Two things stick out in the standings. Wait, no, three things.

1. The Yankees have sole possession of first place again.
2. The magic number is now 2 to clinch the Division.
3. Holy shit, the Red Sox are really 69-91 and 24 games out?!

This is exactly the game Yankees fans were hoping for this afternoon when the Red Sox lineup was posted.

Jokes were made about the Red Sox throwing the game. Even Boston’s beat writers were joining in on ripping on the lineup Bobby Valentine came up with.

And the Yankees needed to beat up on a team that was trotting out six guys who were in Triple-A at one point in the season and who was without both Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury.

It was a must-win situation.

CC Sabathia started things off with an eight-pitch two strikeout, first inning and the Yankees were on their way.

The Yankees, in a shocking turn of events, didn’t score any runs in the first inning which had been their specialty this year against the hapless Red Sox. Instead, they waited until the second inning tonight to drop a nine-spot on Boston.

Clay Buchholz started for the Red Sox but was not in the game as that second inning ended. He became the only Red Sox starter in the live-ball era to allow eight earned runs in fewer than 2 IP against the Yankees.

Robinson Cano, Curtis Granderson, Russell Martin and Mark Teixeira who returned to the lineup tonight, all hit home runs in the second inning.

Cano’s was one of the longest hit at the new Stadium, Martin’s was reviewed – and upheld – and Teixeira’s was his 24th of the season. Oh and Cano, just for good measure, added a double in that second inning. He finished the night 3-5, all three were extra base hits.

Sabathia earned his 15th win of the season and thanks to a strong eight-inning performance, reached the 200 inning plateau. He gave up two runs on four hits with two walks and seven strike outs.

From Jeff Quagliata, research guru for the YES Network, “CC Sabathia one of just 2 pitchers since 1995 to throw 200 innings in 28 or fewer starts – the other was Cliff Lee in 2010.”

Freddy Garcia came in to finish the game in the ninth and induced two ground outs and struck out one batter.

The Yankees victory coupled with the Orioles’ loss in Tampa helped to give the Yanks a one game lead (again) in the American League East with two to play. The magic number is down to two.

In a cute moment, Melky Mesa came to bat in the bottom of the eighth inning and hit an RBI single – his first major league hit – which scored Eduardo Nunez. While he was running to first, the YES Network cameras caught Eric Chavez yelling, “Touch the base!!” from the dugout.

That guy Brett Gardner, remember him? He actually came to bat in the ninth, ahead of Mesa. He ground out but advanced Nunez to second. The good news is he didn’t break!

Some facts:

• Yankees have scored 9 or more runs in three of their last four games.
• Alex Rodriguez tied Stan Musial for 5th on the All-time RBI list with 1,950.
• Granderson and Martin hit back-to-back home runs in that explosive second inning. It was the 12th time the Yankees have done that this season.
• Nick Swisher hit the 250th double of his career.

I apologize for how late this “recap” is. I didn’t actually see the game, I was keeping track of it on my phone with my MLB At Bat 12 app. (Thank goodness for that thing.) Where I was today didn’t have the YES Network and I was stuck watching the Jets/Bills game.

Anyway, I was pleased to see the Yankees respond to last night’s ridiculousness with an explosive showing by the offense. The loss of Mark Teixeira, yet again, could be a huge deal down the stretch and other guys will need to step up.

Speaking of stepping up, how about Alex Rodriguez coming back and – horrible pun warning – getting right back into the swing of things? He now has a 13-game hitting streak and though he only finished the day 1-3, he hit the single that started the four-run fourth inning for the Yankees.

Another guy who seems to step up each and everyday and who has been unbelievable this season is Derek Jeter. He finished the 2-4 with three RBI. He’s batting .324 on the season.

Curtis Granderson didn’t start the game but he finished 3-3 with five RBI. He hit a home run on the first pitch he saw in the game from Jake Arrieta who had relieved Zach Britton. It was Granderson’s 35th of the season and he also had a single and double.

