Game 105 Wrap-Up: NYY 6 TB 5

(Courtesy of the AP)

Alfonso Soriano back in the mix on Friday, Derek Jeter back in the mix on Sunday, Hideki Matsui back in The Stadium to officially retire as a Yankee.  It was a regular early 2000s Yankee reunion in the Bronx this weekend!  All kidding aside, getting Jeter back and adding another good righty bat to the lineup is a big deal for the Yankees and it could be an even bigger deal if he can stay healthy, be productive, and bring a little life to this ballclub and The Stadium.  The Captain did just that and more today, starting things off with some vintage Jeter fireworks and, along with Soriano, sparking the Yankees to a much needed victory in the finale of this tough 10-game post-ASB stretch.

Game Notes:

- So yeah, about those fireworks.  Jeter stepped in against Tampa starter Matt Moore in the bottom of the 1st and hit the first pitch he saw - a belt-high fastball - just over the fence in right field for a solo HR.  It was another storybook moment in a career full of them and it led to 2 more runs on 3 more hits in the inning.

- Unfortunately, Phil Hughes wasn't up to the task of holding a lead today.  He gave up a run on an RBI double in the top of the 2nd, then a 3-run HR to new Yankee killer in the making Wil Myers in the 3rd to turn the 3-0 lead into a 4-3 deficit.

- Not to be defeated by Hughes' suckiness, Jeter and Soriano went back out in the bottom half and regained that lead.  Jeter led off with an infield single and with 1 out, Soriano hit a Moore fastball out to right for a 2-run dinger.

- Hughes gave up another HR to Myers to start the 5th, walked the next hitter, and his day was done after 4 innings.   2 straight outings where he got the quick hook.  Same story as it always is with Phil; he just couldn't command his fastball.

- Things quieted down offensively as the game moved to the late innings.  The Yankee 'pen (Preston Claiborne, Boone Logan, David Robertson, Mariano Rivera) was dynamite, allowing just 1 hit and no runs in 5 innings relieving Hughes, and they set the stage for some 9th inning dramatics.

- Brett Gardner worked an 8-pitch walk to lead off the 9th, moved to second on a wild pitch, and after an intentional walk of Jeter and a strike out of Robinson Cano, Soriano came to the plate.  He was looking first-pitch fastball and he hit it back up the middle for the game-winning walk-off single.  Big hit, big moment, big win.

F*ck Yeahs:

- Jeter: 2-4, 1 HR, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 LOB.  It comes off as Yankee slurping to the outsider, but you really just run out of things to say about Derek Jeter.  When he's on the field for this team, more often than not good things happen.

- Soriano: 4-5, 1 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.  After a tough first 2 games back, Soriano really re-introduced himself to the fans today.  Big HR early to regain the lead, the game-winning hit in the 9th, and finally some pop and protection behind Cano.

Oh Nos:

- Hughes: 4 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 4 K.  92 pitches to retire 12 batters.  Just awful, awful stuff from Hughes and it's starting to become apparent that Joe doesn't trust him anymore.  He was bad out in Texas and he was bad back at home.  With just 3 days to the deadline, there's little chance he has any trade value left right now.

Next Up:

The Yanks will get a day off as they head out the West Coast for a quick trip.  They'll start another series against the Dodgers in LA on Tuesday.