The New York Yankees defeat Detroit Tigers for third straight win

The New York Yankees defeated the Detroit Tigers on Friday night.  The game took place at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New  York and the final score was 7-2.  Adam Warren started and pitched very well.  Alex Rodriguez picked up his 3000th hit with a homerun. 

Warren pitched eight innings giving up two runs on seven hits.  He walked none and struck out seven and picked up his fifth win of the season.  Brandon Pinder pitched an inning giving up a hit. 

Justin Verlander lost his first game of the season after coming back from injury.  He pitched 6 2/3 innings giving up ten hits and six runs with a walk and two strikeouts.  Tom Gorzelanny pitched 1 1/3 innings giving up three hits and a run with a walk. 

Brett Gardner had four hits and three RBI, Chase Headley had a hit and Rodriguez had a hit, an RBI and drew a walk.  Mark Teixeira had a hit and an RBI, Carlos Beltran drew a walk and Didi Gregorius had a hit, an RBI and drew a walk.  Stephen Drew had two hits, John Ryan Murphy had a hit and Mason Williams had a hit.  Chris Young had a hit which was a double, Rodriguez, Gardner and Gregorius each hit a homerun and the Yankees were 2-8 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base.  Gardner was picked off.  Headley committed an error and Warren had a pickoff. 

Anthony Gose had a hit, Ian Kinsler had a hit and Miguel Cabrera had two hits.  Victor Martinez had a hit, Yoenis Cespedes had a hit and J.D. Martinez had a hit.  Bryan Holaday had a hit and two RBI, Cespedes hit a double and the Tigers were 1-6 with runners in scoring position and left four men on base.  Gose was picked off and Verlander had a pick off. 

In the first Rodriguez hit a solo homerun to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead and it was his 3000th hit.  In the second Holaday hit a two run single to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead.  Gregorius hit a solo homerun in the second to tie the game at two.  In the fifth Gardner hit a two run homerun giving the Yankees a 4-2 lead.  A wild pitch in the seventh made it a 5-2 game.  Teixeira hit an RBI single and in the eighth Gardner hit an RBI single to make it 7-2 which would be the final score.  The two teams will play game two of three on Saturday night.  It is also Old Timers Day for the Yankees and they will honor Willie Randolph before the game. 

Yankees defeat the Rays as Jeter gets hit #3000

The New York Yankees defeated the Tampa Bay Rays by the score of 5-4 this afternoon.  The game was kind of secondary though as Derek Jeter got his 3000th hit.  It was truly a remarkable day as he finished the day with five hits including the game winner.  It was a Jeter kind of day as he has always had a flair for the dramatic. 

It was a very special moment as he was only the second player to have his 3000th hit be a homerun.  The other player to do it was Wade Boggs his former teammate.  He was mobbed at home plate by his team, coaches and players, he hugged everyone of them.  The game was stopped for about 10 minutes as the crowd chanted Derek Jeter.  The Rays were even out of the dugout cheering him on.  Jeter had his family and friends up in the box and they were seen celebrating as well. 

Derek Jeter’s ability to handle pressure has defined his career. He’s not shaken by the big moments. He’s comfortable with the game on the line. The pressure of 3,000, though, was something completely different. For this milestone, Jeter was being asked to entertain the crowd. It wasn't about the team it was about him and he isn't comfortable with that at all.  He is always a team first guy and focused on the Yankees winning which is most important to him.

“I’ve been lying to you guys for a long time saying I wasn’t nervous and there’s no pressure,” he said. “There was a lot of pressure to do it here. I thought eventually I would get a few hits, but I felt a lot of pressure to do it here while we were at home.”

“It was a 3-2 pitch and he could have thrown it in the dugout and I would have swung,” he said. “I’m telling you, I was not trying to walk. It’s kind of a weird feeling. It’s been like that for a few days. It’s kind of tough to hit when you have that approach, that you’re going to swing no matter what. I tried not to have that approach but it was running through my head.”
Amazing how completely this pursuit took Jeter out of his comfort zone. He said the eighth-inning at-bat — when the score was 4-4 and the game was on the line — felt much more comfortable than his first two at-bats. The uncomfortable, unfamiliar pressure was lifted, and Jeter could be himself again.  Jeter being himself is getting game winning hits and big hits and looking at ease doing it.

“The one thing I talked about when I was originally going to sit him on Wednesday (was that) none of us really understand what it’s like to be on the threshold of 3,000 hits and the feelings that you’re going through and maybe the anxiety that you have,” Joe Girardi said. “After talking to him a little bit it kind of made sense to me that, you know what, it’s probably better if you’re playing. I’ll still never understand what it was like to be him today, but I’m extremely proud of him for what he stands for, the way he’s represented this club and the way he plays.”

Alex Rodriguez said he’s certain his knee injury happened in Chicago when he was running the bases, a ball got away from the catcher and he felt something while he was running. He’s going to get a second opinion tomorrow and said he’s not leaning one way or another (for or against surgery). “The bottom line is to make sure we address it one way or another and make sure we’re playing our best baseball at the end,” he said.

