New York-Baltimore: Yankees Survive Joba-less Eighth

All the haters were salivating. This was their chance to second-guess Hank's genius, and validate their ludicrous claim that Joba Chamberlain's setup role was too precious to sacrifice for his move to the starting rotation.

As Kyle Farnsworth entered a 1-1 game in the eighth, I was forced to root for my most hated reliever for the first time during his tenure with the Yankees.

Well, Farnsworth retired the Orioles in order, and New York went on to win their second-straight game on a Robinson Cano walkoff single in the bottom of the ninth.

I guess getting three outs in the eighth isn't too hard after all.

Joba had an effect on another Yankees pitcher. Ian Kennedy picked up his first real quality start of the year, the night after the team indicated that Chamberlain could be on his way to taking Kennedy's spot in the rotation.

And now to the grades from Thursday night's 2-1 win over Baltimore.

Joe Girardi, Manager: (A) You never saw that type of passion out of Joe Torre.  Girardi's cap-kicking ejection in the ninth inning lit a fire under his team's dormant offense and led to a game-winning rally.

The manager also must be reading my blog because he's finally moving his baserunners with more consistency. With Hideki Matsui on first and one out in the bottom of the fourth, Girardi put on the hit and run, which not only opened up a hole for Jason Giambi to single to right, but it also allowed Matsui to move to third with less than two outs. Shelley Duncan followed with a sac fly to left to tie the game. It was a thing of beauty.

Johnny Damon, LF: (A+) The Yankees are now 10-1 when their leadoff hitter has a multi-hit game. The offense starts with Damon, and he came through again on Thursday going 3-4.

Derek Jeter, SS: (F) The Captain might still be suffering the effects of being hit in the hand Tuesday. He's 0-7 since the injury, going hitless in four at bats Thursday.

Hideki Matsui, DH: (A+) Godzilla went 2-4 and scored the only two runs for the Bombers.

Alex Rodriguez, 3B: (F) For the first time since coming off the DL, A-Rod failed to homer. He also failed to pick up a hit, going 0-4 with two strikeouts.

Jason Giambi, 1B: (C-) Giambi went 1-4 with two Ks, but his one hit was a big one as it moved Matsui from first to third, setting him up to score the Yanks' first run of the game. The Giamzero, however, once again made a mistake in the field, making a bad throw during a designed double-steal attempt by the O's.

Shelley Duncan, RF: (C+) 0-2, but his big sac fly in the fourth tied the game.

Robinson Cano, 2B: (B+) Just 1-4, but that one was a game-winning opposite-field single in the bottom of the ninth. Cano also started a sweet double play.

Jose Molina, C: (A) Went 1-3, gunned down another runner, and helped Kennedy get out of a couple jams.

Melky Cabrera, CF: (F) 0-3 with a strikeout.

Bobby Abreu, PH: (B) Didn't start because he was 0-10 in his career versus Burres, but he drew a crucial walk pinch hitting for Duncan in the ninth to move Matsui into scoring position for Cano.

Ian Kennedy, SP: (A) Kennedy must've heard Joba's footsteps because the young starter delivered his best performance of the year. He gave up just four hits and one run in six innings, while escaping a couple jams. Kennedy's control was once again an issue as he walked four. Still, a solid effort that deserved a win. I think he'll take the no decision, though, in exchange for the Yankees W.

Jose Veras, RP: (A-) I thought Kennedy could've gone one more inning, having only thrown 97 pitches, but Veras pitched a scoreless seventh.

Kyle Farnsworth, RP: (A) Yeah that eighth inning role is far too important for Joba to move to the rotation.

Mariano Rivera, RP: (A) A perfect ninth with a K, and Mo picked up the win.

Yankees Overall Grade: (B+) After an offensive explosion Wednesday, the lineup hibernated once again on Thursday, but the pitching was tremendous, leading New York to its first series-victory in 18 days. That last win came in a sweep of the Mariners who the Yanks are happy to welcome to town this weekend.