Poor Nick Swisher is in the midst of a pretty terrible slump. He was able to work a walk and get on base but he is having the worst luck at the plate. When he makes contact he’s hitting the ball well. I have a feeling he’ll turn it around.

Let’s talk about the pitchers – more specifically the bullpen who were incredible. (Not to take anything away from Freddy Garcia who while not dominant, wasn’t totally awful – 3.1IP, 3H, 3R, 1BB and 1K) Joba Chamberlain, who earned the win, and Cory Wade were both resplendent today. Chamberlain threw 1.2IP of hitless ball while striking out four Orioles. Wade pitched two full innings, also didn’t give up a hit and struck out three Orioles. In fact the only bullpen pitcher who gave up a hit was Boone Logan. He was the only member of the bullpen who got into any sort of trouble but he worked his way out of it.

The Orioles finished with only four hits on the day and miracle of all miracles, didn’t hit a home run!

The Yankees have a well deserved day off tomorrow before heading, excuse me, shipping up to Boston to take on the Red Sox.

You knew this was going to be an interesting night when David Cone dropped a “Moves Like Jagger” reference in the bottom of the first inning after a diving play by Derek Jeter to nab the speedy Rajai Davis for the first out of the game but then he ended up outdoing himself later in the night…

The Yankees struck first against Jays starter Ricky Romero, scoring two runs in the second inning. Kelly Johnson hit a home run in the bottom of the inning to pull the Jays to within a run but Freddy Garcia was able to get out of it without further damage.

In the top of the third the Yankees scored again, this time on a single by Robinson Cano which scored Nick Swisher from second base – he singled to start the inning and advanced to second on a ground out by Mark Teixeira.

Johnson struck again in the fourth inning with an RBI double which scored Yunel Escobar and the Jays were within a run once more. Garcia settled down again and got out of the fourth by striking out Omar Vizquel and getting Jeff Mathis to ground out to end the inning.

Things were quiet until the top of the eighth.

Steve Delabar replaced Ricky Romero and was greeted rudely by Teixeira who hit a first pitch home run. It was his 22nd of the season and he passed Darryl Strawberry and tied Joe Adcock for 94th on all-time home run list with 336.

After two ground outs by Robinson Cano and Andruw Jones, Jayson Nix and Russell Martin both singled. Well, Martin’s ball should have been an out. The Jays defense was having issues tonight. They only had two errors but it felt like they should have had more.

Ichiro Suzuki hit a two-run single to score Nix and Martin to give the Yanks a 6-2 lead. Toronto scored a run in the bottom of the eighth that was charged to Joba Chamberlain – he gave up a lead off single and was replaced by David Robertson. Anthony Gose, who hit that single, stole both second and third while Rajai Davis was up to bat. Davis walked and Robertson got Colby Rasmus to ground into a double play. Gose scored to make it 6-3 but Robertson was able to get Edwin Encarnacion to pop out to Swisher to end the inning.

The Yankees weren’t done scoring. They scored four more runs to make it 10-3 going into the bottom of the ninth. Swisher hit an RBI double to score Jeter, Raul Ibanez hit a single to score Swisher and the big blow – another double – came off the bat of Ichiro. It was a two-run double and it gave Ichiro five RBI on the night – his first 5 RBI night since August 2004 and the third such game of his career.

The Blue Jays scored a run in the bottom of the ninth but that was all they’d get.

Garcia earned his sixth win of the year and 151st of his career. He gave up two runs on five hits in six innings. He struck out four and did not walk a batter.

Back to David Cone. It seems he’s been catching up on pop culture because earlier in the summer he sang “Call Me, Maybe” on the air and made a reference to the Real Housewives of New Jersey.

His latest, hilariously inappropriate reference was this gem following a Mark Teixeira at bat: “That pitch tied him up. Tied him up tight. Tighter than the novel Fifty Shades of Grey.”

Okay, why is David Cone reading that book? Actually, you know what? I’m afraid to find out. Ken Singleton to his credit replied with, “I haven’t read that one.” Thank Goodness.

