Game 114 Wrap-Up: NYY 4 DET 3

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Whew!  Thank goodness for Brett Gardner's BABIP luck, because I don't think I could have taken 2 straight losses like that with blown Mo saves.  It's part of every season, we know this by now, but to have Mo blow 2 saves the way he did and lose those 2 games during a time when the Yankees have basically shoveled dirt on their own playoff hopes would have been crushing.  As it is, all he did was prevent Ivan Nova from getting another much deserved win.  Nova was on again and did all he could to pitch his team to victory.  He didn't come away with the win, but as long as the team did that's all that matters in the end.

Game Notes:

- The lineup staked Nova to an early lead against Detroit starter Rick Porcello on an Alfonso Soriano RBI groundout in the bottom of the 1st and a Robinson Cano 2-run double in the 3rd.

- Nova made that stand up through 7 strong innings.  He worked around some trouble, but didn't surrender a run until the 7th, when he gave up a leadoff double and a ribbie single to Miguel Cabrera.

- It was Cabrera that blew up Mo's spot in the bottom of the 9th.  Down 3-1 and already in a 1-2 count, Miggy fouled 2 straight pitches off himself and looked like he was going to swing and miss just to get the at-bat over with.  Mo tried to throw a 4-seamer by him 2-2 and left it over the heart of the plate.  Cabrera, on 1 leg basically, hit it out to dead center to tie the game.  Just gotta tip your cap.

- Jayson Nix walked to start the bottom of the 10th, moved to second on a C-Grand hit, third on a wild pitch, and with 2 outs came in to score the winning run on Gardner's seeing eye single through the left side.  Like I said, whew.


F*ck Yeahs:

- Gardner: 3-5, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB, 2 LOB.  Setting the table early and clearing it late.

- Nova: 7 IP, 8 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K.  Fastball-curveball again.  He's really found something with that combination.  It's almost as if the improved curveball and elimination of the slider has sharpened Nova's command of his 4-seamer.

Oh Nos:

- Mo: 1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K.  Probably the last time we ever see Mo blow 2 consecutive saves.

- Alex Rodriguez: 0-4, 3 K, 4 LOB.  Almost reached the golden sombrero in his first game back at The Stadium.  That ain't gonna quiet the boos, brah.

Next Up:

They're back at it again this afternoon in the second game of this series.  Phil Hughes and Anibal Sanchez are the starters.