Charge the Mound…

Yankees 2007 — Game 46
Tuesday May 22, 2007 at 7:05 p.m.
(Record: 20-24)
Boston Red Sox

[New York. May 23, 2007.] Back to normal in this rivalry.  Manny hits a first inning home run off of a struggleing Mussina, and the Red Sox never look back in a 7-3 win.

Boston  300 100 300 [7 11 0]
Yankees 000 110 010 [3 4 0]

WP: J. Tavarez (3-4)
LP: M. Mussina (2-3) 

Home runs: Manny Ramirez (7)

Three Stars
#3. Derek Jeter - Although a big hit in the ninth could have made this a game, Jeter did have a hit and an RBI in a game that they Yankees only managed four hits.  This offense is too erratic and Jeter needs to take some control and guide this team if they are to have a chance to win the wildcard!

#2. Ron Villone - The way the Yankees bullpen has pitched this season, it is easy for me to give Villone a star in this one.  He has come back up with the Yanks and pitched very well so far.  In this loss, another scoreless inning.

#1. Jorge Posada - As much as a loss to the Red Sox hurts, it was not all that bad this time because of one play in the eighth.  Bases loaded, one-out, down by five, and Jorge grounds out — although, this time, he busted it down the line to allegedly beat the throw.

Yankees 2007 — Game 45
Monday May 21, 2007 at 7:05 p.m.
(Record: 20-23)
Boston Red Sox

[New York. May 22, 2007.] The Yankees actually beat the Red Sox.  If they can do this 10 more times, they may even have a chance of winning the division…

Boston  000 010 100 [2 7 0]
Yankees 220 020 00X [6 9 2]

WP: C. Wang (3-3)
LP: T. Wakefield (4-5)

Home runs: Alex Rodriguez (18); Jason Giambi (6)

Three Stars
#3. Robinson Cano - Robby had a two-run triple to put this game out of reach.  He could be coming around as evidenced by the fact he is going the “other way” with power.  He needs to do that to be sucessful.  Here’s hoping he break his average north.

#2. Chien-Ming Wang - Wang put forth a good outing to give the Yankees their second straight win against a tough opponent.  Chien-Ming struggled in this one, but earned his third win by going 6 1/3 and giving up only 2 runs.

#1. Johnnny Damon - Johnny had three its and stole two bases on Wakefield/Mirabelli.  For the first time in a while, it appeared that Damon is not thast injured.

Yankees 2007 — Game 44
Sunday May 20, 2007 at 8:00 p.m.
(Record: 19-23)
at New York Mets

[New York. May 22, 2007.] Tyler Clippard?  Who?  He is just another Yankees rookie pitcher thrown into a big game — and to our surprise, he made the most of it.  Tyler Clippard pitched fantastic against the best offense in the NL — then he through in an RBI double.

Yankees 000 410 100 [6 12 0]
Mets      010 000 001 [2 7 0]

WP: T. Clippard (1-0)
LP: J. Maine (5-2)

Home runs: David Wright (7); Derek Jeter (3); Jorge Posada (6); Alex Rodriguez (17); Damion Easley (7)

Three Stars
#3. Johnny Damon - Damon has not done much, but, in a big moment in this game, he lifted a short fly ball single to right that scored two key runs for the Yanks.

#2. Derek Jeter - Jeter hit a bomb into the left field bleachers.  The kind of home run that guarantees a victory — a la Game 4 2000 World Series — and the Yankees needed it.

#1. Tyler Clippard - Another Rookie, another first career start, another impressive performance.  Save the Hughes injury-no-hitter game, this was probably the biggest of them all.  Tyler may have earned himself another start or two.  Everything may change when Roger arrives and Phil comes back, but it is good to know we have some grit down in triple-A.

Yankees 2007 — Game 43
Saturday May 19, 2007 at 3:55 p.m.
(Record: 18-23)
at New York Mets

[New York. May 22, 2007.] The offense finally broke out — scoring 7 with 15 hits off Glavine and the Mets — but the pitchers, mostly after Rasner left with a broker hand, gave up 10.

Yankees 110 000 131 [7 15 3]
Mets      312 200 02X [10 12 1]

WP: T. Glavine (5-1)
LP: D. Rasner (1-3)

Home runs: David Wright 2 (6); Robinson Cano (2); Alex Rodriguez (16); Jorge Posada (5)

Three Stars
#3. Josh Phelps -

#2. Alex Rodriguez -

#1. Jorge Posada -

Yankees 2007 — Game 42
Friday May 18, 2007 at 7:10 p.m.
(Record: 18-22)
at New York Mets

[New York. May 22, 2007.] The offense still lays dormant while the Mets take the first game of the oddly called “Subway Series.”  This 3-2 loss is made worse by the fact the Mets took that lead on a two-run home run by Endy Chavez.  Pettitte’s only real mistake cost them the game.

Yankees 000 200 000 [2 6 0]
Mets      100 020 00X [3 5 1]

WP: O. Perez (5-3)
LP: A. Pettitte (2-3)
S: B. Wagner (10)

Home runs: Hideki Matsui (3); Endy Chavez (1)

Three Stars
#3. Scott Proctor - A perfect eighth to hold the game at 3-2.  Scott is looking better and through in two strike outs in his inning of work in this one..

