Yankees Miss Chance to Sweep Royals
Bullpen Blows the Game and Joba Gets a No Decision
Andy Pettitte pitched seven solid innings and struck out six in the first game of the series. He gave up one walk, three hits and allowed one run to score. The earned run was somewhat tainted; Nick Swisher dropped a fly ball, that appeared catchable, and Mike Jacobs was credited with an RBI double. Later in the game, Swisher redeemed himself by hitting an RBI double of his own. Brian Bruney setup for Mariano Rivera and struck out two in the eighth. Mo earned his first save of the season in an effortless ninth and the Yankees won the game 4-1.
C.C. Sabathia struck out lead-off hitter Coco Crisp to start the second game and went on to strike out six Royals hitters over 7 2/3 innings. Sabathia had not recorded a strikeout in his first start. Jose Veras pitched the remaining inning and a third giving up one run, one hit, one walk and one strikeout. The Yankees won 6-1. Posada and Swisher had 3 RBIs a piece.
Joba Did His Joba
In the final game of the series, Joba Chamberlain pitched six innings during which he allowed 3 runs (but only 1 earned), 4 hits, 1 walk and 5 strikeouts. The 2 unearned runs came in the fourth when Swisher was unable to come up with a ground ball at first for the third out. Bruney pitched a scoreless seventh and Damaso Marte got out the first 2 batters he faced in the bottom of the eighth.
Giradi took out the left-handed Marte when lefty-killer Billy Butler was announced as a pinch hitter and brought in the right-hander Veras to face Butler. Veras had struck Butler out the night before. After Veras walked Butler, Giradi brought in lefty Phil Coke. Coke got knocked around, allowing the inherited runner, as well as two more of his own, to score, relinquishing the lead and ultimately the game. Yanks lost 6-4.
Yankee Bullpen
It's interesting that the first game of the season blown by the Yankee bullpen was started by the guy many think should be in the bullpen. Instead of Joba forming the bridge to Mariano, he watched helplessly as Veras and Coke struggled to get an out to end the 8th. If Giradi wanted a righty to face Butler, why not bring in Edwar Ramirez who pitched 1 1/3 hitless innings against the Orioles in his only appearance this season? Why bring in Veras who gave up a run the night before and had already appeared in 3 games during which he gave up a total of 2 runs in 3 1/3 innings?
Also, after taking out Veras, why not bring in Mo to get the last out in the 8th? He was expected to come in the game by the 9th anyway since the Yankees had a 4-3 lead. Instead, he brought in Coke, who, in 3 appearances so far this season, has allowed 4 earned runs and 5 hits in 2 2/3 innings. He has the highest ERA of all the relievers (13.50) and the second highest on the team; Wang's ERA is 17.18.
Joba was dominant as a relief pitcher but also has good numbers as a starter. Since Giradi made the decision to have Joba in the starting rotation, he needs to do the best with the arms he has in the bullpen and solidify the bridge to the great Mariano Rivera
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