Cano Ends Long Day, 8-7

The Yankees finished off a three game sweep of the Orioles yesterday in an, ugly, incredibly long, poorly pitched ball game. It took a Robinson Cano mammoth seventh inning home run and stellar late relief to hold on to an 8-7 win. The Yankees suddenly have a four game winning streak and trail the wildcard-leading Red Sox by 5 games as the two teams get set to start a three game series at the Stadium tomorrow night.

Sunday's game was downright painful. The Yankees and Orioles have set records at Camden Yards for lengthy games, and yesterday's fiasco was threatening the nine inning record for time played. Yankees' starter Darrell Rasner was bad, but Orioles lead man Daniel Cabrera had one of the worst games possible. He had absolutely no command of his pitches, missing the plate in every way imaginable. Unfortunately for Alex Rodriguez, that also meant taking an upper-90's fastball off of his left elbow.

With the game tied at 7-7 in the seventh, Orioles' lefty specialist Jamie Walker entered the game to face Hideki Matsui and Cano. He retired Matsui on a ground out, but Cano's swing resulted in a 425-ft blast to center to give the Yankees the lead.

The Orioles tried to tie things right back up in their half of the seventh when Ramon Hernandez and Brian Roberts stroked consecutive singles off of Jose Veras, who was working for his third straight day. But Damaso Marte came on to strike out Nick Markakis and Melvin Mora to preserve the lead. Mariano Rivera then came on for a four-out save, striking out Markakis looking, with the tying run on second base, for the game's final out.

The game ended four hours and one minute after it began. The first two innings took two days and 2,000 pitches. (Okay, not quite, but it felt like it.) It started out promising for Rasner, who retired the first two batters he faced, but then Mora and Aubrey Huff hit back-to-back home runs for a 2-0 Orioles lead. But Cabrera wouldn't accept the gift.

He gave up a lead-off single to Xavier Nady in the second and then walked Matsui. Cano drilled a pitch off of the top of the wall in right field for an RBI double, and two batters later Johnny Damon crushed a Cabrera delivery into the right field seats for a 3-run home run and a 4-2 Yankees lead.

Rasner got out of a two-on, two-out jam in the third and the Yankees added to their lead in the fourth. Singles by Damon and Bobby Abreu plus A-Rod's elbow smash loaded the bases with one out. Jason Giambi just missed getting all of one and had to settle for a sacrifice fly and an RBI. Nady then came up with a big two-out hit when he ripped a 2-run double into the left field corner. Down 7-2, Dave Trembley finally pulled Cabrera from the game.

But this would be no laugher. Derek Jeter's one-out bobble allowed Brian Roberts to reach safely and Nick Markakis brought Roberts home when Nady misplayed his single to left. When Rasner walked Mora, Joe Girardi sent for Dave Robertson to try to put out the fire. Instead, Robertson made it worse. Huff doubled to right to plate Markakis and Millar's sac fly brought home Mora to cut the lead to 7-5. Robertson finally retired Luis Montanez to end the inning, but the damage was done.

Jay Payton singled, stole second base, and moved to third on a ground out as the Orioles brought the tying run to the plate in the fifth inning. Robertson struck out Juan Castro for the second out of the inning and Girardi sent for Edwar Ramirez to face the lefty-hitting Roberts. With Pudge Rodriguez set up outside, Ramirez went inside, and Roberts drilled the pitch into the right field seats to tie the game.


News and Notes

Bobby Abreu went hitless Saturday, but had eight hits in the other two games of the series combined.

Robinson Cano's 4-5 day, which included a home run and two doubles, raised his average to .269, the highest it has been since July 26.

Mariano Rivera's save was his 31st in 32 attempts. He saved all three games in the series.

There is no truth to the rumor that the Yankees will be holding open auditions for Rasner's next start (damn!).