 Nick Swisher said his left quad is still tight.  I wouldn't be suprised to see him sit again tomorrow have the break and then come back strong. That would give him six days off in a row before the Yankees start playing again in Toronto.

A.J. Burnett had a season-high nine strikeouts in his no decision. He allowed one hit to the first 13 batters he faced.  He pitched well, the only problem being he didn't pitch deep into the game.  When you walk a lot and strike out a lot your pitch count builds up.

 Dave Robertson allowed a run for the first time since June 9, snapping a streak of 10 straight appearances without a run.  You can't be perfect all the time and he did pick up the win.

 Mariano Rivera got his 22nd save and is now 58-for-59 in save opportunities against the Rays. This was the first time he pitched since feeling that triceps soreness after Sunday’s game.  It didn't look like his arm was bothering him at all. 

 Christian Lopez is  the 23-year-old who caught the 3,000th hit and told the Yankees he’d gladly give it to Jeter for the opportunity to shake his hand and maybe a signed ball. “It wasn’t about the money,” Lopez said. “It’s about a milestone. I’m not going to take that away from him.”  I got to give him credit because I would of been asking for money but he didn't ask for anything.   Of course, the Yankees showered Lopez with season tickets, three Jeter-signed bats, three Jeter-signed balls and two Jeter-signed jerseys. “He got his ticket from his girlfriend so he owes her quite a bit,” Jeter said. “He’s going to be paying her back for quite some time.”  That was a funny line from Jeter and Lopez made out pretty well with the signed items and season tickets.

 Jeter is the 28th player all-time to reach 3,000. He’s the fourth youngest behind Ty Cobb, Hank Aaron and Robin Yount. He and Craig Biggio are the only players to get there in a five-hit game. He and Wade Boggs are the only players to get there with a home run. He’s the fourth shortstop to get there.

 Jeter had not homered at Yankee Stadium since an inside-the-park homer on July 22, 2010. He hadn’t hit a ball out at Yankee Stadium since June 12, 2010. He’d gone 358 at-bats without the ball leaving the park at this stadium, then he did it for No. 3,000 in at-bat that he said felt more pressure than a game-on-the-line, late-inning at-bat. It was really an amazing moment

Yankees vs. Rays-Jeters Quest for 3000

The New York Yankees will take on the Tampa Bay Rays in the first of four games tonight at the Stadium.  Derek Jeter enters the game three hits away from 3000.  The Yankees are ready for him to do it at home, the quicker the better.  If he does it, it will be a huge thing and I am sure there will be a celebration but they can't delay the game for too long.  I am sure the Yankees will honor him further at some point in the season when they have a chance to figure out how to do it.  He of course will want to just focus on the team winning but it is hard to ignore that he will be the first Yankee to ever accomplish this and the 28th player of all-time. 

The Yankees are currently in first place in the AL East by half a game over the Boston Red Sox.  The Tampa Bay Rays are four games behind the Yankees so this is a big series.  The Yankees can really put some distance between them and the Rays and the Rays can make some noise and make this a three team race.  Here are some notes and the lineup.

Yankees Lineup:Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson, Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, Robinson Cano, Nick Swisher, Jorge Posada, Russell  Martin, Brett Gardner. 

Bartolo Colon will make the start against Jeff Niemann.  Jeter is 5-9 against him with two doubles a walk and a strikeout.  Niemann has had a tough year.  He has been hurt with a lower back strain and only made nine starts this year. 

Hughes last night didn't pitch great but he didn't pitch poorly either.  The Yankees think he has room to improve but that it was his location that was the problem not his stuff.  Hughes will continue to pitch and see if he can get better.  If he does and no one else gets hurt then the Yankees will be in good shape.  Ivan Nova starts in Scranton tonight and is essentially the sixth starter but working in AAA.  If someone gets hurt or Hughes doesn't improve he will be back up and put back in the rotation. 

The Yankees fans will be showering Jeter with love tonight and these next four games.  The All Star Break is after these four games so now is the time to get to 3000.  It should be a great atmosphere for these games and besides it is a division rival where there is something at stake.  I expect this to be a lot of fun and look forward to seeing how they celebrate hit 3000. 

Yankees offense rolls and CC dominates in Yankees victory

The New York Yankees defeated the Cleveland Indians by the score of 9-2 on Tuesday night.  CC Sabathia pitched seven shutout innings.  It was the big mans fifth straight victory.  He failed to make the All Star Team but he sure is pitching like an All Star.  He leads the major leagues with 12 wins and is 12-4 on the season with a 2.90 ERA. 

Curtis Granderson continued his great season hitting two homeruns.  He has 25 on the season which is one more then he had all of last season.  His career high is 30 which he accomplished in 2009 with the Detroit Tigers.  Derek Jeter had two hits and is now four away from 3000.  He has one more game in Cleveland tomorrow if he plays and then the four at home against the Tampa Bay Rays before the All Star Break.  He would like to get it at home against the Rays. 

