April 9th Yankees @ Twins

[jacksonianmarch]

Carla Pussana vs Fat boy Ponson. First to 100 runs win!

 

In all seriousness, the yankees finally get a reprieve from the chill that has been burying them in the northeast. And with the controlled temp should come some better control of their breaking stuff. Except, Pavano isnt the one that suffered from control problems.

 

Pavano was masterful through 4 innings in his last start, then looked gassed. His long layoff and multitude of injuries has left him without some stamina (and likely a reason why all his playthings have left him recently as well). If he can get his arm strength and stamina back to what it was, he could be effective.

 

The big games I look forward to will be the next 2 with Pettitte and Mussina taking the hill. Both had fits trying to get their curves over in the frost of NY, they should have more success with their location this time around.

[26 Reasons to Hate Us]

Let's try to do this right:

 

New York (2-3) at Minnesota (4-1), 7:05 p.m. ET

 

http://www.gamesetwatch.com/punchouticon.png vs. http://members.aol.com/gallery7v/punch7.jpg

Carl Pavano (0-0, 8.31) Sidney Ponson (0-0, 0.00)

 

 

Pavano, Yanks open set against Twins

New York (2-3) at Minnesota (4-1), 7:05 p.m. ET

By Anthony DiComo / MLB.com

Every Yankee starter has now had his chance, and not one has been able crack the elusive sixth inning in New York. And while the offense has kept the team somewhat afloat, the fleeting outings are creating early troubles for the bullpen -- so much so that starter Andy Pettitte was forced into relief duty in a 6-4 loss to Baltimore on Sunday.

So now it's time to try again. Carl Pavano will get his second shot at reversing the trend on Monday, when the team opens a three-game set in Minnesota.

 

"We all expect more of ourselves, and obviously, taxing the bullpen like that doesn't do anybody any good," Pavano said. "It's early, but it's something definitely that we need to focus on."

 

Pavano will be trying to right a Yankees team that lost three of the past four in freezing New York temperatures. The right-hander struggled in his brief Opening Day start -- ultimately taking a no-decision in a 9-5 Yankees win -- but has not pitched since then. He will take the mound on an extra two days' rest, in the inviting warmth of the Metrodome.

 

"He'll probably be a little more comfortable," manager Joe Torre said. "I thought he ran out of gas, and maybe part of that was anxiety because he hadn't been out there competing in a long time. I'm curious, and I'm looking forward to his start."

 

Pavano will oppose former Yankee Sidney Ponson, who will be debuting with his fourth team in the past three years. Ponson is making his first start of the season after posting a combined 4-5 record and 6.25 ERA with both the Yankees and Cardinals last year.

 

Pitching matchup

NYY: RHP Carl Pavano (0-0, 8.31 ERA)

Pavano struggled through Opening Day while his defense struggled behind him, as he allowed five runs -- four earned -- in just 4 1/3 innings. The former National Leaguer has never faced Minnesota in his 10-year Major League career.

 

MIN: RHP Sidney Ponson (4-5, 6.25 ERA in 2006)

Ponson has started 26 career games against the Yankees, his most against any team. The right-hander holds a 6-12 lifetime record against New York, with a 4.63 ERA. He hasn't faced the Bombers since 2005, however, when he was 1-0 against them in two starts with Baltimore.

 

Player to watch

Few Twins have much history against Pavano other than Luis Castillo. The speedy second baseman has just six hits in 23 career at-bats against the right-hander, but he has also swiped four bases off his former Marlins teammate. Castillo is off to a hot start this season, batting .381 through the season's first week.

 

Ponson, Twins set to face Yanks

New York (2-3) at Minnesota (4-1), 6:05 p.m. CT

By Kelly Thesier / MLB.com

Facing the Yankees is always a difficult challenge for the Twins, no matter who is in the team's lineup.

But the Yankees will be missing one of their stars for the entire three-game series at the Metrodome that begins on Monday.

 

The Yankees will be without left fielder Hideki Matsui after he was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a strained left hamstring. It was an injury that Matsui suffered while trying to run out a ground ball Friday.

 

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said that you never want to see a player get hurt, but he admitted that missing out on Matsui for the series wasn't exactly bad news for him.

