Game 151 Wrap-Up: TOR 2 NYY 0

(Only mistake he made.  Courtesy of the AP)

Another big game, another night with Andy Pettitte on the mound.  As bad as their rotation is as a whole right now, the Yankees could at least take solace in the fact that they had their best out on the mound in a crucial game last night.  Andy's been the rock of the rotation for the better part of the last month, and he was at his best again last night against a Blue Jays team that the Bombers have owned this season.  But as has been the case many times before this season, Andy would have had to be better than perfect to get a win with the lack of offensive support he got.  It's tough to be perfect when you're 41, and it's tough to win games when you don't score runs.  Do the math.

Game Notes:

- The Yanks had no problem creating scoring chances with 2 outs against R.A. Dickey.  They loaded the bases in the top of the 1st and put 2 men on in the 2nd.  They just couldn't come through with the 1 hit to score a run and went through the first 4 innings scoreless.

- Andy matched Dickey 0 for 0 through 3 innings, working around a 1-out jam with runners on second and third in the 3rd.  He hung a slider to Colby Rasmus in the 4th that Rasmus jacked for a solo home run and the Jays were on the board.

- Those early missed opportunities loomed large heading into the final innings, as the Yankee lineup didn't muster a single hit off Dickey after the 4th .  11 consecutive retired before he gave way to the bullpen after 7 strong.

- Joe rode Andy into the 7th, and with 2 outs and Pettitte at 110 pitches he made the call to go righty-righty against Rajai Davis.  He went to Shawn Kelley, who promptly gave up a crushing solo HR to double the lead and waste another great Pettitte start.  Right decision, bad result.  That's baseball sometimes.

- A Lyle Overbay single in the 9th broke the hitless streak, but it didn't lead to anything.  The bats have gone ice cold just when the Yanks needed them the most, and the playoff hopes are on life support.


F*ck Yeahs:

- Pettitte: 6.2 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K.  As the games have gotten more and more important Andy has pitched better and better.  Shame the rest of the rotation couldn't join him in that effort.  If he wants to come back next year, I think there'd be a spot for him.

- Overbay: 1-3, 1 BB, 1 K.  At least he got on base twice.

Oh Nos:

- Alex Rodriguez: 0-4, 2 K, 3 LOB.  Didn't look good against the knuckleballer, but few do when Dickey is on like he was last night.  Hard to tell if A-Rod's legs were bothering him that bad.

- Ichiro: 0-4, 2 K, 2 LOB.  Why the fuck is he still in the lineup?  Somebody explain it to me.  What is Ichiro giving the team offensively that Zoilo Almonte can't match and most likely beat?

Next Up:

Second game of the series is tonight.  Yanks need a win.  Phil Hughes and J.A. Happ are the starters.