Aceves Makes His Pitch

The Yankees have a lot of questions to answer this off-season, and as usual, the starting rotation and bullpen will be among the chief issues. Al Aceves threw his hat in the ring last night to be part of the 2009 pitching staff with a solid, six inning performance, in his first major league start, to lead the Yankees over the Angels, 7-1.

Aceves' stuff is not among the best in baseball, but he's gritty and isn't afraid to throw strikes. Location is key and last night he was masterful in hitting Chad Moeller's mitt. He held the Angels scoreless until the sixth, and even then made effective pitches so LA couldn't open up a big inning. Aceves also had plenty of help on offense where Alex Rodriguez slugged a 3-run home run and Johnny Damon hit a pair of blasts.

The Yankees had a 1-0 lead against Angels starter Ervin Santana when a crucial error helped break things open for the Bombers in the sixth inning. Center fielder Torii Hunter had left the game after fifth inning due to tightness in his left quad and his replacement, Gary Matthews Jr., made an immediate impact.

Derek Jeter hit a lead off drive in the sixth that Matthews ran down on the warning track, but dropped for a three base error (the play was originally ruled a triple). The play changed Santana's demeanor and he immediately walked Bobby Abreu to get into further trouble. A-Rod made Santana feel even more miserable when he crushed a pitch to right-center field for his 33rd home run of the season, and number 551 for his career.

Aceves had allowed just a single through the first three innings when Garret Anderson led off the fourth with a base hit. One out later, Derek Jeter mishandled Vlad Guerrero's potential double play grounder for an error, putting the tying and go ahead runs on base. But Aceves got Hunter to hit a comebacker for an easy 1-4-3 double play.

An Anderson one out single in the sixth was followed by a Mark Teixeira double and the Angels were in business. But Aceves retired Guerrero on an RBI ground out and Matthews on an inning ending grounder to Robinson Cano to escape further trouble.

Damon put the game out of reach with a 2-run home run off of Santana in the seventh and a solo shot against Justin Speier in the ninth.


News and Notes

Al Aceves won his first major league game in front of about 30 friends and family.

Jered Weaver was originally supposed to get the start for the Angels, but was scratched due to a problem with a finger on his pitching hand.

Dave Eiland was feeling better last night after falling in the dugout on Tuesday night. It was apparently caused by a dizzy spell. While he landed hard on his shoulder, Eiland was more embarrassed than anything else.

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Breaking News: Jeter Catches the Bambino

Derek Jeter just picked up hit number 2,519, putting him into sole possession of second place on the all-time Yankees hit list. The hit, a hard chopper through the left side, moved him ahead of Babe Ruth. The single came off of the Angels' Ervin Santana.

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Yankees Waste Ponson Effort

Sidney Ponson gave the Yankees more than they ever could have expected last night against the Los Angeles Angels. Ponson hadn't thrown 7 shutout innings since 2004, so when the happens against the team with the best record in baseball, you had better win the game. But the Yankees couldn't do anything against Angels starter Ervin Santana and Mariano Rivera once again coughed up a run in a tie game. The outcome was a 1-0 loss, the Yankees fifth in their last six games.

No blame could placed on the large shoulders of Ponson, who allowed just 2 hits over 7 innings, and escaped a number of jams. In the 5th, he loaded the bases with one out by walking Juan Rivera and Jeff Mathis after Garret Anderson had singled to break up the no-hitter. But Chone Figgins helped him out by popping up on a 2-0 pitch and Maecir Itzturis flied out to Johnny Damon in left.

In the 7th, Ponson allowed a lead off single by Mark Teixeira, but it was quickly erased when Vlad Guerrero bounced in a 6-4-3 double play. Meanwhile, Ervin Santana was matching Ponson's zeros.

The Yankees appeared to be off to a good start when Johnny Damon started the bottom of the 1st inning with a walk and Derek Jeter singled through the right side. But Santana struck out Bobby Abreu and Alex Rodriguez, and retired the slumping Jason Giambi on a pop up.