 

"Am I disappointed? No," Gardenhire said. "I enjoy watching him play but as a manager, I don't mind that he's going to miss some of our games. That's OK."

 

Still, Gardenhire said that the task of trying to beat the famed club won't be made any easier in Matsui's absence. With a lineup that includes plenty of power in Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi as well as consistent hitting in Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano, the Yankees have their fair share of talent to throw an opponent's way.

 

"No matter if it's Matsui or not, they'll have another great hitter in there," Gardenhire said. "Believe me, it's the Yankees. They've got a bunch of good baseball players. When Cano is hitting like eighth, that's a good lineup. Doug Mientkiewicz is hitting ninth, and he hit third for me. That tells you a little about the Yankees lineup."

 

With or without certain people in the lineup, the series between the Twins and the Yankees is always one that brings an extra excitement to the Metrodome. And this time, the players themselves seem to be a little more amped for the series -- even if it is just to get out of the cold they experienced this weekend while playing two games in Chicago.

 

"Oh dome sweet dome," Michael Cuddyer said with a laugh. "Everybody talks about how bad the Metrodome is but playing these two games out here, it's nice to be going back to Minneapolis and playing in the dome again."

 

What awaits the Twins when they do return home is a series against a club that has proven to be quite a difficult opponent in recent years. The Twins are 17-30 against the Yankees over the past six seasons. Most of the Twins' troubles have been on the road against the club as they've won just one series at Yankee Stadium since 1992, but there is always quite a battle that has gone on at the Metrodome, especially over the past couple seasons. That's because the Twins have won three straight series at home over New York.

 

But while there have been plenty of pundits that say this upcoming series will be a good early test to see where the Twins stack up against quality competition, the players are trying to take it as just another series.

 

"I'm just going to go out there and play," Torii Hunter said. "The Yankees are just another team, just like I played the White Sox, the Orioles, I'm going to attack the same way. Go out there and just try to win."

 

Pitching matchup

MIN: RHP Sidney Ponson (4-5, 6.25 ERA in 2006)

It's been a different Ponson that arrived at Twins camp this spring. With his weight in check and a focus on pitching for groundouts, Ponson has turned himself into an efficient, work-horse pitcher. The hope for the Twins is that he maintains that attitude into the season and doesn't let things fall apart like he did in some outings this spring, when his ball got up in the strikezone. In his career against the Yankees, Ponson is 6-12 with a 4.63 ERA.

 

NYY: RHP Carl Pavano (0-0, 8.31 ERA)

Now that Pavano has finally erased June 27, 2005, from the public consciousness, the right-hander's task is to continue taking turns around the rotation. Pavano didn't allow the atmosphere of Opening Day nor some sloppy defense to derail his effort against the Devil Rays; more accurately, he ran low on gas in the fifth inning, but the start was still a stepping-stone. As he learned Monday, the Yankees will score runs -- all Pavano needs to do to win a few games is pitch competently.

 

Player to watch

Jeff Cirillo is a career 6-for-11 hitter off Pavano with a home run and a walk. Despite having been limited to only pinch-hitting this weekend due to a sore left knee, Cirillo is expected to be used in a larger capacity once the club returns back to the dome.

[TheKilo]

Hahaha nice pictures.

[jacksonianmarch]

Mac does look a lot like Pavano. It is almost scary.

[Optimist]

I wonder if Cairo is available to pitch today.

 

I shouldn't joke...it might happen.

[jacksonianmarch]

I wonder if Cairo is available to pitch today.

 

I shouldn't joke...it might happen.

 

Good or bad, Pavano will throw 6 innings today. i think Torre is dubbing this pussy the sacrificial lamb.

[yankees228]

The big games I look forward to will be the next 2 with Pettitte and Mussina taking the hill. Both had fits trying to get their curves over in the frost of NY' date=' they should have more success with their location this time around.[/quote']

 

The problem I have with this is that it didn't seem like Mussina had any command of his fastball either. It seemed like it was either out of the strike zone, or in a really hittable location. But hopefully he throws strikes with his FB and offspeed stuff, and goes deep in the game.

