After two days of futility against the worst team in Major League Baseball, the Yankees could have used a win against the Marlins on Friday night. From the outset, it was clear they understood the urgency. Derek Jeter doubled on the first pitch of the game, and the crew wasn’t about to leave him stranded. Back-to-back singles by Mark Teixeira and Jorge Posada brought him around for their first lead in 18 innings. Much as that early run meant, it wasn’t the best back-to-back of the game.
Nothing says “we are not losing this game” quite like back-to-back doubles from Angel Berroa and Andy Pettitte. Those accounted for two runs in the Yanks’ three-run second. The other came off the bat of Johnny Damon, who went 2 for 5 after struggling over the past two, three weeks. Melky Cabrera capped off the scoring with a solo homer in the third, and every Yankee starter got a hit in a 5-1 win over the Marlins.
Pettitte bounced back from a few rough starts to go seven strong, striking out seven and walking none. His only mistake was to Cody Ross in the third, but solo home runs will happen. Pettitte allowed nothing else. In fact, the only runner to reach base after the Cody Ross home run was Hanley Ramirez, who doubled in the sixth after reaching on an error in the fourth. It was quite a relief to see Pettitte own the Marlins hitters for most of those seven innings.
There’s not much to add to the game. They hit well, they pitched well, they won a game they were supposed to win. Oh, Nick Swisher grounded into two double plays. He should cut his mohawk, that slacker. Damn him and such. Everyone can enjoy the showers and scattered thunderstorms tomorrow afternoon before the game starts at 7:00. Burnett vs. Josh Johnson. We can only hope it’s a good one.
Question: The game on Sunday starts at 5. ESPN has exclusive broadcast rights from around 8:00 on. If the game goes a little long, will the broadcast get cut off? If anyone knows, leave it in the comments or email.
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