August 24, 2008

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
NY Yankees	0	4	0	3	0	0	1	0	0		8	15	3
Baltimore	2	0	0	3	2	0	0	0	0		7	14	0

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, CF	6	2	2	3	0	0	3	.312
Jeter, SS	5	0	0	0	0	0	2	.293
Abreu, RF	4	1	3	0	1	0	0	.297
Rodriguez, A, 3B	3	1	2	0	1	0	1	.312
Giambi, 1B	4	0	0	1	0	0	5	.250
Ransom, 1B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1.000
Nady, LF	5	1	2	2	0	2	1	.328
Matsui, DH	4	1	1	0	1	0	1	.311
Cano, 2B	5	2	4	2	0	1	0	.269
Rodriguez, I, C	4	0	1	0	1	0	4	.284
Totals	40	8	15	8	4	3	17
BATTING 2B: Cano 2 (26, Cabrera, D, Cabrera, D), Nady (32, Cabrera, D), Abreu (34, Cherry). HR: Damon (9, 2nd inning off Cabrera, D, 2 on, 1 out), Cano (12, 7th inning off Walker, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Damon 5; Abreu 4; Rodriguez, A 2; Nady 3; Matsui; Cano 9; Rodriguez, I. RBI: Cano 2 (58), Damon 3 (55), Giambi (77), Nady 2 (80). 2-out RBI: Nady 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Giambi; Rodriguez, I 2; Matsui; Damon. SF: Giambi. GIDP: Giambi. Team LOB: 11. FIELDING E: Jeter (10, fielding), Nady (3, fielding), Rodriguez, I (5, throw).

NY Yankees	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Rasner	3.1	8	5	3	2	2	2	5.03
Robertson	1.1	2	1	1	0	1	0	6.00
Ramirez (W, 4-1)	1.1	2	1	1	1	1	1	3.66
Veras (H, 9)	0.1	2	0	0	0	1	0	2.70
Marte (H, 21)	1.1	0	0	0	1	3	0	4.34
Rivera (S, 31)	1.1	0	0	0	1	2	0	1.53

Baltimore	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Roberts, 2B	5	2	3	2	1	0	0	.301
Markakis, RF	5	1	1	0	1	2	3	.301
Mora, 3B	4	2	1	1	1	1	5	.281
Huff, DH	5	1	3	2	0	0	0	.304
Millar, 1B	4	0	1	1	0	1	1	.248
Montanez, L, LF	3	0	1	0	0	0	2	.367
a-Scott, PH-LF	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	.272
Payton, CF	5	1	3	0	0	2	3	.253
Quiroz, C	3	0	0	0	0	1	4	.196
b-Cintron, PH-SS	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	.273
Castro, J, SS	3	0	0	0	0	2	2	.192
c-Hernandez, R, PH-C	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	.259
Totals	41	7	14	6	5	10	20
a-Walked for Montanez, L in the 6th. b-Struck out for Quiroz in the 7th. c-Singled for Castro, J in the 7th.
BATTING 2B: Huff 2 (39, Robertson, Ramirez). HR: Mora (22, 1st inning off Rasner, 0 on, 2 out), Huff (28, 1st inning off Rasner, 0 on, 2 out), Roberts (9, 5th inning off Ramirez, 1 on, 2 out). TB: Roberts 6; Markakis; Mora 4; Huff 8; Millar; Montanez, L; Payton 3; Hernandez, R. RBI: Mora (96), Huff 2 (91), Millar (66), Roberts 2 (48). 2-out RBI: Mora; Huff; Roberts 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Mora 3; Quiroz; Montanez, L; Payton; Markakis. SF: Millar. Team LOB: 13. BASERUNNING SB: Payton (7, 2nd base off Robertson/Rodriguez, I), Roberts (33, 2nd base off Rivera/Rodriguez, I). FIELDING DP: (Roberts-Cintron-Millar).