 

As for tonight's game, it seems probable that we'll be watching another slugfest. There is no reason they shouldn't be able to put up a decent amount of runs tonight, especially with Damon back in the lineup. As for the bullpen, Pettitte pitching an inning yesterday basically saved Bruney from having to work consecutive days. So he should be ready for a sixth inning appearance if Pavano can only go five. I'd rather not even think about the possibility of Pavano not even getting through five. Farnsworth hasn't pitched in a few days so he should be capable of handling the eighth. Vizcaino only faced a batter yesterday, but he also pitched on Saturday. It would be very nice to get this win tonight with Pettitte and Mussina going in the next two.

 

EDIT: After owning the Twins for the early part of this decade, including a long win streak, they haven't won a regular season series in the Metrodome since 2003.

[jacksonianmarch]

The pen has been filthy. Problem is, you can only feed the monster so much until he pukes. (Old southern saying I picked up in Florida).

[yankees228]

Off topic, but speaking of pitching, has anyone heard a specific target date for Wang's return? I noticed that they play up in Fenway from the 20th - 22th. That seems right around the time where he would return.

[jacksonianmarch]

Off topic' date=' but speaking of pitching, has anyone heard a specific target date for Wang's return? I noticed that they play up in Fenway from the 20th - 22th. That seems right around the time where he would return.[/quote']

 

I think that was the target, but right now, I think they be careful with him and work him back into the rotation for the first week of May. I wouldnt be surprised if he gets a rehab start or two.

[shortstop]

I read somewhere this morning that Torre said Wang would have at least two minor league starts.

[jacksonianmarch]

I read somewhere this morning that Torre said Wang would have at least two minor league starts.

 

this is where I agree with him. Wang never finished ST and the last thing we need is for him to be rushed and hurt his arm while recovering from a leg injury. It happens more than you can know.

[jacksonianmarch]

our rotation has a 9.97ERA and our bullpen has a 1.16. Wow.

[jacksonianmarch]

Man, Ponson is bringing back some seriously bad memories.

[jacksonianmarch]

Top 1st

 

leadoff double for Damon, nice start. Broken bat bloop that Damon hustled out.

 

Jeter with the infield hit, Damon to third. Damon running nicely.

 

Ponson sitting low 90s and leaving it FAT. CMON YANKEES

 

Abreu RBI single to CF, Jeter to second. Ponson is getting slapped hard. Yankees up 1-0.

 

Arod takes a cockshot down the middle. 0-1. ARod lines out to RF, Jeter tags and goes to third. ARod is hitting the ball right on the sweet part of the bat thus far.

 

Giambi takes 2 balls and 1 strike. This ump has a SMALL zone. 3-1, the last 2 pitches were down the middle. Giambi walks on a pitch that was way outside. Sacks packed, Ponson is visibly losing it out there.

 

Posada takes a worse pitch than the 2 that Giambi had called a ball and the ump calls the strike. 0-1. Posada slaps one to LF and the OFer misplays it. It is a ground rule double, yankees up 3-0 with runners on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out.

 

Cano flies out on first pitch to shallow left, Giambi holds at 3rd. 2 outs.

 

Monkeybitch takes a cockshot. 0-1. Ponson misses high with the sinker, 1-1. Monkeybitch hits a high chopper to SS, 3 outs.

 

End of top of 1st. Yankees lead 3-0.

[mynameisryangomes]

igawa would pitch better without those shades. he looks like a 90 year old grandma

[jacksonianmarch]

Bottom 1st

 

Castillo to leadoff vs Carla Pussano

First pitch misses in, 1-0. Castillo bunts foul, 1-1. Pavana misses high, 2-1. Looking fanf***ingtastic again. Misses WAY too high again. 3-1. Great f***ing idea Carl, walk the leadoff guy who steals bases. Douche. Cockshot taken, full count. Castillo hits the ball off the plate and Jeter has no chance, leadoff infield single.

 

Runner on 1st, 0 outs, Nick Punto to the plate. First pitch misses outside. FIRST PITCH STRIKES YOU JERK!!! Pavano looks like a gay italian horse on the mound. Foul ball by Punto. 1-1 count. The gaping vagina continues to throw over to 1st, hopefully he wont pull his ass muscles again. JERK. Punto flies out to Melky in LF, runner on 1st, 1 out.

