Yanks Win Again

The New York Yankees won their 7th in a row today and 16th out of their last 18. They defeated the Cincinatti Reds by a score of 6-3. Joba Chamberlain got the start and went 5 1/3 innings giving up 2 runs on 5 hits with 3 walks and 6 strikeouts. He said the ball felt better coming out today and his velocity was up. He hit 96 on the gun and was at 95 throuout the game, he tired in the 6th but had a good day. He does still have to work on getting his pitch count down which he said after the game but he will get better with that and remember he is the 5th starter so he will be going up against other 5th starters which aren't very good and the Yankees can score runs for him. He has a 2.77 era over his last 3 starts and has a tuneup on Sunday left. I don't know about you but I would take a era of that from the fifth starter, he only has to pitch to a 4 era or so and that would be great. Brian Bruney came in to get the two hitters in the 6th with one strikeout and Edwar Ramirez pitched one inning giving up a hit and run. Phil Coke pitched a perfect inning with 2 strikeouts. Phil Coke has just been outstanding this spring, I don't have the numbers in front of me but he has been a strikeout machine and has a 1.42era. Dan Giese finished the game with a perfect inning striking out two. Melky Cabrera after losing out on the CF job was the offensive start today going 1-2 with 3 rbi. Brett Gardner was 3-4 with a rbi, Mark Teixera was 1-2 with a walk and Cody Ransom was 1-3 with a rbi. Angel Berroa was 2-4 and Ramiro Pena was 1-4 in the battle for the last roster spot. The Yankees will play their final spring game in Florida tomorrow against the Phillies at Steinbrenner Field. The Yankees will be flying to NY tomorrow evening and have a workout at the New Stadium Thursday before playing the final 2 exhibition games their friday and saturday against Lou Piniella and the Chicago Cubs. The Yankees issued a press release today that Bob Sheppard will not be their for the 2 exhibition games or the home opener. Brett Gardner won the James P. Dawson award for most outstanding rookie in camp. I hope he fares better then past winners which have included Bubba Crosby, Shelly Duncan, Kei Igawa, Eric Duncan and Andy Phillips. They did have Tony Kubek and Tom Tresh win it and go on to win rookie of the year the same year. He batted 390 with 2 doubles, 2 triples 3 hrs and 7 rbi. He leads the team in hits and stolen bases.