Baltimore IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Cabrera, D 3.2 9 7 7 3 0 1 5.24 Sarfate 2.1 1 0 0 1 2 0 4.92 Walker (L, 1-2) 1.0 1 1 1 0 0 1 5.74 Cherry 1.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 6.00 Johnson 1.0 2 0 0 0 1 0 2.29

HBP: Rodriguez, A (by Cabrera, D). Pitches-strikes: Rasner 98-60, Robertson 22-17, Ramirez 27-19, Veras 13-8, Marte 27-14, Rivera 18-12, Cabrera, D 95-49, Sarfate 49-31, Walker 8-6, Cherry 12-8, Johnson 11-8. Ground outs-fly outs: Rasner 3-5, Robertson 1-2, Ramirez 1-2, Veras 0-0, Marte 1-0, Rivera 2-0, Cabrera, D 3-8, Sarfate 1-4, Walker 3-0, Cherry 3-0, Johnson 1-1. Batters faced: Rasner 21, Robertson 6, Ramirez 7, Veras 3, Marte 5, Rivera 5, Cabrera, D 24, Sarfate 9, Walker 4, Cherry 4, Johnson 5. Inherited runners-scored: Robertson 2-2, Ramirez 1-1, Marte 2-0, Rivera 1-0, Sarfate 1-0. Umpires: HP: Ed Rapuano. 1B: Ed Hickox. 2B: CB Bucknor. 3B: Joe West. Weather: 90 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 10 mph, Out to LF. T: 4:01. Att: 42,746.

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Hot L Baltimore

The Yankees start a 3-game series with the Orioles tonight in Camden Yards. It will be interesting to see if there's any carry over from last month's action at Yankee Stadium when Orioles starter Daniel Cabrera hit Alex Rodriguez, and the next night Edwar Ramirez threw at Kevin Millar.

The Orioles will also be looking for the franchise's 100 millionth fan this weekend. Recently the O's awarded $50,000 and other prizes to the 50 millionth fan to attend a game at Camden Yards.

Mike Mussina (16-7, 3.35) looks to keep the magic going tonight against his former team. (USA Today had a feature on Moose today.) He'll be opposed by rookie right-hander Radhames Liz (4-3, 7.47). Liz made 2 relief appearances against the Yankees last season, allowing a run in 4.1 innings pitched. The rookie has struggled in his first season as a starter in the bigs. He's walked more hitters than he has struck out (33/32) and allowed more hits than innings pitched. Of course, the Yankees may be just what the doctor ordered.

Saturday night, of course, brings the return of Carl Pavano. He'll go against Jeremy Guthrie, who beat the Yankees on July 23 and is 2-1, 3.90 in six career appearances, five of which were starts.

Darrell Rasner (5-9, 4.93) goes in the finale Sunday afternoon against Daniel Cabrera (8-8, 4.98). Cabrera beat the Yankees on July 29 and is 6-6, 4.56 in 16 career starts against the Yankees.

Remarkably, Baltimore is just 5.5 games behind the Yankees in the AL East standings.

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Skid Hits 3 as Rally Falls Short

The Yankees climbed out of a hole in the 9th inning tonight, turning a runaway into a one run ball game with the tying run on 2nd base and just 1 out. But as we've seen time and time again this year, they come up short when needing the big hit. This time it was Robinson Cano and Wilson Betemit both going down on swinging strikes as George Sherrill barely preserved a 7-6 game.

Darrell Rasner kept the Yankees in the game, leaving in the 7th with two on, two out, and the Orioles ahead 2-1. The Yankees newest Damaso Marte had a chance for heroics, but failed miserably. After a bloop single by Nick Markakis loaded the bases, Marte temporarily escaped trouble when Aubrey Huff's blast into the upper deck in right field faded into foul territory. But Marte wasn't so lucky with his next pitch.

Huff drilled a Marte breaking pitch into the gap in left-center to clear the bases and put the Orioles on top 5-1. Melvin Mora added an RBI double for Marte finally worked out of the inning. Huff would narrowly miss a home run again, in the 9th against Mariano Rivera, but later in the at-bat he tied a career high with his 4th hit, yup, a home run against Rivera in the same at-bat.