 

Mauer to the plate, Castillo on 1st, 1 out. Pavano tries to throw the ball away but Monkeybitch saves him. First pitch down the middle to Mauer and he takes. 0-1. Pavano hits the outside corner at the knees but the ump isnt giving it. 1-1. Pavano gets Mauer to ground back to his injury prone ass and he starts the DP.

 

Inning over, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 runners left.

 

1 INNING WHERE THE YANKEE ROTATION DOESNT ALLOW A RUN!!!!!!

[jacksonianmarch]

Top 2nd

 

Melky then the top to face the fat toad part deux.

In true Melky style he slaps a foul ball on a first pitch ball. Ponson then misses high. 1-1. Melky hits a high chopper to SS, just got him. 1 out.

 

Damon to the dish, 1 out, no one on. First pitch single up the middle, Johnny is one FIRE. 4 for his last 4.

 

Fat toad is getting lit up. Jeter to the dish, Johnny on first, 1 out. Ponson throws a nice curve to start the AB. 0-1. Jeter inside outs a weak flyball to RF. 2 out.

 

Abreu to the dish, 2 out, Damon on first. Abreu hitting .316 with a .440OBP. The sox didnt need him, no way. Ponson bounces one, 1-0. Ponson throws a curve down the middle and the ump hesitated in calling it a strike. Seriously, open the zone. 1-1. Ponson misses inside with a sinker, 2-1 count. Ponson misses with a sinker low, 3-1. Bobby out in front of a cockshot changeup, full count. Bobby fouls a hanger off, man he should have crushed that. Bobby with an emergency hack, foul ball. Damon has been running for 3 pitches now, dont get hurt!!! Abreu fouls another one off, this one down the 1b line. Bobby crushes that one, HOMERUN BOBBY ABREU!!!!! 5-0

 

Fat toad getting raked. First pitch to ARod misses down. 1-0. Ponson afraid of contact now, not even close. 2-0. Arod swings at a pitchers pitch on 2-0 and grounds out to 3rd. 3 down.

 

2 runs, 2 hits, nobody left on. After one and a half, yankees lead 5-0.

[riverside sluggers]

Odd the Twins dont have Cirillo in for tonights game

 

Carl Pavano (1st career appearance vs Minnesota)

Luis Castillo, 6 for 23 (.261 avg) 5 Ks, 4 SBs

Nick Punto, 0 for 1, Walk

Joe Mauer ---

Michael Cuddyer ---

Justin Morneau ---

Torii Hunter ---

Jason Kubel ---

Mike Redmond, 0 for 2, Walk

Jason Bartlett ---

///

Jeff Cirillo, 6 for 11 (.455 avg) HR, 2 RBIs, Walk, 2 Ks

Jason Tyner, 0 for 1

 

Sydney Ponson (27 games vs New York, 6-12 record with a 4.63 ERA---Career at Metrodome in 5 games, 3-2 record with a 2.95 ERA)

Johnny Damon, 16 for 49 (.327 avg) Double, Triple, HR, 9 RBIs, 7 Walks, 2 Ks, 4 SBs

Derek Jeter, 27 for 74 (.365 avg) 3 Doubles, 5 HRs, 12 RBIs, 5 Walks, 9 Ks, 2 SBs

Bobby Abreu, 6 for 18 (.333 avg) 3 Doubles, 2 HRs, 6 RBIs, 3 Walks, 7 Ks

Alex Rodriguez, 12 for 65 (.185 avg) 5 HRs, 16 RBIs, 3 Walks, 19 Ks, SB

Jason Giambi, 16 for 38 (.421 avg) 2 HRs, 8 RBIs, 13 Walks, 3 Ks, SB

Jorge Posada, 15 for 51 (.294 avg) 2 Doubles, HR, 3 RBIs, 6 Walks, 12 Ks

Robinson Cano, 2 for 4 (.500 avg) HR, RBI

Doug Mientkiewicz, 3 for 11 (.273 avg) RBI, 7 Walks, 3 Ks

Melky Cabrera ---

///

Miguel Cairo, 8 for 27 (.296 avg) 3 Doubles, 2 Ks

Josh Phelps, 4 for 12 (.333 avg) HR, 3 RBIs, 3 Ks

[jacksonianmarch]

it is odd. It is also odd that Pavano is actually still on this team. BTW, is the gameday appreciated?

