Following last night's phenomenal 5-4, 11 inning victory, the New York Yankees (55-36) won their 5th straight game since returning from the All Star Break. After breaking their 7 game losing streak when a sweep was on the line on Sunday against Chicago, the Yankees will now look to sweep the Seattle Mariners (44-50) this afternoon. With Boston and Chicago both winning last night, it was imperative that the Yanks grind out the victory and maintain their current deficits. The sheer jubilation exhibited by the team following the 9th inning rally, players volunteering to play out of position and the celebration (Larry Bowa!) following Melky Cabrera's GW walkoff HR in the 11th was certainly another reminder of how this team has come together in 2006.
A 2-run rally off of closer JJ Putz tied the game in the 9th inning before Melky Cabrera's walkoff laser 2 innings and a 2 hour rain delay later. NYY starter Sidney Ponson was off at the start, as expected, and yielded a 3-run HR to Richie Sexson in the first inning after two walks. He settled down and pitched into the 7th inning by allowing just 1ER the rest of the way. Meanwhile, the Yankee offense chipped away at Joel Pineiro and trailed 4-2 in the 9th. Andy Phillips hit a double to start the inning and was eventually plated by Aaron Guiel's PH sing. With runners on 1st and 3rd following a controversial "safe" call on Jorge Posada at first, Johnny Damon ripped a sac fly to CF scoring Bubba Crosby who pinch ran for Guiel. The skies opened and a torrential downpour then delayed the game for 1:58 with Alex Rodriguez up, Posada on 1st and a 3-1 count. When play resumed, Cabrera was the hero in the 11th.
Today Randy Johnson (10-7, 5.06) matches up with RHP Gil Meche (9-4, 3.87). As has been well documented on these boards, Johnson has much been himself by pitching 7 great starts in his past 9 since Memorial Day. Meche has been even better over the same period and has not lost a decision since May 31st. In June, the Seattle righty went 3-0, 1.60 allowing just 36 baserunners in 33.2 IP. In July the record is 2-0, 4.50 over three starts. After yielding just 2 HR in June, he has already allowed 4 in July. Meche is a flyball pitcher but also has the ability to strike out a batter. He has a solid 2.01 K:BB ratio, 1.32 WHIP and baserunners are just 2/8 stealing this season off of him. We may be witnessing a stat correction for Meche this month in the HR department for in 116.1 IP, he's given up just 15, which isn't a lot for a heavy flyball pitcher.
Johson vs. SEA:
HITTER AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS Adrian Beltre 58 13 1 0 3 5 4 16 .224 .266 .397 .662 Eduardo Perez 29 9 1 0 4 7 4 6 .310 .394 .759 1.153 Richie Sexson 20 4 0 0 0 2 6 11 .200 .407 .200 .607 Ichiro Suzuki 7 2 0 0 0 1 0 2 .286 .286 .286 .571 Raul Ibanez 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 .000 .000 .000 .000 Willie Bloomquist 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 .000 Jose Lopez 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .333 .333 .333 .667 Yuniesky Betancourt 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 .500 .500 1.000 1.500 Totals 128 30 3 0 7 15 14 38 .234 .310 .422 .732
Meche vs. NYY:
HITTER AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS Derek Jeter 18 5 1 0 0 2 1 5 .278 .316 .333 .649 Alex Rodriguez 17 6 3 0 3 6 3 4 .353 .409 1.059 1.468 Bernie Williams 16 2 0 0 0 2 1 3 .125 .176 .125 .301 Johnny Damon 14 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 .214 .313 .214 .527 Hideki Matsui 14 4 1 0 1 4 1 2 .286 .333 .571 .905 Gary Sheffield 12 3 1 0 0 2 1 1 .250 .308 .333 .641 Jason Giambi 12 4 1 1 0 3 1 3 .333 .357 .583 .940 Jorge Posada 10 4 1 0 0 1 1 2 .400 .455 .500 .955 Aaron Guiel 6 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 .333 .333 .500 .833 Kelly Stinnett 3 1 0 0 1 2 0 1 .333 .333 1.333 1.667 Miguel Cairo 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 .000 Robinson Cano 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000 .000 Nick Green 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000 .500 .000 .500 Totals 128 34 9 1 5 22 12 25 .266 .322 .469 .790
My Lineup:
CF Damon
SS Jeter
DH Giambi
3B Rodriguez
C Posada
1B Phillips
LF Cabrera
RF Guiel
2B Green
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Originally Posted by ryanm1058123