In the 4th, Abreu singled with one out and stole 2nd base, but was eventually stranded at 3rd, when Giambi and Robinson Cano both flied out. In the 6th, Damon singled and stole 2nd base after there were two away, but the Angels intentionally walked A-Rod and Giambi failed again, striking out for the inning's final out.

Second guessers had a field day after Damaso Marte retired the side in order in the 8th, including a pair of strikeouts, but wasn't brought back for a second inning. Doubting Mariano Rivera? It's become the new thing in non-save situations. And unfortunately, Rivera lived up to that new founded attitude.

He walked Mark Teixeira to start the 9th, just the 5th walk he has allowed in 48.1 innings. Guerrero then singled to right, allowing pinch-runner Reggie Willits to easily reached 3rd base. With the infield in, Torii Hunter hit a bullet off the mound and into center field for the game's lone run.

Francisco Rodriguez made easy work of the Yankees in the 9th. He struck out A-Rod looking on a 3-2 pitch, and Giambi and Cano on routine fly outs for his major league leading 45th save.


News and Notes

Brian Bruney was recalled before the game and Chris Britton was sent back down to Scranton.

August 1, 2008

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
LA Angels	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1		1	4	0
NY Yankees	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	5	0

LA Angels	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Figgins, 3B	4	0	0	0	0	2	4	.281
Izturis, SS	4	0	0	0	0	0	3	.263
Teixeira, 1B	2	0	1	0	2	0	0	.284
1-Willits, PR	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	.185
Quinlan, 1B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.262
Guerrero, RF	4	0	1	0	0	0	2	.285
Hunter, CF	4	0	1	1	0	0	1	.281
Anderson, DH	4	0	1	0	0	1	2	.284
Kendrick, 2B	3	0	0	0	1	0	3	.331
Rivera, LF	2	0	0	0	1	0	1	.240
Mathis, C	2	0	0	0	1	1	1	.222
Totals	29	1	4	1	5	4	17
1-Ran for Teixeira in the 9th.
BATTING TB: Teixeira; Guerrero; Hunter; Anderson. RBI: Hunter (59). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Izturis 2. GIDP: Guerrero; Kendrick. Team LOB: 6. FIELDING DP: (Kendrick-Izturis-Teixeira).

LA Angels	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Santana (W, 12-5)	8.0	5	0	0	2	8	0	3.38
Rodriguez, F (S, 45)	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	2.42

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, LF	3	0	1	0	1	1	0	.315
Jeter, SS	4	0	2	0	0	1	1	.282
Abreu, RF	4	0	1	0	0	2	4	.286
Rodriguez, A, 3B	3	0	0	0	1	2	3	.323
Giambi, DH	4	0	0	0	0	1	5	.253
Cano, 2B	4	0	0	0	0	0	1	.260
Betemit, 1B	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	.250
Rodriguez, I, C	3	0	0	0	0	1	1	.292
Cabrera, CF	3	0	0	0	0	1	0	.249
Totals	31	0	5	0	2	9	15
BATTING TB: Damon; Jeter 2; Abreu; Betemit. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Giambi 2; Cano. GIDP: Rodriguez, I. Team LOB: 6. BASERUNNING SB: Damon (16, 2nd base off Santana/Mathis), Abreu (14, 2nd base off Santana/Mathis). FIELDING DP: 2 (Jeter-Cano-Betemit, Jeter-Betemit).