So the Yankees are back to being 20 games over .500 on the year and have now won three games in a row.

(Post syndicated from The Yankee Analysts)

Courtesy of featurepics.com

You can all thank me for today’s win. I was there. Apparently I was all they needed to win a game. I hadn’t attended a game since July 1st and had missed being in my happy place.

Speaking of missing things, we missed the first inning thanks to construction on the Tappan Zee Bridge. By the time I made it up to my seat, the game was tied 1-1.

Did I mention how hot it was? Actually it wasn’t that bad for me. I sit in the penthouse, the top row of the upper deck. So even when it’s over 90 degrees, there’s a steady breeze. It’s annoying when you’re attempting to eat but it’s a welcome comfort when everyone in the seats below are sweating like crazy.

Speaking of sweating like crazy, Freddy Garcia started for the Yankees. If he were pitching against any other team he probably would have been knocked out after the first inning. Thankfully it was the Mariners who aren’t known for their offense.

As for the Yankees, their offense woke up a little today after yesterday’s swoon against Felix Hernandez.

In the fourth inning, Chris Stewart – the artist formerly known as CC Sabathia‘s personal catcher – singled, stole a base and scored on a Derek Jeter single to make the score 3-1.

Seattle pulled to within one in the bottom of the frame when Jesus Montero – currently known in some circles as the best player the Yankees traded away, ever – picked up another RBI on a single to right that scored Michael Saunders.

The Yankees added one more run in the fifth and in the sixth. Raul Ibanez hit a two-run home run, extending the lead to 6-2. It was his 15th home run of the year. On a personal note, it seems like Ibanez hits a home run every time I’m at the Stadium. I can think of at least four games he’s gone deep in while I was in attendance. See? It’s all me.

Boone Logan, David Robertson and Rafael Soriano combined to pitch four scoreless innings to help the Yankees salvage the series and pick up their 63rd win of the season.

Today’s win was Garcia’s 150th of his career. He pitched five full innings, gave up the two runs on five hits, walked four and struck out two batters.

Ichiro Suzuki extended his hitting streak and now has a hit in each of his 12 games with Yankees. According to Elias, he’s now tied with Don Slaught for most hits to start a Yankee career. Slaught’s streak was way back in 1988.

One story from the game:  Trayvon Robinson who was playing leftfield for Seattle hit into three line drives in his last three at bats. The first two were to Teixeira and to Jeter. Tex’s catch was funny. It was one of those, “Oh look at what’s in my glove?” types of catches. When Robinson came up in the ninth, my brother said, “Wouldn’t it be funny if he lined out again?” Well, would you know it? He did, right into Soriano’s glove for the first out of the ninth. My brother felt bad. I didn’t.

Happy What’s Wrong With The Yankees Week!

In the past, Yankee fans have experienced “What’s Wrong With Mo Week.” This is a phenomenon that occurs when Mariano Rivera doesn’t seem like himself and has some bad outings. They usually happen in a cluster. It also usually seems to happen some time in either July or in August. You guys know those weeks when everyone in the media declares Mo done and then he comes back better than ever.

Well, now it seems like we are right smack in the middle of “What’s Wrong With The Yankees Week.” This year, the entire team is in a bit of a funk at the same time.

Some recent facts about the Yankees that you need to know:

1) They are 3-8 over their last 11 games.
2) All eight of those losses have been by two runs or less and six of them have been by one run.
3) Their last nine losses have been by a combined 12 runs.

Tonight’s game was another one of those one-run losses, this time to the Baltimore Orioles.

The Yanks scored first on an RBI single by Eric Chavez in the second inning.

Baltimore came back in the next inning with a run of their own off the bat of Wilson Betemit who hit a Freddy Garcia offering into right field – it was Betemit’s 12th home run of the year.

The Orioles scored again on back to back sacrifice flies by Omar Quintanilla and Nick Markakis in the fifth inning to pull ahead 3-1. Wow, what a novel concept. Sacrifice flies? Hmm.

