Game 98 Wrap-Up: BOS 8 NYY 7

(Courtesy of the AP)

With the Jeter and A-Rod injury winds howling in Yankeeland, the best thing they could have done was get a win to get out of Boston with a series victory.  They had CC Sabathia on the mound coming off an extended rest over the break, they had the very hittable Ryan Dempster starting for the Sawx, and they had the same lineup that started to get some things going on Saturday out there again.  The talk about what's going on off the field has overtaken the talk about the on-the-field issues over the last few days, which may not be a bad thing for this group.  After last night's results, I think that's probably going to change.

Game Notes:

- It was a quick start for the Yankee offense, thanks to more bad D by the Sawx.  Dempster and Jarrod Saltalamacchia each threw balls away in the top of the 1st that led to 2 runs, but as is usually the case nowadays the rally died in the middle of the batting order.

- CC worked around baserunners in the first 2 innings.  He couldn't work around a Jacoby Ellsbury leadoff double in the 3rd.  Dustin Pedroia singled him in to get Boston on the board and help drive up CC's pitch count.

- His slider was diving off the table, but CC's command of both his fastballs was off and it started to get worse in the 3rd.  He was leaving balls over the plate and up in the zone and it really bit him on a 3-run home run by Mike Napoli to give the Sawx a 4-3 lead.

- While CC continued to get knocked around for 3 more runs through the 5th, the offense disappeared against Dempster.  After needing 50 pitches to get through the first 2 innings, he only needed a handful over 30 to get through the next 3.

- The lineup finally knocked Dempster out in the 6th and pulled within 2 on a bunch of singles.  But for every positive offensive action there is an equal and opposite reaction these days and in the 6th it was a Lyle Overbay first-pitch swinging, inning-ending double play.

- After tying it up in the 7th, the Yankees looked poised to take the game in the late innings.  They left at least one runner on base in each of the final 3 frames, including another Overbay GIDP.

- Bullpen did all they could through 10.  Major props to Shawn Kelley for his work, but it made no sense that he was in before Mo.  It made even less sense that Adam Warren got the ball in the 11th and he gave up the walk-off loser to Napoli.


F*ck Yeahs:

- Gardner: 3-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 1 SB, 1 LOB.  Leadoff man was on base 5 times.  That's awesome.  He scored just 1 run.  That's not.

- Kelley: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K.  Helluva job by Kelley pitching the 9th and 10th innings and absolutely dominating.  When he's on, he's really good.

Oh Nos:

- CC: 5+IP, 9 H, 7 ER, 2 BB, 5 K.  Awful performance by CC last night.  Awful.  He was out there with a slider and nothing else.  While the time off may have helped his 4-seamer velocity, it certainly did nothing to help his command as CC couldn't keep his 4-seamer or sinker down at all.  He's become a very mediocre pitcher in the last month and he needs to start turning it around for this team to have a chance.

- Overbay: 0-6, 2 K, 2 GIDP, 9 LOB.  If anybody lost this game offensively, it was Overbay last night.  He posted the worst WPA rate of the season IN ALL OF BASEBALL last night with a -.580.

Next Up:

It's off to Texas for 4 starting tonight and we already know A-Rod won't be coming back for this series.  Fun pitching matchup of Ivan Nova and Yu Darvish.