Game 69 Wrap-Up: NYY 6 LAA 5

(Courtesy of the AP)

There was a time when CC Sabathia on the mound during a tough stretch meant things were going to start to turn around.  With the struggles he's had this season, that's no longer nearly the certainty it used to be and that was bad news for the Yankees coming into the game.  Their offense has been laughably bad in the last week plus and there was no reason to have confidence in the lineup's ability to pick up CC should he not have his A-game.  Luckily for them he did, and luckily for him he actually got some run support for a change.

Game Notes:

- Another opportunity was squandered in the top of the 1st after a Brett Gardner leadoff double and Ichiro walk were stranded by the 3-5 hitters.  No excuse for Robinson Cano not putting a ball in play and bringing in at least 1 run.

- Gardner was in the middle of another leadoff rally in the 3rd and this time the Yanks came through on a big 2-out, 3-run homer by Travis Hafner, just his 3rd since May 20th.  Vernon Wells, Lyle Overbay, and Jayson Nix all followed up with hits and the Yanks had a 5-0 lead for CC.

- He made the lead stand up and then some through 5 innings.  His 4-seamer had great life and he worked from ahead in the count consistently to generate a lot of groundball outs.

- The offense went quiet for a while after the 3rd, but they scratched out an extra insurance run in the top of the 8th.  Cano doubled to start the inning, moved to third on a Hafner groundout, and scored on a Wells sac fly to make it 6-0.

- CC continued his excellence through the 8th before running out of gas in the bottom of the 9th.  Excellent outing for him, just what the team needed at a time like this and the type of stopper start we're used to seeing from him.

- Joe went to his bullpen aces after CC and they damn near gagged the game away.  D-Rob gave up a hit and a walk to load the bases before leaving and by the time Mo closed out the game it was 6-5 with the bases still loaded.  Even when they win these days they do it sloppily, but it's better than losing again.


F*ck Yeahs:

- Gardner: 2-4, 1 2B, 1 R, 1 SB.  BG just keeps doing his thing at the top of the lineup.  He's been the best offensive player for about a month now and if he keeps this up he's going to earn himself an ASG nod.

- Sabathia: 8 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K.  Had his final line marred by the poor bullpen work, but CC was terrific yesterday.  After cruising through the middle innings, he dialed the stuff back up in the 7th and the 8th to get 3 more Ks.  This was the kind of start in the kind of situation that the Yanks pay CC for and he delivered.

Oh Nos:

- Bullpen: 1 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K.  Come on, guys.  What the fuck was that?  Were you trying to get every Yankee fan out there to break their TVs and light their hair on fire?  Jee-zus.

Next Up:

Another travel off-day today so the Yanks can come back home and get ready for the Dodgers to come to town.  Hopefully nobody gets hurt on the flight.