The Yankees lone run until the 8th was Alex Rodriguez's 22nd home run off of Daniel Cabrera. Down 6-1 in the 8th Cabrera was ejected after hitting Rodriguez in the shoulder with a high fastball. Home plate ump Chad Fairchild felt there was intent though manager Dave Trembley strongly disagreed. Cano would deliver a 2-run single that would cut the lead to 6-4 and put the tying runs on base with no one out.

But Jim Johnson struck out Betemit (gee, what a shock that was), retired Melky Cabrera on a line out to center and struck out pinch-hitter Xavier Nady (you think he wishes he were back in P-Burgh?) looking.

Huff's home run off Rivera would prove to be crucial when the Yankees rallied in the 9th against closer George Sherrill. Johnny Damon's lead off single was followed by a walk to Derek Jeter and an RBI double by Bobby Abreu. It was suddenly a 7-5 game and A-Rod was up. But Sherrill won the showdown, throwing a high fastball past the reigning AL MVP for a strikeout.

Jason Giambi came through, lining a pitch off of the mound, and nearly Sherrill, for a 2-run single. Down a run, pinch-runner Justin Christian swiped 2nd, putting the tying run in scoring position. But Sherrill K'ed Cano on three pitches and threw a 2-2 pitch past Betemit to hand the Yankees their third straight loss.


News and Notes

Alex Rodriguez's home run was the 540th of his career. It put him 8 behind Mike Schmidt on the all-time list.

Derek Jeter extended his hitting streak to 10 games, in which he's hitting .318 (14-44)

Kevin Millar homered for the second straight night. Why does no Yankees back him off the plate?

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A-Rod Back for O's

The Yankees open a 3-game series with the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium tonight and have already gotten off on a good foot. Or in this case, quad. Alex Rodriguez will be activated prior to tonight's 7:05 start, giving a much needed boost a slumping lineup.

A-Rod finished up his extended spring training work against the Phillies on Monday and felt good about his swing and his injured quad. His teammates will certainly be glad to see him. The Yankees have dropped 8 of 11 and have scored just 18 runs in those losses. They've been especially bad against left handed pitching without A-Rod and Jorge Posada in the lineup.

Alberto Gonzalez will most likely get sent down to make room on the roster for A-Rod, though jettisoning Shelley Duncan or Morgan Ensberg would make a lot more sense.

The Orioles took 2 of 3 in Baltimore in their April meeting, winning 6-2 and 8-0. The Yankees lone victory was a 7-1 win in the finale of the series.

Mike Mussina (6-3, 3.99) starts tonight against the team he spent his first ten years with. Mussina lost 3 of his first 4 decisions, but has gone 5-0, 2.76 since then. He's 10-6, 4.51 in 23 starts against the Orioles.

Daniel Cabrera, tonight's Orioles starter, is off to one of the best starts of his career. He's 4-1, 3.58 in 9 starts, of which 7 have been quality starts. Cabrera has cut down his walks this season and the league is hitting just .225 against him. He beat the Yankees on April 18, 6-2, down in Baltimore, and is 4-6, 4.81 in 14 career starts against the Pinstripes.

Darrell Rasner faces Garret Olson on Wednesday and Ian Kennedy faces Brian Burres in the series finale on Thursday.

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O's Roll Yankees With a 7

Phil Hughes was going along smoothly, looking like was going to give the Yankees taxed bullpen some much needed rest, but then the 6th inning came and Hughes (0-3) and LaTroy Hawkins were used as a battering ram by the O's hitters. The 7-run inning gave the Orioles a 8-2 victory in the first game of the three game series.

Orioles starter Daniel Cabrera escaped a bases loaded jam in the top of the 6th and the Orioles took advantage. Consecutive singles by Nick Markakis, Kevin Millar, and Luke Scott snapped a 1-1 tie and put runners on the corners with no one out. Hughes retired Aubrey Huff on a pop up, but Adam Jones beat out a chopper to Alex Rodriguez, and he and Scott moved up a base on A-Rod's errant throw to 1st Base.