They scored yet again in the seventh on an RBI double by Markakis and a J.J. Hardy single to right.

So with the score 5-2, the Yankees had to try and mount a comeback. Again. This movie is beginning to look awfully familiar.

In the bottom of the seventh, it looked like the Yankees would have a chance to do just that. After two quick outs by Nick Swisher and Raul Ibanez to start the inning, Chavez and Ichiro Suzuki hit back to back home runs.

Do not adjust your monitors, you are reading that correctly. Ichiro hit a home run – the 100th of his career – to pull the Yankees to within one run.

After a quiet bottom of the eighth, Nick Swisher got the bottom of the ninth started with a ground rule double to right center off Orioles reliever Jim Johnson.

What’s that? A blip on the heart monitor? The Yankees still had life. Or so everyone thought.

Joe Girardi replaced Swisher with pinch runner Ramiro Pena. Ibanez came up with a chance to tie the game and struck out swinging. Chavez followed that up with a walk and Ichiro came up to bat.

Would he be the hero? Nope. He grounded into a force play i.e. it would have been a double play if someone else were running. So Pena advanced to third and there were two outs.

It was up to Russell Martin to try and tie the game. Last night’s would be hero, if the Yankees hadn’t coughed up another late lead to the Red Sox struck out to end the game.

Ballgame over, Yankees lose.

Poor Freddy Garcia. He wasn’t that bad tonight. He pitched six full innings and gave up three runs on nine hits. He also walked three and struck out two. On the flip side, Orioles starter Mike Gonzalez won his third game of the season. He gave up all four runs to the Yankees on six hits, struck out eight and didn’t walk a batter.

Anyway, I’m really not enjoying WWTYW and I hope they snap out of it soon.

I know it’s obvious to say that I love when the Yankees win. But I really love when they beat the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. They’re one of those teams that always seems to be a pain in the butt so whenever the Yankees can win two games in a row against them, it’s a good thing.

Although, I was shocked to find out that since the new Stadium opened, the Angels are only 5-15 in New York. So I guess they only beat the Yankees when they’re out in Anaheim? Or maybe I’m just remembering the Angels of 2002 and 2005. Who knows.

Enough rambling, let’s get on with the recap!

Freddy Garcia was not great but he won and he was able to last five full innings after laboring through most of the game. So I’ll give him points for that. It was a – and I hate these words – gritty and gutty performance. In his career, Garcia has insane numbers against Anaheim – he’s 16-3 against them. Maybe we should have signed him sooner? Like, oh I don’t know, in 2005?

Curtis “Don’t Call Me a Home Run Hitter” Granderson hit his 24th of the season. Robinson Cano hit his 21st and extended his hitting streak to 17 games. The Yankees now have 138 home runs on the season. Yeah, that’s a little insane. They need to stop hitting so ma– oh who am I kidding? It’s awesome.

Speaking of awesome, the bullpen shut the Angels down for four innings. They only gave up two hits and struck out four. Cody Eppley followed Garcia and pitched two scoreless innings. David Robertson struck out two and Rafael Soriano picked up his 22nd save of the season.

Alex Rodriguez started off slowly but finished 2-4 with the two hits coming in his last two at bats – including a loud double to left center field. Maybe that will get him back on the right track and keep the boo birds away.

Oh wait, how could I forget to mention this? The Yankees finally kept Mark Trumbo in the park. He actually didn’t hit a home run! It’s a Christmas Miracle in July!

The Yankees go for the sweep tomorrow with Ivan Nova facing off against Jered Weaver which has the potential to be a good game.

Not that Tropicana Field really had anything to do with tonight’s loss but I really loathe that “ballpark.” It’s awful and a Major League Baseball team shouldn’t play in it. As a matter of fact no teams at any level should ever play in it again.

What a piece of…

Oh right, the game. It started it off well and then ended badly. Hmm sounds familiar, kind of like last Thursday against the White Sox. Yep. It was like that.