[jacksonianmarch]

Bottom 2nd

 

Pavano to face 4-5-6.

 

Pavano vs Cuddyer. First pitch cockshot down the middle. 0-1. Pavano hangs one and Cuddyer leads off with a double down the left field line.

 

Cuddyer on second, nobody out, Morneau to the plate. Carla misses high. 1-0. Carla misses away, 2-0. This f***er better get his s*** straight. God I hate this guy. Pavano leaves one down the middle and Morneau crushes one foul. 2-1. Pavano misses WAY too high. 3-1. Carla jams him and gets him to flyout to Abreu. Cuddyer could not advance. 1 out.

 

1 down, Cuddyer on 2nd, Torii to the plate. Pavano misses high twice, 2-0. THROW FIRST PITCH STRIKES YOU JERK!! Torii fouls one off his foot. 2-1. Torii grounds to Jeter, Cuddyer tries to advance and Jeter tags him out.

 

2 down, Hunter on first, Kubel to the dish. Kubel crushes the first pitch to the track, but Melky tracks it down.

 

0 runs, 1 hit, 1 left, and Pavano escapes again. He is missing and against a better hitting team, he'd be killed by now.

[jacksonianmarch]

Top 3rd

 

Giambi to leadoff, Yankees up 5-0. Ponson misses away. 1-0. Giambi swings and misses, 1-1. Giambi fouls one weakly away, he is looking pretty fooled right now. 1-2. Giambi swings at one at his eyes, 1 down.

 

Posada to the dish, 1 down, nobody on. Ponson nearly hits Jorge, ball 1. Ponson misses wide with a fastball. 2-0. Ponson misses away with the curve. 3-0. Ponson hits the outside corner with the sinker. 3-1. Ponson misses low, ball four.

 

Posada on 1st, 1 out, Cano to the dish. Robby took a pitch?? Wow. Ponson puts the curve on the inside corner, 0-1. Robby chops one to Castillo, too slow for a DP. Posada forced at 2nd.

 

2 down, Cano on first. Monkeybitch to the dish. First pitch low, sinker. 1-0. Monkeybitch hits a screaming liner to RF, but the play is made.

 

0 runs, 0 hits, 1 left on. Yankees lead 5-0.

[jacksonianmarch]

Bottom 3rd

 

Pavano to the mound for his third inning of work. They should call him Houdini. Too many pitches down the middle. Too many pitches hit on the screws. He better pitch better or they will murder him.

 

Pavano to Redmond, first pitch misses away. Second pitch fouled off. 1-1 count. Pavano leaves another cockshot which is bounced off the turf. Jeter makes a good play to field it, but shorthops Minky, but the gold glover makes it look easy. 1 down.

 

1 down nobody on. Bartlett to the dish. Pavano misses in. 1-0. Pavano hits the outside corner with the 2 seamer, 1-1. 91mph heat fouled off. 1-2. Pavano throws it HIGH, 2-2. Pavano gets the high strike call on the 2 seamer, 2 down.

 

2 down, nobody out and Pavano is cruising now. Castillo to the dish. First pitch chopper to ARod, who makes a very nice play.

 

0 runs, 0 hits, 0 left on.

 

End of the 3rd, Yankees lead 5-0.

[jacksonianmarch]

Top 4th

 

Melky then the top to face fat toad.

Melky looks like he is too impatient this yr. ORS may be right about him. His patience last yr may have been an aberration. It looks like he is too afraid to K these days, as he certainly isnt jumping the gun for good pitches. First pitch bounced at his ankles, 1-0. Sinker down, 2-0. Sinker hits the outside corner, 2-1. Sinker hits the inside corner, 2-2. Melky working the count after I bash him for it. Melky fouls off a hanger down the middle. Ponson misses the inside corner with the 2 seamer. Melky chops a sinker to Morneau. 1 down.

