August 26 Royals vs Yankees

[riverside sluggers]

Streaking Royals head off to Big Apple

Kansas City (42-83) at New York (70-56), 6:05 p.m. CT

 

This is where Buddy Bell came in -- with a three-game series against the Yankees. Bell took the Royals' job and promptly managed them to a three-game sweep of the Yankees at Kauffman Stadium. It was quite a beginning. Now, almost three months later, Bell has been through some less exciting times. And the Yankees have improved themselves. When they left Kansas City, they were 27-26 and in fourth place in the American League East; since then, they've gone 43-30 and are in second place, chasing the Red Sox. The Royals helped out the Yankees by taking two of three from the Sox.

 

Mike Wood gets the task of going against Randy Johnson, who pitched a complete game in his last Yankees start but lost after giving up four home runs in one inning. Wood will be making his first start against the Yankees. He faced them in two of the games in Kansas City and held them scoreless in 3 2/3 innings of relief. This will be Wood's first start since he went five innings against the A's and got credit for the victory that snapped the Royals' 19-game losing streak. Yankee Stadium, even in the summer, has been a cold place for the Royals. They have a 2-16 record there since 2000, including eight straight losses. The Royals' last win in the Bronx came on Aug. 6, 2002. This is Wood's first exposure to the House That Ruth Built.

 

Pitching matchup

KC: RHP Mike Wood

• 4-4, 4.09 ERA in 2005

• 0-0, 0.00 ERA vs. NYY in 2005

 

NYY: LHP Randy Johnson

• 11-8, 4.34 ERA in 2005

• 0-1, 3.38 ERA vs. KC in 2005

[riverside sluggers]

pitcher vs batter matchups

 

Mike Wood vs: (career against Yankees in 2 games of relief an ERA of 0.00)

Robinson Cano, 1 for 1 (1.000 avg)

Jason Giambi, 0 for 1

Derek Jeter, Walk

Tino Martinez, 5 for 7 (.714 avg) HR, 3 RBIs, K

Hideki Matsui, 0 for 2

Jorge Posada, 1 for 2 (.500 avg)

Alex Rodriguez, 0 for 1, Walk

Gary Sheffield, 0 for 1

Bernie Williams, 1 for 2 (.500 avg) Double

Tony Womack, 0 for 1

 

Randy Johnson vs: (career against Royals in 25 games a 12-7 record with a 3.17 ERA)

Angel Berroa, 3 for 6 (.500 avg) 2 Doubles, RBI, K

Emil Brown, 2 for 10 (.200 avg) HR, 2 RBIs, 5 Ks

John Buck, 0 for 4, 2 Ks

David DeJesus, 1 for 2 (.500 avg) RBI, Walk, K

Denny Hocking, 0 for 3, K

Terrence Long, 1 for 7 (.143 avg) Double, 4 Ks

Joe McEwing, 11 for 41 (.268 avg) 5 Doubles, HR, 4 RBIs, 10 Ks, 2 SBs

Matt Stairs, 7 for 17 (.412 avg) Double, 3 RBIs, 2 Walks, 5 Ks

Mike Sweeney, 2 for 19 (.105 avg) RBI, 3 Ks

[snb988]

Except for Bam-Tino, none of the Yanks have much familiarity with the guy.

[stocker323]

f*** codes, Royals lineup ain't up yet

 

Jeter SS

Matsui LF

Sheffield RF

Rodriguez 3B

Williams CF

Giambi DH

Martinez 1B

Flaherty C

Cano 2B

[snb988]

Johnson and Flaherty again....

 

I know Flaherty won that Jeter dive into the stands game, but if the Yanks make the post-season Johnson better get used to pitching, and pitching well, with Posada as the backstop.

[yankeessuck013]

posada isnt anything spectacular this season either

[yankeessuck013]

http://presspass.mlb.com/docs/77/122/3000_1226_1.gif

[snb988]

posada isnt anything spectacular this season either

Posada > Flaherty

 

Anyway, KS is 0-8 in their last 8 games at YS, so hopefully the streak will continue.

[yankeessuck013]

Wow!!!!! what a double play by KC...that was awesome

[snb988]

0-0 still end of the 6th. Johnson has given up two hits and K'd 4 batters. Also very economical, under 70 pitches.

[snb988]

1-0 Yanks via the american league leading 38th homer by Alex Rodriguez.

[podsednik20]

5-1 yanks

[yankeessuck013]

meh.

[ARod2212]

1-0 Yanks via the american league leading 38th homer by Alex Rodriguez.

You know, the MVP?

 

Good all around win for the Yankees, nice to see Bernie get a hold of a couple too. More importantly, Randy Johnson looked somewhat like Randy Johnson yesterday. Royals or not, he threw harder, had more control and had more bite on his slider. This is a start he can build on.

[yankeessuck013]

mvp? he wasn't playing in that game