#2. Hideki Matsui - But for the Chavez home run — in a situation that the Yanks thought bunt — Hideki’s home run could have been the game winner.

#1. Andy Pettitte - Where is Andy’s run support.  Andy is now 2-3 with a sub-3.00 ERA.After DeSalvo faltered, the Yankees pen through 4 2/3 scoreless innings.  Vizcaino, Villone (yes, Ron Villone is back) and Proctor looked impressive.  They only allowed 1 hit during their relief.  It was not enough since they were already down and the bat.

Yankees 2007 — Game 41
Thursday May 17, 2007 at 2:05 p.m.
(Record: 18-21)
at Chicago White Sox

[New York. May 22, 2007.] When the team you follow appears to fall apart, it is hard to write anything for fear you will sound like you gave up.  This lose, left me with that feeling that carried into this next week.  It was just another afternoon game with little effort and another ‘L.’

Yankees    000 000 100 [1 6 1]
White Sox 102 100 00X [4 7 0]

WP: J. Garland (3-2)
LP: M. DeSalvo (1-1)
S: B. Jenks (13)

Home Runs: Jermaine Dye (7)

Three Stars
#3. Doug Mientkiewicz - The Yankees with their only RBI must find their way into this section in a 4-1 loss..

#2. Alex Rodruiguez - Alex had two more hits to keep his average well over .300.  Remember, he still leads the league in home runs and RBIs — even while he slumps.

#1. Yankees’ Bullpen - After DeSalvo faltered, the Yankees pen through 4 2/3 scoreless innings.  Vizcaino, Villone (yes, Ron Villone is back) and Proctor looked impressive.  They only allowed 1 hit during their relief.  It was not enough since they were already down and the bats were off.

Yankees 2007 — Game 40
Wednesday May 16, 2007 at 8:05 p.m.
(Record: 18-20)
at Chicago White Sox

[New York. May 17, 2007.] Chien-Ming Wang gave the Yanks exactly what they needed after losing the first game of this double-header. The Yanks offense then found its was late in the game, and they Yankees went on to beat the White Sox 8-1.

Yankees 002 000 204 [8 9 0]
White Sox 000 001 000 [1 7 1]

WP: C. Wang (2-3)
LP: J. Contreras (3-4)

Home Runs: Melky Cabrera (2); Jorge Posada (4)

Three Stars
#3. Jorge Posada - Jorge pinch hit in this game and only had two at-bats. During one of those — Jorge hit a home run to keep his 11 game hitting streak alive.

#2. Hideki Matsui - Hideki rattled off three hits, one of which was a two-run double that Chicago’s center-fielder Erstad appeared to misjudge that gave the Yanks the lead that they never gave up.

#1. Chien-Ming Wang - Seven innings of one run ball. Wang was on his game and the Yanks took advantage. Although the final score was 8-1, this game was 2-1 going into the seventh.

Yankees 2007 — Game 39 (postponed from May 15, 2007)
Wednesday May 16, 2007 at 2:05 p.m.
(Record: 17-20)
at Chicago White Sox

[New York. May 17, 2007.] They Yankees actually hit two home runs in this game. But, they gave up two and lost 5-3.

Yankees 000 011 010 [3 8 0]
White Sox 000 113 00X [5 9 0]

WP: J. Danks (2-4)
LP: M. Mussina (2-2)
S: M. Thornton (1)

Home Runs: None

Three Stars
#3. Bobby Abreu - Bobby actually had two hits — including a home run. He needs a few more of these games to bust out of this unbelievable slump.

#2. Josh Phelps – Phelps tried to start another late inning rally in Chicago, but his teammates could not oblige.

#1. Jorge Posada - Could we have two straight years with a catcher winning the batting title. Who knows? Jorge is clearly giving it a run. He had two more hits and finished the game batting .373.

Yankees 2007 — Game 39
Tuesday May 15, 2007 at 8:05 p.m.
at Chicago White Sox
[Postponed by Rain]

[New York. May 16, 2007.] After a long delay, the game between the Yankees and White Sox was postponed.  It will be made up during a day-night double-header the next day.  With the way the Yankees are scoring runs, we probably did not miss much.  But, as usual, this rain will cost the Yankees a pitcher for Sunday’s game against the Mets.  It looks like everything is going wrong for the Yanks this year — if this keeps up the next month, 2007 could be lost.

Yankees 2007 — Game 38
Sunday May 13, 2007 at 4:05 p.m.
(Record: 17-19)
at Seattle Mariners

[New York. May 14, 2007.] The Yankees offense went back to sleep in this one.  Except for a Damon stolen base and a Jeter RBI single, they were completely inept again.  To compound things, they failed against a pitcher that has been beat up by numerous other squads.  Things look bleak again in Yankee-land!  And this lack of power is starting to get contagious.

Yankees 000 001 000 [1 7 2]
Seattle   001 100 00X [2 9 0]

WP: H. Ramirez (3-2)
LP: A. Pettitte (2-2)
S: J.J. Putz (9)

Home Runs: None

Three Stars
#3. Andy Pettitte - .

#2. Hideki Matsui - .

#1. Johnny Damon – .