 

1 down, nobody on, Damon to the dish. They are booing him for some reason, lots of sox fans in Minny? Ponson misses down and in with the curve. Ponson leaves a change high, but Damon doesnt swing 1-1 count. Damon grounds out to SS, 2 down.

 

2 down, nobody on, captain to the dish. Jeter 1 for 2 with a single and a run. First pitch misses down and away. 1-0. Second pitch hit jeter on the belt buckle, more like grazed him.

 

Jeter on 1st, Abreu at the dish. Bobby is 2 for 2 with a homer and 3 RBI. Bobby takes a 2 seamer at the knees. 0-1. Bobby wanted to swing at that one 0-2, sinker on the inside corner at the knees. Abreu takes another 2 seamer down the middle. Strike 3.

 

0 runs, 0 hits, 1 man left, Yankees lead 5-0.

[riverside sluggers]

Pavano crusing on 33 pitches thru 3 innings, almost on pace to pitch the most a Yankee starter has gone this season... 5.1 innings

[jacksonianmarch]

Bottom 4th

 

Pavano for his 4th inning of work, and he is cruising. He is pitching to contact today, and even though he has made his share of mistakes, his pitch count is low and he is moving to this point. KEEP IT UP YA BIG PUSSY! Pavano at 33 pitches through 3.

 

And yes RS, he is cruising.

 

Punto to the dish, Pavano loops a curve in there. 0-1. Pavano with a filthy sinker, swing and a miss, 0-2. Pavano just misses down and away with the splitty. 1-2. Pavano jams Punto with a 2 seamer and Cabrera makes the play, 1 down.

 

1 out, nobody on, Mauer to the plate. First pitch in there, 0-1. Next pitch misses down and in, 2 seamer, 1-1. Pavano misses away with some sort of breaking ball that spun. 2-1. Pavano jams Mauer, blooper caught by Jeter, 2 down.

 

2 down, nobody on, Cuddyer to the dish. 91 mph heat down the middle and it is a ball? 1-0. Ump has a SMALL zone. 2 seamer misses a bit lower, 2-0. Pavano throws same pitch as the first in this sequence, called a strike this time. 2-1. Pavano gets Cuddyer to ground it hard to Monkeybitch, Dougie dives, makes the play and the flip to Pussano.

 

0 runs, 0 hits, nobody left on base. End of 4, Yankee lead 5-0.

[jacksonianmarch]

Top 5th

 

Arod fouls off first pitch from Ponson, 0-1. ARod hits a screamer to SS, should have made the play, but Bartlett fumbles it and ARod reaches on an error.

 

ARod on 1st, Giambi to the dish. 0 outs. Ponson misses in with the sinker. 1-0. Ponson misses away with the sinker. 2-0. Ponson at 72 pitches. Ponson hangs one to Giambi who singles into the 1st-2nd base hole and ARod moves to 2nd.

 

Giambi on 1st, ARod at 2nd, 0 outs. Posada to the dish. First pitch swinging, fouled into the stands along the left field line. Ponson hangs another one and Posada ropes one right to the LFer, Kubel. 1 away.

 

1 out, runners on 1st and 2nd. Cano to the dish. Cano chases one at his ankles, fouls it off to the right side, 0-1. Cano has an 18 game hit streak on the line. Cano hits a routine flyball to RCF, Hunter makes the play. ARod to 3rd on the flyout. 2 down.

 

Monkeybitch to the dish, 2 down, runners on 1st and 3rd. Ponson gets the call below the knees, 0-1. Ponson hangs a curve outside, 1-1. Minky, swing the goddamn stick buddy, you coudl have crushed that one. Minky takes the hanger directly to the SS, who flips for the force.

 

0 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 2 left. Yankee lead 5-0.

[jacksonianmarch]

Bottom 5th

 

Morneau, Hunter, and Kubel due up. Pavano at 45 pitches through 4.

 

I must say, Pavano is missing here and there, but he is pitching to contact and he is locating his curve, something that hasnt happened with any of our pitchers thus far. It will be interesting to see how far Joe lets him go, but I'd give him enough rope to hang himself with.

