Bomber Pride

The New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox tonight 7-1 in an exciting game for Yankee fans. It was also Derek Jeters first game since returning from the World Baseball Classic. The first five inning featured a pitching duel between AJ Burnett and Tim Wakefield. They both pitched brillantly for the first five innings exchanging blanks along the way. The pitchers were so much in control that the first five innings were completed in under one hour. In the sixth, Burnett began to tire and with a walk and hit batsman the Red Sox scored their first and only run of the game. Burnett ended up pitching 5 2/3 innings. In the Yankees half of the sixth Brett Gardner led off with a triple (thanks to his speed on the basepaths) and scored on Johnny Damon’s infield single. Mariano Riveria came in to pitch the seventh. In his first three innings of work this spring, Mariano has thrown just 18 pitches. Tonight was not much different; he retired the side in order while striking out two. In the eighth, the Red Sox threatened but left their runners stranded. In the bottom of the eighth, the Yankees blew the game open. The Yankees scored two runs and then loaded the bases.Then 22 year old minor leaguer Austin Jackson came to the plate. He is probably the Yankees most highly regarded minor league prospect and is said to be the next Bomber centerfielder.  And what does he do with a 3-2 count, 2 out pitch? He just hits a  grand slam homerun! Ramirez came in and closed out the ninth. A fun night for Yankee fans!

The Yankees are 15 and 10 so far this spring.

The New York Yankees defeated the Detroit Tigers yesterday 4-3 behing over three strong innings from Joba Chamberlain. Joba went three an a third innings, walking none, striking out five and giving up just one run. Johhny Damon and Mark Teixeria contributed with back to back doubles in the third and Juan Miranda hit a two run homer in the seventh. Mariano Riveria pitched another scoreless inning while striking out two.

The New York Yankees got a strong performance from Chien-Ming Wang and beat the Houston Astros 4-1. Wang went five innings allowing  just three hits and one run. See this story for more details.

The New York Yankees defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates tonight 9-2.  Yesterday, the Yankeees won 12-0.  In the past three games, the Yankees have been very strong in both pitching and production at the plate. Tonight, CC Sabathia went four strong innings, giving up only one hit and one run while striking out seven. Mariano Riveria pitched a very strong fifth inning, no hits, no runs, two strikeouts.  Hideki Matsui got the Yankees going early going two for two with a double and a homerun good for four RBI. In all, the Yankees batters belted out thirteen hits.

Alex Rodriguez will be out of the lineup for six to nine weeks due to sugery on his hip. The New York Yankeees Brian Cashman says there are no plnas to aquire another player to fill in for Alex until he comes back, probably some time in May. For now, the plan is for Cody Ransom to play third base until A-Rod returns. See this article for more details.