Joe Girardi then called on Hawkins, who had been unscored upon his last five outings. After issuing an intentional walk to Ramon Hernandez, Hawkins allowed a 2-run single to right by pinch-hitter Jay Payton for a 5-1 O's lead. Brian Roberts grounded out for the second out of the inning, but Payton moved to 2nd on the play and came home on Melvin Mora's single to right.

Edwar Ramirez replaced a dejected Hawkins and allowed an RBI single to Markakis before Millar finally struck out to end the inning.

Cabrera (1-0) was about as good as he gets, scattering 6 hits over 6 innings and walking just 2 hitters. His outing was cut short by a 108-pitch count. But as has been the case all season, the Yankees couldn't get the big hit when it counted. Not that they had that many opportunities.

In the 4th, Bobby Abreu was cut down at home plate by Markakis trying to score from 2nd on a Hideki Matsui single. Melky Cabrera struck out with the bases loaded to end the 6th.

The Yankees last gasp came in the 7th when Chad Moeller lead off with his first home run and Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon followed with singles. But Abreu, A-Rod, and Matsui were retired consecutively to end the frame.

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, LF	5	0	1	0	0	0	2	.203
Jeter, SS	5	0	1	0	0	1	2	.304
Abreu, RF	4	0	2	0	0	0	2	.313
Rodriguez, 3B	3	0	0	0	1	1	4	.296
Matsui, DH	2	0	1	0	0	0	2	.328
Cano, 2B	4	1	1	0	0	0	3	.171
Giambi, 1B	3	0	0	0	1	1	1	.116
Cabrera, CF	4	0	1	0	0	1	3	.314
Moeller, C	3	1	1	2	0	0	0	.313
a-Posada, PH	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.262
Totals	34	2	8	2	2	4	19
a-Flied out for Moeller in the 9th.
BATTING 2B: Cabrera (1, Cabrera, D). HR: Moeller (1, 7th inning off Cabrera, D, 0 on, 0 out). TB: Damon; Jeter; Abreu 2; Matsui; Cano; Cabrera 2; Moeller 4. RBI: Moeller 2 (3). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Jeter; Cabrera 2; Matsui. Team LOB: 9. BASERUNNING SB: Rodriguez (1, 2nd base off Cabrera, D/Hernandez, R). FIELDING E: Rodriguez (2, throw). DP: (Jeter-Cano-Giambi).

NY Yankees	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Hughes (L, 0-3)	5.1	9	5	5	2	1	0	8.82
Hawkins	0.1	2	3	3	1	0	0	9.64
Ramirez	2.1	1	0	0	1	3	0	0.00

Baltimore	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Roberts, 2B	5	0	0	0	0	0	3	.258
Mora, 3B	5	1	1	2	0	1	0	.231
Markakis, RF	3	1	3	1	1	0	0	.345
Millar, 1B	4	1	1	0	0	1	3	.238
Scott, LF	4	2	2	1	0	1	0	.389
Huff, DH	2	0	1	0	2	0	2	.233
Jones, CF	4	1	1	1	0	1	3	.259
Hernandez, R, C	3	1	1	0	1	0	1	.163
Hernandez, L, SS	2	0	1	0	0	0	2	.226
a-Payton, PH	1	1	1	2	0	0	0	.269
Fahey, SS	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.071
Totals	34	8	12	7	4	4	14
a-Singled for Hernandez, L in the 6th.
BATTING 2B: Markakis (3, Hughes), Scott (9, Hughes). TB: Mora; Markakis 4; Millar; Scott 3; Huff; Jones; Hernandez, R; Hernandez, L; Payton. RBI: Scott (8), Jones (5), Payton 2 (4), Mora 2 (9), Markakis (8). 2-out RBI: Mora 2; Markakis. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Hernandez, L; Millar. GIDP: Jones. Team LOB: 6. FIELDING E: Mora (2, fielding). Outfield assists: Markakis (Abreu at home). DP: (Hernandez, L).