 

Morneau to the dish. First pitch sinker, misses away 1-0. FIRST PITCH STRIKES PLEASE!!!!. Pavano gets Morneau to sky out to Jeter. 1 down

 

1 down, nobody on, Hunter to the dish. First pitch sinker, misses inside. 4 seamer up and Hunter cannot catch up to the 91mph. 1-1. Pavano nearly gets decapitated, Hunter singles up the middle.

 

Hunter on first, 1 down, Kubel to the dish. NASTY sinker, somehow called a ball. 1-0. Pavano pretends he has a good move. STOP TRYING TO GET THE RUNNER, GET THE HITTER CARLA, JEEZ!!! Carla misses high, 2-0. Wake up Carl, who cares about Hunter at 1st. Kubel fouls a high FB off. 2-1. His 4 seamer has some tilt to it, interesting. Hunter takes 2nd on a ball, Posada with a poor throw. Hunter would have been dead by a mile with a good throw. 3-1 to Kubel, Hunter on 2nd. Kubel nearly de-balls Pussano with an RBI single up the middle. Yankees lead 5-1 now.

 

Kubel on 1st, 1 down, Redmond to the dish. GET THE GROUNDER CARLA!!! First pitch swinging to Jeter, 6-3 DP, end of the inning.

 

1 run, 2 hits, nobody left on base. End of the 5th, Yankees lead 5-1

[yankees228]

Waste there. Had an oppurtunity to really put the game out of reach. Nice to see Giambi get a hit though, maybe that'll get him going.

[jacksonianmarch]

Top 6th

 

Cabrera then the top. Monkeybitch has now ended 3 innings with his fantastic swing, NOT. His glove has helped twice today though, and that may be immeasureable with Carla on the hill.

 

Also, Carl is pitching to contact with a good sinker and a nice curve today. He got hit around a bit last inning, but he knows this team isnt gonna take him deep so long as he pitches the M & M boys tough. Good outing to this point. Hopefully he can go two more.

 

Cabrera to the dish to lead off the inning. Ponson misses high to start the AB. Second pitch swinging, Cabrera banjoes a grounder to the SS. 1 down.

 

Nobody on, 1 out, Damon to the dish. Apparently that pitch was a ball, 1-0. Second pitch, a nice curve over the plate, 1-1. Next pitch curve was high, but the ump called it a strike. 1-2. Ponson working fast now. Next pitch, 2 seamer high. 2-2. 2 seamer misses low, full count. Next pitch at the knees called a ball. This ump is giving nothing low, everything high and nothing on the corners. Damon walks

 

Damon on first, Jeter to the dish, 1 away. Jeter 1 for 2 with a HBP. Ponson hits the outside corner with the heater. 0-1. Guerrier in the pen warming, this could be Ponson's last inning/batter. Jeter swings at a ball and fouls it off down the third base line. 0-2. Jeter with a punch and judy single to RF, Damon thrown out at 3rd. Jeter moves to 2nd on the throw.

 

2 down, Jeter at 2nd Abreu to the dish. Abreu with a homer and 3RBI today. First pitch to abreu hangs high and outside, 1-0. Abreu way too out in front of that curve, no swing, called a strike. 1-1. Abreu with an infield single to the SS who kept it in the infield, but Jeter never stopped and scored. Abreu with his 4th RBI of the game. Yankees lead 6-1.

 

ARod to the dish, Abreu on 1st. First pitch misses away with the curve, 1-0. 2 down. AROD CRUSHES THIS ONE, HOMERUN!!!!!! OPPO!!!!! Yankees lead 8-1

 

PITCHING CHANGE: Gardenhire pulls Ponson for Gurrier. The final line for Ponson is 5.2IP 10H 8ER 2K 3BB and 2 Homeruns.

 

On a side note, ARod is absolutely on fire. He has stung the ball a few times today, then drills an oppo tater over the baggy in RCF. Something is clicking with him these days, he is untouchable.

 

2 down, nobody on, Giambi to the plate. First pitch by Guerrier looks like a change, hits the inside corner, 0-1. Next pitch just misses Giambi with the heat, 1-1. What a deuce, Giambi misses it by a mile, 1-2. Giambi just not clicking to this point. Up and in, Bat EXPLODES. Morneau to Guerrier, end of inning.

 

3 runs, 3 hits nobody left on base. Yankees lead it, 8-1.