Grading the Yankees: Andy Pettitte Helps New York End Two-Game Skid

Like he's been doing for most of his career, Andy Pettitte took the mound after a Yankees loss Wednesday and immediately stopped the bleeding.  Pettitte combined with Joba Chamberlain and Mariano Rivera to give up just two runs on nine hits in a 4-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

Meanwhile, Joba continued to make his transition from reliever to starter as he threw 28 pitches in one and a third scoreless innings and then presumably another 30 pitches afterwards in the bullpen.  Manager Joe Girardi had said that he wanted to get Chamberlain about 55 pitches in preparation for possibly making his first career start next week in place of the injured and ineffective Ian Kennedy.

So much for the whole controversy over how Joba would get his pitches in to be stretched out to become a starter.  Would he need to go to the minors?  Would his transition affect the Yankees' ability to win games?  Chamberlain pretty much filled his old role as setup man Wednesday night and then finished off his workout in the bullpen.  That wasn't hard.

Here are the grades from the Yanks' 4-2 win over the O's.

Joe Girardi, Manager: (B+) I still don't understand batting Hideki Matsui (.330 avg) fifth and Bobby Abreu (.286 avg) third, but other than that, Girardi's been doing a pretty good job managing the team lately.  He hit and ran with Derek Jeter up and Johnny Damon on base in the eighth inning and he once again didn't let the Joba transition affect the team's chances to win.

Johnny Damon, LF: (A+) Three more hits and an RBI for the surging Damon, who also hit a ground ball to the right side to move Melky Cabrera over to third with less than two outs in the top of the third.

Derek Jeter, SS: (D+) The Captain failed in his first opportunity to get a runner home from third with less than two outs, but he came through with a sac fly the next time around.  Still, Jeter went 0-4 and has seen his batting average drop 32 points since being hit on the hand last week.

Bobby Abreu, RF: (F) 0-4 with a strikeout and three men left on base.

Alex Rodriguez, 3B: (F) 0-4 and committed his third error in two games.

Hideki Matsui, DH: (A+) Another multi-hit game for Godzilla.  He went 2-4 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored.

Jason Giambi, 1B: (A+) Another monster homer for Giambi, who has really been on a tear of late.  He must be eating his Wheaties again, and by Wheaties, I mean steroids.  Either that, or his porn star moustache has mystical powers.

Robinson Cano, 2B: (F) Cano is slumping again.  He went 0-4 with a K and three LOB Wednesday.

Chad Moeller, C: (D-) When's the last time Chad Moeller got intentionally walked, especially after going 0-3 on the night?

Melky Cabrera, CF: (A) He went 2-4 with two doubles and two runs scored but he also struck out twice and left three men on base.

Andy Pettitte, SP: (A) That's two solid starts in a row for Pettitte, whose only mistake Wednesday was a two-run homer surrendered to Melivin Mora in the third inning.

Joba Chamberlain, RP: (A-) Joba struggled with location at first but settled down to strike out three over a scoreless 1.1 innings pitched.

Mariano Rivera, RP: (A) After two innings pitched Tuesday night, Girardi called on his closer again to pick up the save Wednesday.  That's something you wouldn't see the overprotective Joe Torre do too often. 

By the way, Torre pulled his starter Derek Lowe Wednesday after just 91 pitches and seven scoreless innings.  The Dodgers went on to lose the game 2-1.  Have I mentioned how happy I am to be done with the Torre era?

Yankees Overall Grade: (A-) Some missed opportunities with men on base, but the pitchers did more than enough to salvage the final game of the three game series with the Orioles.  The Yanks have an off day to enjoy this one before traveling to Minnesota Friday for a four game set.  They need to win at least two there.