Game 41 Wrap-Up: SEA 3 NYY 2

(Not the kind of meeting on the mound you want to see.  Courtesy of the AP)

With the number of young pitchers the Yankees have had to call up already this season, it was strangely fitting that they got to face one of their former pitching prospects last night.  Aaron Harang was scheduled to make the start for Seattle but got scratched with back stiffness, opening the door for Hector Noesi.  Before being part of the now fateful Pineda-Montero trade, Noesi was cut from an almost identical cloth as David Phelps and Adam Warren.  He's still working to find the consistency of success that they have and was looking to make a statement last night against his former team.  Once again, a major unforeseen storyline overrode that potentially fun one, and once again the Yankees were on the shit end of it.

Game Notes:

- Andy Pettitte got the start for the Yanks and looked determined to do his best Phil Hughes impression.  He needed 70 pitches to get through 4 innings, and he gave up 2 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks in those innings.  None of his pitches were particularly sharp.

- After having his debut party spoiled by Hughes, David Adams had his first big moment in the bottom of the 2nd.  Curtis Granderson kept the inning alive with a 2-out infield single and Adams came through with an RBI double to right to tie the game.

- Andy looked like he was finding it after 2 Ks to start the 5th, then he winced on his last pitch and that brought out Joe and training staff.  Andy was done after 4.2, with everybody hoping for something as basic as spasms, and it was on an already overworked Yankee bullpen's shoulders.

- Shawn Kelley relieved Pettitte and actually struck out 5 of the 8 batters he faced in 2+ innings.  One of the ones he didn't turned out to be the deciding run, a Michael Morse solo HR to lead off the 6th.

- The Yankee offense wasn't short on chances to score.  They left runners on first and third with 1 out in the 5th, and first and second with 2 outs in the 6th.  They plated a run in the bottom of the 7th on a Robinson Cano RBI single, but stranded a runner in that inning and in each inning after.

- As if Pettitte wasn't bad enough, the Yanks lost Chris Stewart after the 7th when he appeared to tweak his leg running the bases.  It was called a left groin injury and the team is now down to 1 healthy catcher.

- Brett Gardner made it interesting by singling and stealing his way to third with 1 out in the 9th.  Jayson Nix and Cano failed to bring him home to tie the game.  Tough stretch lately for Cano.


F*ck Yeahs:

- Granderson: 3-4, 1 R, 1 SB, 1 K, 1 LOB.  While you'd like to see more than singles from C-Grand, it's good to see him making solid contact and getting on base.  His legs also look great running the bases and in the outfield.  A very good first few games back.

- Adams: 1-3, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 3 LOB.  First career Major League RBI.  Congrats, kid.  Hasn't looked bad at the plate or at third base.

Oh Nos:

- Nix: 0-5, 2 K, 5 LOB.  The main rally killer last night.

- Joe: Why would you hit Nix second in the order against a right-hander???  I'm all for not wanting to stack lefties, but when your alternative to Cano or Granderson hitting 2nd is Nix, that's just a stupid decision.

Next Up:

Yanks stay home for the weekend with the Blue Jays coming to town.  Hiroki Kuroda and Mark Buehrle start things off tonight.