Yankees vs. Astros - March 7 Recap

The Yankees got what they wanted today out of Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera, but not too many other positives came from the Yankees pitching.

Pettitte allowed a 2-run HR to Victor Diaz in the 1st inning, on a pitch that hung up in the zone. But Pettitte was pleased with his performance.

“From the first pitch of the game everything felt good,” he said. “I really feel good about everything.”

"The home run came on a backdoor curveball that was down. I give (Victor Diaz) credit for hitting it,” he said. “Sometimes that happens.”

Pettitte said he took a few days off from his early-morning workouts and that helped him physically. After missing the first few days of camp, he feels he has caught up.

Rivera was in mid-season form, blowing a fastball past Diaz for a K. He then retired Lance Niekro on a ground out and froze David Newhan for a called 3rd strike. Mo didn't use his cutter at all, but probably will when he pitches again on Monday.

Brian Bruney entered the game in the 7th with the bases loaded and just 1 out. He blew away Diaz on a 97-mph fastball up and in for the 2nd out, but gave up a line drive 2-run single to Niekro. Steven White allowed the final two Astros runs in the 9th.

Heath Phillips maintains his unofficial lead in the left-handed reliever sweepstakes. He tossed 1.1 scoreless innings and stranded 2 inherited runners.

Overall, Yankees pitching allowed 9 runs on 12 hits, 2 walks, 1 hit batter, and 1 wild pitch. Not the prettiest of stat lines as the Yankees lost their 3rd straight game.

Brett Gardner and Greg Porter each had 2 of the Yankees' 13 hits and Gardner picked up an outfield assist when he threw out Humberto Quintero at home plate.

Shelley Duncan went hitless for the first time this spring, but Melky Cabrera (.400) and Robinson Cano (.615) continued to swing hot bats. Chris Woodward keeps hitting as well as he tries to nail down a utility spot. He went 1-2 today after replacing Cano at 2nd Base.

Like A-Rod, Jorge Posada is nursing a sore shoulder. He replaced A-Rod in mid game and went 0-3. Joe Girardi said both players would have played the field had this been a regular season game.

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Cabrera, CF	2	1	1	1	1	0	0	.400
Jackson, A, CF	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	.143
Jeter, SS	3	0	0	0	0	0	4	.273
Gonzalez, SS	2	0	1	0	0	0	3	.250
Cano, 2B	3	0	1	1	0	0	0	.615
Woodward, 2B	2	0	1	0	0	0	1	.500
Rodriguez, A, DH	2	1	1	0	0	0	0	.375
a-Posada, PH-DH	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	.000
Duncan, 1B	3	0	0	0	0	1	2	.500
Ensberg, 1B	2	0	1	0	0	0	1	.417
Betemit, 3B	3	1	1	1	0	0	1	.250
Ransom, 3B	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	.222
Lane, RF	3	1	1	1	0	1	0	.286
Curtis, RF	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.250
Molina, C	2	0	1	1	0	0	0	.100
Pilittere, C	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Gardner, B, LF	2	1	2	0	0	0	0	.364
b-Porter, PH-LF	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	.375
Totals	40	5	13	5	1	3	17
a-Flied out for Rodriguez, A in the 5th. b-Singled for Gardner, B in the 6th.
BATTING 2B: Rodriguez, A (1, Chacon), Lane (1, Chacon), Gardner, B (1, Chacon), Cabrera (2, Sampson), Ensberg (3, Houston), Porter (1, Geary). 3B: Gardner, B (1, Sampson). HR: Betemit (2, 6th inning off Sampson, 0 on, 0 out). TB: Cabrera 2; Gonzalez; Cano; Woodward; Rodriguez, A 2; Ensberg 2; Betemit 4; Lane 2; Molina; Gardner, B 5; Porter 3. RBI: Lane (3), Molina (1), Cabrera (3), Cano (4), Betemit (4). 2-out RBI: Lane; Molina. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Jeter 2; Duncan; Ransom; Jackson, A; Ensberg. GIDP: Gonzalez; Posada. Team LOB: 9. BASERUNNING SB: Cano (1, 2nd base off Sampson/Quintero, H). FIELDING E: Duncan (1, fielding). PB: Pilittere (1). Outfield assists: Gardner, B (Quintero, H at home).

NY Yankees	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Pettitte	2.2	3	2	2	0	2	1	3.86
Ramirez	0.1	1	0	0	0	0	0	11.57
Rivera	1.0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0.00
Hawkins	1.0	2	2	0	0	0	0	0.00
White (L, 0-1)	1.1	2	3	2	2	1	0	18.00
Bruney	0.1	1	0	0	0	1	0	13.50
Phillips	1.1	1	0	0	0	1	0	0.00
Veras	1.0	2	2	2	0	1	0	9.00

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