Freddy Garcia did a pretty good job in his spot start and held the Rays to two runs. Mark Teixeira made his first error of 2012 at the worst possible time and the Yankees lost because of it.

The Yankees have now lost eight straight games at that “stadium” for their longest streak since 1989-91 when they lost eight straight at Texas. Thanks to Elias for that stat. And what a wonderful stat it is.

I think the thing that annoys me most about tonight’s game is that Freddy Garcia did what he needed to do, he kept the Yankees in the game and they have nothing to show for it.

Hopefully Ivan Nova will help the Yanks bounce back tomorrow and stop that streak.

Andy

It was a bad day for guys who throw with their left arm as CC Sabathia was placed on the DL before today’s game and poor Andy Pettitte was hit in the leg with a comebacker, suffering a fracture which will keep him away from the team for at least six weeks.

WHAT THE HELL BASEBALL GODS?!

Of course this happens just when things were getting good for the Yankees.

They have been playing fantastic baseball for over a month and now they have lost 2/5′s of their starting rotation within a few hours of each other.

Ugh.

At least CC, for now, is only due to miss two starts but poor Andy Pettitte, what a bad break. (For lack of a better phrase)

I can’t even deal with this news. I was at the game and when I saw the news of Pettitte’s fracture on Twitter I actually almost threw up. I was so sick to my stomach. I almost felt as bad as I did when Mariano Rivera was lost for the season though I didn’t cry.

But at least the Yankees won the game and swept the series from the Indians – thank goodness Soriano didn’t blow the save, though it was iffy there for a few moments. And big props to Freddy Garcia who stepped up in a big way and won the game with a great performance  in relief.

More props to Robinson Cano for putting the Yankees ahead for good with a bomb to left field. I was getting my Johnny Rocket’s shake when he hit it and I missed it. MORE EVIL HOME RUNS!

It’s great that the Yankees have now won five in a row but I feel like we can’t even be happy right now because of what happened to Pettitte.

Oh and like I said in the title of this post, someone can watch over Boone Logan and make sure nothing happens to him? Thanks.

There were two big stories during today’s Yankees-Nationals game. One was the Andy Pettitte-Bryce Harper showdown: The just turned 40-year-old, grizzled vet, was going up against the exciting 19-year- old rookie phenom and people were wondering how both would respond to the hype. Well, Yankee fans were relieved when Pettitte won round one convincingly, retiring Harper every time he faced him, including three strike outs. Harper finished 0-7 with five strikeouts on the day and made the last out to end the game – a ground out to first.

The second big story was Freddy Garcia’s performance. Garcia came into the game in the 12th inning. A lot of people – myself included – didn’t give him the benefit of the doubt. We all figured the Nats would end up winning on a walk-off. Instead, Garcia shut everyone up and pitched two perfect innings with two strikeouts and earned his first win since last September.

The Yankees had a 3-2 lead going into the eighth inning when Cory Wade – who has been great this season – gave up the game tying home run to Ian Desmond who atoned for a couple fielding miscues earlier in the game. That home run took the win away from Andy Pettitte who pitched seven strong innings – giving up two runs on five hits with six strikeouts and three walks.

The game remained tied until the top of the 14th when the Nats brought every opposing team’s favorite reliever Brad Lidge. Jayson Nix and Derek Jeter hit back to back singles to start the inning, Curtis Granderson followed with a strikeout and Mark Teixeira doubled on a 2-1 pitch which allowed both Jeter and Nix to score putting the Yankees ahead for good 5-3.

Rafael Soriano came in to pitch the bottom of the 14th, made it slightly scary for all watching but retired Harper for the last out to earn his 12th save of the season. That mark matches Steve Karsay’s 12 saves in 2002, the most by a Yankee closer other than Mariano Rivera since 1997.

Nick Swisher was injured on a play at the plate in the sixth inning. He has a bone bruise in his left thigh and is day to day – for now.

Freddy Garcia coming in for relief after a Phil Hughes start? Yeah, total nightmare…