NY Yankees	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Ponson	7.0	2	0	0	4	1	0	4.23
Marte	1.0	0	0	0	0	2	0	3.60
Rivera (L, 4-4)	1.0	2	1	1	1	1	0	1.49

WP: Santana.
IBB: Rodriguez, A (by Santana).
Pitches-strikes: Santana 118-73, Rodriguez, F 13-7,
Ponson 96-48, Marte 15-10, Rivera 19-13.
Ground outs-fly outs: Santana 7-9, Rodriguez, F 0-2,
Ponson 5-15, Marte 0-1, Rivera 2-0.
Batters faced: Santana 30, Rodriguez, F 3, Ponson 26,
Marte 3, Rivera 5.
Umpires: HP: CB Bucknor. 1B: Joe West.
2B: Ed Rapuano. 3B: Ed Hickox.
Weather: 81 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 9 mph, L to R.
T: 2:32.
Att: 53,997.

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Around the Horn - 5/6

Mike Lowell, Kevin Youkilis, and David Ortiz each homered as the Red Sox doubled up the Tigers, 6-3. Lowell's was his first blast of the year as well as his first RBI. It was an odd night for Dice-K (5-0) who allowed only 2 hits over 5 innings, but walked 8. It was the 4th straight win the Sox while the Tigers dropped their 4th straight.

Dustin McGowan and Javier Vazquez settled into a good pitcher's duel last night in the Blue Jays 1-0 win over the White Sox. A Matt Stairs home run in the 7th inning was the game's lone run as closer B.J. Ryan escaped a bases loaded jam in the 9th to preserve the victory for McGowan.

The Angels and Royals also hooked up in a pitcher's duel between the rejuvenated Ervin Santana and veteran Brett Tomko. Tomko only allowed 2 hits in 7 innings, but wouldn't be around for the finish. The Angels scored 4 times in the 9th with Garrett Anderson and Brandon Wood each hitting home runs. Santana went the distance on 97 pitches, allowing just 4 hits, while issuing no walks, and striking out 9.

Emil Brown singled in the game winner in the bottom of the 10th for Oakland as the A's beat the Orioles 2-1. The O's had tied the game in the 9th off of closer Huston Street after starter Dana Eveland (7 IP) and the A's set up men blanked the O's for the first 8 innings.

The Mariners snapped a 5-game losing streak when they beat the Rangers 7-3 last night. Wladimir Balentien belted a 3-run home run and Richie Sexson added a solo shot to back the quality start of Jarrod Washburn.

Johnny Cueto won his first game since April 3rd when the Reds beat the Cubs 5-3. Cueto struck out 8 in 6 innings and Adam Dunn belted a tape measure 2-run home run. Cubs rookie standout Geovany Soto continues to open eyes. He homered as part of a 3-3 day and is hitting .352.

The Dodgers Rafael Furcal homered off the Mets Oliver Perez to start the bottom of the 1st inning and it was all down hill for Perez after that. Blake DeWitt hit his first major league home run and Matt Kemp also went deep against Perez, who had his 3rd bad start in a row (and 4 out of 5). Chad Billingsley picked up the win in the Dodgers 5-1 victory.

The Cardinals blew 3 leads before Rick Ankiel's RBI ground out in the 9th finally beat the Rockies 6-5. Jason Isringhausen picked up his 11th save for the Cards who are now 21-12.

The Phillies rolled over the Diamondbacks 11-4 as Jamie Moyer beat AZ with his arm and his bat. Moyer became the 3rd pitcher in MLB history to record a multi-hit game at age 45 or over. The game was a contrast in styles and age, as Moyer, making his 558th appearance hit 78 mph for much of the night, while 23-yr old DBacks rookie Max Schuerzer, who threw as hard as 98 mph on the night, made his major league debut.

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Around the Horn - 4/21

The Boston Red Sox exposed the Texas Rangers bullpen time and time again this weekend. On Sunday, the Sox rallied from a 5-0 deficit for a 6-5 win. Rangers closer C.J. Wilson didn't retire any of the 5 batters he faced in the 8th inning and let an inherited runner score as well. This was on the heels of Saturday's blown game when Manny Ramirez capped a 3-run 8th inning rally with a 2-run game winning home run. The two teams are at it again right now as part of the Patriots Day celebration in Beantown.

