Saturday, July 19, 2014

Game 96 Wrap-Up: NYY 7 CIN 1

(Courtesy of Getty Images)

When the Yankees traded for Brandon McCarthy, they were doing so to make a marginal upgrade from Vidal Nuno.  With the injuries to Tanaka and Sabathia, McCarthy has immediately become more than a marginal upgrade.  He's one of the team's most important starters now and he turned in a helluva good start this afternoon in the second game of this weekend series against the Reds.  Pitching well at Yankee Stadium hasn't been his calling card, but he had it working today.  A persistent and balanced offensive effort supported his good work and got the Yanks within a game of a second half-opening sweep.

Game Notes:

- Carlos Beltran got the scoring started in the bottom of the 2nd with a solo homer off Cincy starter Alfredo Simon.  Simon had him 0-2, but hung a curveball and Beltran parked it in the right field seats.

- The Yanks doubled up the lead the next inning after Jay Bruce misplayed a Brian Roberts flyball into a 2-base error.  He moved to third on a groundout and scored on a ribbie single by Brett Gardner.

- The one mistake McCarthy made came in the top of the 5th, when he missed with a cutter and Chris Heisey hit it for a solo home run.  He worked around a double in the next at-bat to finish the inning and got through the 6th 1-2-3 with a pair of big strikeouts.

- Gardner drove in another run in the bottom of the 5th with a sac fly while Derek Jeter singled to make it 4-1 Yanks.  A slew of singles in the 6th put 3 more on the board and gave the bullpen plenty of cushion.

- They used it well, working efficiently and not putting a lot of runners on to give the Reds late scoring chances.  Adam Warren, Shawn Kelley, and Matt Thornton each pitched a scoreless frame.

Game 95 Wrap-Up: NYY 4 CIN 3

Well it wasn't a break from the norm.  The Yankees didn't score a lot of runs, didn't full capitalize on the scoring chances they created, and had to hold on for dear life for the win.  But they did so successfully and got the win they needed to open the second half.

Game Notes:

- The Yanks need more from their trio of FA hitters and they got it last night.  Brian McCann drove in a run in the 1st with a 2-out double, Carlos Beltran singled in the second run in the 3rd, and Jacoby Ellsbury cracked a 2-run home run in the 5th to account for all the scoring.

- David Phelps outpitched Mike Leake, giving up 3 runs (only 2 earned) in 6.2 innings of work, walking 1 and striking out 7.

- When it was time to go to the 'pen, Joe didn't mess around.  Dellin Betances took the ball from Phelps and got 5 consecutive outs with 3 strikeouts to bridge to the 9th and D-Rob wrapped up his 24th save with a scoreless 9th.