, and he put some good swings on balls hit the other way in the series.
Cano's a great hitter but his strength is when he's going the other way. I do think that he's gotten too "pull happy" recently so hopefully the shift encourages him to go back to going the other way.
Agreed. .370 wOBA and 126 wRC+ career hitting the ball to left, so you know he's more than capable.
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