Yankees-Rangers: Joe Girardi Finally Gets the Lineup Right

For the first time since Saturday, Joe Girardi had Johnny Damon, Derek Jeter, and Bobby Abreu bat in the first three spots in the Yankees' lineup. And for the first time since Saturday, the Yankees won.

Damon, Jeter, and Abreu went 6-16, as New York pounded out a season-high 18 runs on 16 hits off of Texas pitching, salvaging the finale of a three-game set.

Jason Giambi led all run producers with six RBI, including a grand slam that gave the Bombers a 5-3 lead in the third, and a two-run opposite-field double that gave New York an 8-7 advantage in the seventh.

But what followed in that inning is really what will be key to the Yankees' success this year. 

Up 9-7 after Jorge Posada's double, and with Kyle Farnsworth warming up in the bullpen, the Yanks knew they needed a few more insurance runs to feel comfortable.

With a runner on second and no one out, Robinson Cano pulled an outside pitch to the right side that scooted under the second baseman's glove for a base hit, moving Posada to third with less than two outs.

Wilson Betemit then followed with a grounder to second of his own, scoring Posada, making it 10-7. Up next, Brett Gardner picked up his first major-league hit that brought Cano home, and the speedy rookie continued the rally by stealing second, allowing himself to score the 12th run on Damon's single.

In all, the Yankees scored nine times in the seventh inning on Wednesday night.  That's two more runs than they scored in the previous four GAMES combined.

Home runs are great, but you can't always count on them coming in October against the best pitchers in baseball. It's situational hitting and small ball that will keep rallies going and allow you to win close games in the playoffs.

Here are the grades from the Bombers' 18-7 thrashing of the Rangers.

Joe Girardi, Manager: (C) Batting the six best hitters in the top six spots of the lineup? What a novel idea! 

Still, Girardi continued to frustrate me with his recent refusal to bunt. With the Yanks down one in the sixth, Damon came to the plate with runners on first and second and nobody out. Instead of having the leadoff hitter sacrifice, Girardi had him hit away and Damon lined out to left, failing to advance the runners. Jeter then followed with an inning-ending double play. Wasted runs. 

You'd think he would've learned his lesson after the Melky Cabrera debacle Tuesday. You can't always count on those nine-run innings. You need to score runs when you have the opportunity.

Johnny Damon, LF: (A+) Damon went 3-6 with two RBI and three runs scored. The Yankees are 19-5 when he gets at least two hits, but he can't get hits when he's not in the lineup.

Derek Jeter, SS: (C-) Jeter finally joined the party with a single in his fifth at-bat. He also walked and scored.

Bobby Abreu, RF: (A+) 2-5 with a double, a walk, two runs batted in, and three runs scored.

Alex Rodriguez, 3B: (A+) 2-3 with a three-run opposite-field blast, two walks, and he crossed the plate four times.

Jason Giambi, DH: (A+) 2-4 with a grand slam, a double, six RBI, and two runs.

Jorge Posada, C: (A) 1-3 with a double, a walk, two runs driven in, and one run scored himself.

Robinson Cano, 2B: (A) Cano is 14 for his last 34 after another two-hit performance Wednesday. His average is finally getting close to cracking .250.

Wilson Betemit, 1B: (C+) Betemit needs to step up and contribute until Hideki Matsui returns, and he did just that in the final game against the Rangers, going 1-4 with an RBI and a walk.

Brett Gardner, CF: (B+) Now this is where Gardner should be batting: in the nine hole, in place of the struggling Cabrera, not leading off instead of the hot-hitting Damon.

Gardner finally got his first big-league hit Wednesday. He also drove in a run, scored twice, walked, and stole a bag. Melky better watch out.

Chad Moeller, 1B: (INC) Moeller's still on the team?

Alberto Gonzalez, 3B-SS: (INC) Gonzalez worked mop-up duty, going 0-1 and playing two positions.

Jose Molina, C: (B) Even Molina got in on the fun with a single and a run scored. This is when he should be hitting, when the Yankees already lead by a touchdown.

Sidney Ponson, SP: (F) Ponson used the double-play ball to escape some jams early on, but he couldn't get out of the sixth inning. It's looking like the Yanks may have to make a trade for a fifth starter to hold down the back-end of the rotation until Chien-Ming Wang returns.

Edwar Ramirez, RP: (A) After Ponson departed, Ramirez kept the Yankees in the ballgame by working two scoreless innings, striking out three, while only allowing one base runner. He deservedly got the win.

Kyle Farnsworth, RP: (B-) Farnsworth walked two batters with an eight-run lead. That's pretty much all you need to know about his abilities as a pitcher.

LaTroy Hawkins, RP: (A) A perfect ninth.

Yankees Overall Grade: (B) Ponson was bad, but the bats were good. Let's hope the offensive explosion can continue as the Yanks collide with the reeling Red Sox in a huge four-game series this July Fourth weekend at the Stadium. Two would be good. Three would be great.