Upon Three Games in Queens

Lets begin with the most recent game first. The Yankees just completed a three game sweep of the Mets at Citi Field, after taking 2 of three in the Bronx. Mariano Rivera closed the game for his 18th save of the season, and the 500th save of his career. He joins now-Brewer reliever Trevor Hoffman as the only two pitchers in the history of the game to record 500 saves. This save was of the four out variety, and in between the 8th and 9th innings Rivera found time to achieve another historical milestone.

As the games this weekend were played at a National League park, the pitcher for each team is required to hit if he is to remain in the game the next inning. Frequently, at the end of close games, the pitcher will be lifted for a pinch hitter, who is in turn replaced by another relief pitcher. However, the Yankees had no intention of removing Rivera from a one-run game, much less a shot at his 500th save. When the Yankees got two men on against Met closer Francisco Rodriguez, Derek Jeter came to the plate with first base open. The Yankees attempted some trickery by sending backup catcher Francisco Cervelli into the on-deck circle, perhaps attempting to hide the fact that Rivera was due up next. In a puzzling move, the Rodriguez actually pitched to Jeter, until deciding to intentionally walk him with a 2-1 count. Rivera walked to the plate, and worked the count full before drawing a bases-loaded walk which gave him the first RBI of his career.

The Yankee offense started the game off with a bang, as Jeter led off the game with a double high off the big wall in left, which would have been out in many parks.   The team scored 3 runs in the inning, but was largely held down by Livan Hernandez and the Mets in the hitting department thereafter. However, Mets pitchers issued a robust 11 walks in the game, which the Yankees failed to capatalize upon.

Yankee starter Chien Ming-Wang lasted 5.1 innings, and continued to show signs of progress after an abysmal start to the season. He induced 11 ground ball outs of the 16 outs he recorded, which is a sign that his sinker is doing its job. He worked into trouble in the 4th, allowing the two Met runs of the game. Yankee relievers followed Wang with 3.2 innings of one-hit relief. 

The Yankees swept the weekend due in large part to their pitching. On Friday, CC Sabathia gave the Yankees 7 innings of 1-run ball, and struck out 8. Amazingly, Cooperstown lock Mike Plefry did not deliver on the prognostication that he would “shut the Yankees down”.  He lasted just 5 innings, and was let down by his defense. He also gave up an RBI to Sabathia and allowed two hits to Brett Gardner. Gardner, along with teammate Melky Cabrera continue to defy those who claim they are “scrubs”, and “completely overmatched by major league pitching”.

On Saturday, AJ Burnett had a no-hitter going which was broken up by Alex Cora. Burnett went 7 strong, striking out 10 and alowing just the one hit. Brian Bruney and David Robertson finished the job, combining with Burnett for the one-hit shut out. Tha Yankees scored all five of their runs against Met starter Tim Redding, including two home runs. Strangely, Mets not named Sheffield seem to have trouble leaving Citi Field with any regularity, though undoubtedly the absence of Delgado, Reyes and Beltran has contributed to the low HR totals.

The Mets are an injury-depleted team these days, and have gone 6-10 since the beginning of their previous series with the Yankees. 5 of those 10 losses have come at the hands of the Bombers. If we buy the excuse of injuries as the cause of the recent woes, I think its only fair to characterize the 3-1 series against league-leading St. Louis as fortunate.

The Yankees did poorly against the Nationals and Marlins, before rebounding to take 2-3 from the Braves and to sweep the Mets. The pitching has shown it can dominate opponents, from starters to bullpen, and but for their perplexing futlilty against the Red Sox, the Yankees would be comfortably atop the standings.