Baltimore	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Cabrera, D (W, 1-0)	6.0	6	2	2	2	3	1	5.16
Bierd	0.2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0.00
Walker	1.1	0	0	0	0	0	0	5.40
Albers	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0.73

Cabrera, D pitched to 1 batter in the 7th.

IBB: Hernandez, R (by Hawkins).
HBP: Matsui (by Cabrera, D), Matsui (by Cabrera, D).
Pitches-strikes: Hughes 97-60, Hawkins 14-5, Ramirez 36-23, Cabrera, D 108-64, Bierd 17-10, Walker 15-11, Albers 10-8.
Ground outs-fly outs: Hughes 4-10, Hawkins 1-0, Ramirez 1-3, Cabrera, D 8-6, Bierd 0-2, Walker 0-4, Albers 1-1.
Batters faced: Hughes 25, Hawkins 4, Ramirez 9, Cabrera, D 27, Bierd 4, Walker 4, Albers 3.
Inherited runners-scored: Hawkins 2-2, Ramirez 1-1, Walker 2-0.
Umpires: HP: Ed Montague. 1B: Jerry Layne. 2B: Phil Cuzzi. 3B: Jim Wolf.
Weather: 80 degrees, clear.
Wind: 7 mph, Out to LF.
T: 3:12.
Att: 40,653.

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Yankees vs. Orioles - 4/18

The Yankees start a 3-game series with the Orioles tonight in Baltimore. Tonight is the first game on my9 on whatever it's called now. Saturday is another game thanks to those fine folks at the WeaselFox Network, and things wrap up with a Sunday afternoon contest.

Beautiful time to be in Baltimore before all the humidity hits and the endless whining by Michael Kay about it. If you have never been to the Inner Harbor area, do yourself a favor and go. Some great sight seeing and good eats. The city has really done a great job in rehabbing the area.

The Yankees need a big game out of Dr. Phil Good tonight. Hughes (0-2, 9.00) has been miserable in his last two starts, but tonight he'll have the perfect weather to pitch in. It'll be sunny and 79, with relatively low humidity, at first pitch.

The Orioles are going with their great enigma, Daniel Cabrera. If Cabrera (0-0, 5.94) is off his game, which happens more times than not, this could be a 4 hour game...by the 3rd inning.

Bet of the night - Michael Kay, in referring to Cabrera, will say, "He's like the little girl with the curl. He's either very good or very bad." We will then have to be restrained from attacking the television set.

On another Kay has reported on an his talk show that Edwar Ramirez has been called up and Jonathan Albaladejo, who threw 48 pitches last night, will mostly likely be heading back to Scranton. Still no Scott Patterson.

Hughes is 1-0, 3.38 in 2 career starts against the O's. Nick Markakis has given him the most trouble, going 2- 6 with 3 RBI. Brian Roberts is just 1-6.

Cabrera is 3-6, 4.95 with 1 complete game in 13 career starts against the Yankees.

Among those chomping at the bit tonight will be Alex Rodriguez (10-27, .370 2 HR 6 RBI 3 BB) and Hidkei Matsui (11-30, .367 1 HR 5 RBI 4 BB).

Here are what the rest of the Yankees have done against Cabrera:

Bobby Abreu .235 (4-17) 2 RBI, 4 BB
Melky Cabrera .167 (2-12) 4 RBI 2 BB
Robinson Cano .227 (5-22) 1 RBI 1 BB
Johnny Damon .190 (4-21) 5 RBI 2 BB
Jason Giambi .250 (2-8) 11 BB
Alberto Gonzalez 0-2
Derek Jeter .250 (7-28) 2 RBI 3 BB
Jorge Posada .286 (6-21) 1 RBI 3 BB
Jose Molina (0-4) 1 BB

The batting averages aren't much, which shows you how much the walks, hit batters, and wild pitches have killed Cabrera.

Happy Birthday to infielder Alberto Gonzalez, 25 today.

Update: 4:20 p.m. EDT (lineups from Peter Abraham)

YANKEES
Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Cano 2B
Giambi 1B
Cabrera CF
Moeller C

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