Game 146 Wrap-Up: NYY 5 BAL 4

(Ka-ching!  Courtesy of the AP)

Even though it wasn't the least surprising, the announcement that Derek Jeter was out for the rest of the season was a bummer.  His up-and-down season with injuries was really a microcosm for how the team's season has played out- fighting so hard to reach an unattainable goal and suffering heartbreaking setbacks just when it seems like things are getting back to normal.  I know I didn't have the pep in my step for the rest of the night after I heard the news, so another win with the still-gettin'-it-done Andy Pettitte on the mound would have been a good way to get it back.

Game Notes:

- The Yankees had the fun advantage of leading after 2 innings despite not having a hit.  Brett Gardner walked to lead off the game, stole second, and scored on 2 sacrifice hits to make it 1-0, and Scott Feldman held the lineup at bay through the 4th.

- Andy was up to the task of matching him through almost 3 innings, albeit while allowing a few hits.  He got in trouble with 2 outs after giving up 2 straight singles, and a Chris Davis double to right made it 2-1 Baltimore.  A few more doubles the next inning stretched the lead.

- The Yankees didn't hit much early but when they started to, watch out.  Curtis Granderson led off the top of the 5th with a HR to make it 3-2.  Alex Rodriguez hit one with 2 outs in the 6th to tie things up.

- Pettitte settled down to work through the next few innings cleanly, and left with 1 out and a runner on in the 7th.  Shawn Kelley handled that, a returning Dave Robertson worked around 2 hits in the 8th, and we went to the 9th still tied.

- That didn't last long.  Robinson Cano hit the second pitch he saw from Tommy Hunter, a hanging change, for a solo shot to lead off the top of the 9th and the Yankees had the lead.  Lyle Overbay's insurance single later in the inning proved to be big.

- And that's because once again Mo was shaky in the 9th.  Joe's ridden him hard lately, so it's forgivable, but a pair of 2 out hits to plate a run and pull Baltimore within 1 made things a little uncomfortable.


F*ck Yeahs:

- Cano: 2-4, 1 HR, 1 R, 2 RBI.  Who says he's not clutch?

- C-Grand: 2-4, 1 3B, 1 HR, 2 R, 1 RBI.  Picked a good time to break out of that slump.

Oh Nos:

- Mark Reynolds: 0-4, 2 K, 1 LOB.  All part of the Mark Reynolds experience.

Next Up:

The Yanks would love a win tonight to take this series, so it's interesting that Joe's choosing to go with Phil Hughes for the start over Huff.  Hughes will be opposed by Wei-Yin Chen.