Dustin McGown pitched the Blue Jays to a 3-2 win over the Tigers on Saturday. On Sunday it was light hitting shortstop David Eckstein taking the Tigers down with a 3-run home run. And the Jays released disgruntled and slumping DH, Frank Thomas.

Andy Sonnastine pitched a complete game shut out of the White Sox on Saturday and the White Sox avenged it with a shutout of their own on Sunday. John Danks allowed just 3 hits over 7 innings and struck out 8 to pick up his 2nd win. Jim Thome had 4 hits, including career home run #512, tying him with Ed Mathews and Ernie Banks for 19th on the all-time list.

Twins pitching dominated the Indians over the weekend. Nick Blackburn lead a 3-0 shutout on Saturday, helped by a Justin Morneau home run. Morneau played the hero on Sunday when he singled in the game winner in the 10th inning of a 2-1 game.

Ervin Santana's trade value was near zilch after the 2007 season. Right now the Angels have to be ecstatic that they kept him He tossed 8 innings of 3-hit, 8 K ball on Saturday as the Angels beat the Mariners, 4-1. Santana improved to 3-0 with a 2.67 ERA. The Mariners salvaged the final game of the series with a 4-2 win on Sunday. Miguel Batista pitched 7+ shutout innings and Richie Sexson stayed hot with a home run.

The Mets beat the Phils for the 4th straight time on Saturday, but Chase Utley and the Phillies snapped that streak on Sunday Night Baseball. Utley's two home runs, giving him 3 in 2 days, gave the Phillies a 4-0 lead. The Mets rallied to tie it before Pedro Feliz won the 'Pedro' battle over Pedro Feliciano with a solo home run in the 7th. Perhaps Pedro Martinez should have intervened.

The Braves swept the Dodgers in a 3-game set behind Mark Teixeira's 5 RBI in the two weekend games. Andruw Jones finally hit his first home run as a Dodger in Saturday's loss. The once 4-2 Dodgers have lost 9 of 12.

The Marlins put two more in the Nationals loss column. After Kevin Gregg blew a 2-run lead in the 9th on Saturday, Wes Helms got him off the hook with a walk-off RBI single in the Marlins half of the frame. On Sunday, Scott Olsen dominated the Nats over 7 innings to improve to 3-0 in Florida's 6-1 win.

The Pirates pitching staff is hurting this morning after allowing 13 runs in both weekend games to the Cubs. On Saturday Derek Lee and Daryl Ward pounded 2-run home runs in a 13-1 win. Sunday's 13-6 rout saw Aramis Ramirez and Ryan Theriot get 4 hits each and combine for 6 RBI.

Aaron Cook pitched the Rockies back above .500 with a 3-2 win over the Astros. But the Rockies pen quickly dropped them back on Sunday, blowing a 4-3 lead late. Kaz Matsui and the fast aging Miguel Tejada combined for 3 RBI in the 8th inning.

The Brewers and Reds played back-to-back 10 inning games. Bill Hall's 2-run double won it for the Brew Crew on Saturday, but Eric Gagne blew a 2-run lead in the bottom of the 10th on Sunday. Ken Griffey Jr. singled in the game winner as the Reds took the finale of the 3-game series.

The Giants took two of three from the Cardinals with a weekend sweep. Tim Lincecum and the bullpen shut the Cards out 3-0 on Saturday and the Giants bats came alive on Sunday in an 8-2 win. Bengie Molina drove in 3 runs and Jonathan Sanchez tossed 5 shutout innings. The Cards finally scored 2 in the 9th to avoid back-to-back shutouts.

The Diamondbacks followed up their 9-0 drubbing of the Padres on Friday with a 10-3 drubbing on Sunday. The Dbacks scored 6 runs in the 8th inning to put the game out of reach. The Padres finally came back with some offense on Sunday in a 9-4 win. Justin Huber hit his first major league home run, a 3-run shot off of Randy Johnson.

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