Moose, Pen, Small Ball Lead Yanks to Series Split With Tribe

It was looking scary for a while there.

The Yankees once again missed an early opportunity to jump out to an early lead against a young pitcher they had never faced before, and before they knew it, the Bombers were being no-hit after five innings and before long, Mike Mussina would break down.

Well, the Moose bent, but he didn't break.

With the game still scoreless in the bottom of the fifth, Mussina gave up four straight singles to fall behind 1-0. But with the bases loaded and still nobody out, the Yankees starter buckled down and got out of the inning, allowing just one more run for a 2-0 deficit.

Sensing that things could've been much worse, the New York bats responded (if you can call it that) in the top of the sixth.  Melky Cabrera broke up Aaron Laffey's no hitter with an infield single to short.  Jeter reached on an infield hit of his own before Bobby Abreu loaded the bases with the only hard hit ball of the inning.  A-Rod then took one for the team to drive in the first run before great situational hitting plated two more runs on ground outs to first by Jason Giambi and Hideki Matsui.  Another infield single by Morgan Ensberg made it 4-2 Yanks and they would go on to win it 5-2, thanks to four shutout innings by the bullpen.

It's so nice to see the Yankees win with some small ball for a change to prove that you don't need to hit home runs to win games.

Here are the grades for the Yankees' 5-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Monday.

Joe Girardi, Manager: (B)Another day, another new lineup for the Yankees.  I understand New York has been hampered by injuries which have forced Girardi to shuffle the offense around a little, but why does a different regular need rest every day?  Johnny Damon was a red hot 13 for his last 29 entering Monday, but the manager chose not to start him.  Maybe if he did, the Yankees wouldn't have been held hitless through five innings.

Other than that, Girardi did a pretty good job managing his bullpen, although I thought Mussina (92 pitches) could have gone another inning.

Melky Cabrera, CF: (B)Melky just gets on base.  That's all he does.  You can bat him first, seventh, or ninth, it doesn't matter.  Cabrera has reached base in all but two of the games he's started this year and Monday was no different as the center fielder went 1-4 with a walk, a run and a strike out.

Derek Jeter, SS: (C-) Jeter also went 1-4 with a run scored, but he also committed his second error of the year.

Bobby Abreu, RF: (C) Yet another 1-4 with a run scored.  Abreu also struck out and left two men on.

Alex Rodriguez, 3B: (C)A-Rod went 0-2 with a run scored and a run batted in when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the sixth.  The HBP forced Rodriguez to leave the game later on for what was hopefully just precautionary reasons.

Jason Giambi, 1B: (D+)One of the Giamzero's patented easy ground outs to first finally came in handy Monday night as he drove in the game tying run in the sixth.  He also went 0-4 and left five runners on base.  Typical night for Giambi.

Hideki Matsui, LF: (B+)Matsui also had a key ground out in that sixth inning rally and later added another RBI in the eighth when he doubled into the right center field gap.  Amazing what the team's leading hitter can do when he's allowed to start.

Morgan Ensberg, 3B: (C+) Ensberg went 1-4 with an RBI and a K as he continues to fill in defensively for A-Rod, who is still recovering from a strained quad.

Robinson Cano, 2B: (F) Another oh-fer for Cano.

Jose Molina, C: (D) The day after starting catcher Jorge Posada was placed on the disabled list, backup Jose Molina went 0-4 but helped Mussina get out of a major jam in the fifth.

Johnny Damon, PH-DH: (INC)Damon pinch hit for A-Rod in the eighth, walking and coming around to score on Matsui's double.

Mike Mussina, SP: (B+)The Moose picked up his second straight win since those Jamie Moyer comments by Hank Steinbrenner.  See, the Steinbrenners are always good for a little encouragement.

Jonathan Albaladejo, RP: (B-)I guess Albaladejo has locked up that sixth inning role in the Yankees bullpen.  You think in 20 years my son will be arguing with his friends over who's the best fourth inning reliever in baseball?

Kyle Farnsworth, RP: (A) Even a broken clock is right twice a season.

Joba Chamberlain, RP: (A) Continues to amaze.

Mariano Rivera, RP: (A) Facing the 8, 9 and 1 hitters in the Indians lineup, Mo successfully held onto a three run lead with one inning to play.

Overall Yankees Grade: (B+) There's still room for improvement in the offense, but Mussina is looking better with every start and the bullpen is rounding into shape.  The Yanks now get to play nine straight home games after playing 18 of their last 20 on the road.