The last time we saw Joba Chamberlain it looked as though he might start crying at any time. Sitting in the Yankees dugout, Chamberlain's anguish at letting his team down was evident all over his young face.
On Tuesday night the Yankees were exactly where they wanted to be. They had a lead in the eighth and Chamberlain was on the mound. They were able to take their opening game with Cleveland and insert it into their formula for winning: 6 solid innings from the starter, Farnsworth in the 7th, Chamberlain in the 8th and Rivera was warming in the bullpen for the ninth.
The Yankees had to feel good about themselves, especially the slumping Jason Giambi and Robinson Cano. So much had been written and talked about with these two sluggers having slow starts. They responded Tuesday night and it looked like a victory would solidify their performances.
Back in the top of the fourth inning their starting pitcher, Andy Pettite, had allowed a two run homer to the Tribe's shortstop Jhonny Peralta. The Yankees have looked lethargic at points in this young season but not in the bottom of that inning.
The Bronx Bombers responded immediately with Giambi doubling allowing Hideki Matsui to score, followed a few batters later by Cano singling in Giambi. The Yankees were back on top.
They took their lead into the eighth before Chamberlin alternated two walks and outs before allowing David Dellucci to give the Indians a lead with a bomb.
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It was enough to deflate any team or player, let alone a team trying to build on a sweep of the Mariners and the Yanks' struggling sluggers.
Their fortune didn't get much better the next day as they ran into early Cy Young favorite Clif Lee who held them scoreless, beating their own ace, Wang.
On Thursday in the Bronx Giambi, Cano and Chamberlain responded.
Johnny Damon led off the bottom of the fourth with a solo shot to break the tie and was followed in the same inning by Giambi's two run shot the expand their lead. This time, however, the Tribe responded immediately tying the score at three in the top of the fifth.
In the bottom of the fifth Cano looked to build on his recent performances by doubling and later scoring on a Johnny Damon double giving the Yankees a one run lead.
They clung to that lead into the bottom of the 7th when Cano stepped up to the plate again and belted a solo shot off of Paul Byrd, retiring him for the day. The Indians turned to their import, Kobayashi, who gave up an immediate home run to Wilson Betemit giving the Yanks back to back homers off two different pitchers.
Cano finished the day 2 for 3 with 1 RBI and 2 runs.
The Yankees had gotten into the eighth with the lead and there was no hesitation by Yankees' manager Joe Girardi. After two scoreless innings pitched by Russ Ohlendorf, Joba Chamberlain stood on the mound recieving love and support from the fans. Chamberlain pitched a 1-2-3 inning with one strikeout, exiting to an ovation. Rivera came in to pick up the save in the ninth, his ninth of the season, still not allowing a run all season.
The Yankees were able to salvage a victory in the series. Chamberlain responded with a stellar performance and Giambi and Cano were able to continue to climb out of their slumps.
Other Notes:
- Mussina pitched another solid game, picking up his fifth win and preventing the Yankees rotation from falling into utter chaos.
- Wilson Betemit has gone 2 for 7 with a homer Thurday since being recalled from the minors. His bat may allow the Yankees to be very cautious with ARod as the gigantic hole in their lineup known as Morgan Ensberg can now be filled.
- Shelley Duncan was given the day off allowing Hideki Matsui to slide into the cleanup spot and the Yankees were happy not to have a clean up hitter batting .192. Matsui gets on base having the second highest BA in the league. This could lead to more runs if Giambi continues to heat up.
- The Yankees' 50 million dollar investment, Kei Igawa, will start on Friday against the Tigers.
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3 months ago
Moose was lights out too going 1 hit ball through 4, and only giving 3 due to a wall-shy Abreu, who missed another in the 9th. Giambi leads the Yanks in HR, and is one behind Abreu in RBI...with 48 fewer at bats, and 4th in Runs Scored! His obp is 324, and OPS is 733! considering how many risp are left stranded, Giambi should get more plate time. Damon is on fire. Wow. Good Read, my friend
from 3 months ago
oops, of course I am talking about Thurs afternoons brooom breaking game. Sorry for the confusion on my part, should have made that more clear.
3 months ago
And Chad Moeler is catching Igua and Rasner. He has a hot bat, and a great form behind the plate.
from 3 months ago
Thanks for the additional stats. Moeler may have good form but i can't wait for Posada to get back.
3 months ago
Great experience for Joba. It isn't how an athlete succeeds that defines him/her, it's how he/she fails. I guess a true trial for Joba won't come until he's in trouble in a tight game, but regardless it was nice to see him bounce right back to form.
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