Francisco Cervelli was the only starter who didn't have at least two hits.  Granderson had three and every other starter had two hits.  The Yankees will try and win their eighth straight series tomorrow.  It will be Phil Hughes against Justin Masterson in the pitching matchup.  Hughes hasn't pitched in the major leauges since April.  He underwent a successful rehab stint and the Yankees are anxious to see what he could give them the rest of this season.  They are confident he is past his arm troubles and ready to be more like the guy he was last year when he won 18 games. 

The game will be on tomorrow night at 7:00PM on the YES Network.  The Yankees don't play a lot of day games on get away day for whatever reason.  I would assume it's because it is the Yankees and they get better ratings at night. 

Yankees sweep Oakland and some postgame notes

The New York Yankees won 4-2 this afternoon over the Oakland Athletics sweeping the three game series.  The Yankees started off this road trip losing the first two games, they have now won the last four in a row.  They have run into good starting pitching but the offense has done well and the Yankees starters have performed really well which they have for most of the season.  It is really interesting that they don't get talked about a lot right now but they may be soon if this keeps up.  Ivan Nova has the highest ERA of the starters and that is in the high fours.  Every other starter has an ERA below four.  Here are some postgame notes as the Yankees will enjoy a day off on Thursday and head to Anaheim to get ready for a three game series there beginning Friday night.


“Our guys have pitched pretty well too,” Joe Girardi said. “Bartolo got us off to a great start, and Freddy’s been throwing the ball well, and I just felt that our club, we had a chance to win every game on this road trip, and we’ve been playing better. I just felt we had a chance today.”

Following the lead of Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia, A.J. Burnett gave the Yankees seven strong innings. He allowed a two-run homer in the first inning, then allowed one more hit the rest of the way. Girardi said Burnett got stronger as the game went along. 

“Once you’re out there you don’t think about it,” Burnett said, “but obviously you don’t want to be the guy that makes the winning come to an end either. I think we’ve done a good job here of late, and to keep it going, it’s up to us to go out and set the tone. Our defense and our hitters see that confidence and see we’re in those games. It helps them out as well.”

“We’ve beaten three pretty darned good pitchers,” Alex Rodriguez said. “Our guys have been terrific. You can’t say enough about the jobs Colon and Garcia have done. Those guys have been Godsends for us, and A.J. was terrific today.”

Said Girardi: “Pitching is the key, obviously. You have to pitch well to win a lot of games. Whenever we pitch well I get excited, but it’s good to see our offense swinging the bats. It’s great.”


The Yankees got their first three-game series sweep of the season. Every other series sweep this year has been a two-game set against the Orioles. With Sunday’s win in Seattle, this is also the Yankees first four-game winning streak of the year.

Girardi pointed out that this game wasn’t necessarily easy for Burnett. The final numbers are outstanding, but he was laboring, especially early. The difference, he said, was an adjustment away from his four-seam fastball, which was finishing too far up in the zone. “I think at times in the past I would stick to it and get beat up,” Burnett said. “I realized that the two-seamer kept me down in the zone today. To righties I used that more and changeups to lefties. Everything was down.”

The Yankees have won 10 straight against the A’s, and they’ve gone 24-4 against them since Girardi became manager in 2008. “That’s hard to believe because they’ve got a really good team,” Alex Rodriguez said. “Billy Beane has done a great job of gathering talent and great pitching.”

 When Swisher was traded to Chicago, Gonzalez was one of the primary pieces coming from the White Sox to the A’s. Swisher said he had no idea until this morning that he was facing a guy he was once traded for. “I just found out about that this morning, that we were in the same trade,” Swisher said. “No one likes getting traded, bro. You don’t really pay attention to who was on the other side of it. He’s a great pitcher, no doubt, and he’s got a lot of potential. I wish him the best of luck.”

 Derek Jeter had a double to move within 16 hits of 3000. “I can’t wait, man,” Swisher said. “I can’t wait to see that. I’ve seen someone hit 500 (home runs), seen Mariano save 500, but I’ve never seen 3,000 hits, man. I’m excited to see that.”


 Jeter has a seven-game hitting streak and has a .512 on-base percentage when leading off the first inning this year. That’s the highest such on-base percentage in the Majors.

 Russell Martin is hitless in his past 16 at-bats. On the positive side Mark Teixeira has a nine-game hitting streak.

 Mariano Rivera picked up his 14th save of the season. He’s now pitched in 1,002 games, tying Goose Gossage for 14th on baseball’s all-time games pitched list.

 Burnett had not won a game on the road since August 10, 2010, an 11-start streak without a victory. He was 0-5 with a 5.64 ERA. No other Major League starter failed to get at least one win on the road over that stretch (minimum 60 innings pitched) and only one had a higher ERA. Carl Pavano was the other pitcher.