Seventy-seventh game of the year and the Yanks have a chance to win their seventh in a row. Andy Pettitte takes the mound against Jarrod Washburn, who was almost a Yankee last year. Washburn’s actually been pretty good in 2009, mostly because he’s allowed fewer hits than he ever has in the past. His BABIP is a steady .276 and he’s reportedly added a two seamer this year, so there’s tangible evidence to backup the improvements. To make matters worse, he has a 2.67 ERA in his career against the Yankees, 2.82 in the Bronx. Of course that was at the old place.
Eric Hinske, wearing Hideki Irabu’s and Angel Berro’s 14, is in the house, but he won’t start tonight with the lefthander on the mound. I suspect we’ll see him pinch hit and take a crack at the short porch at some point tonight.
Here’s the lineup:
Jeter, SS
Damon, LF
Teixeira, 1B
A-Rod, DH
Posada, C
Cano, 2B
Swisher, RF
Melky, CF
Ransom, 3B
And on the mound, the artist formerly known as Andy Pettitte.