It seems like the Yankees improve their magic number by at least one every day. That’s what happens when you’re winning at a ridiculous clip. It’s also what happens when, on a night you actually lose a game, your direct competition loses as well. That happened Friday. On Saturday we saw a Yanks win and Red Sox loss, bringing the magic number down to a Boonian 19. We could be in Jerry Hairston territory by day’s end.
The Yanks will send out a B version of their lineup against Brian Tallet. Prior to this year, Tallet hadn’t started a game since 2006. Due to injuries, the Jays needed him to fill in, and all considered he hasn’t fared that poorly. Yes, poorly by most starter standards, but for a guy in his position, it’s an admirable effort.
Tallet has started twice against the Yanks this year, faring well each time. The first was back on May 14, just after A-Rod’s return, when the team started to really cook. Tallet pitched six innings of two-run ball. He did walk five, and these days the Yankees will make you pay for that. Instead the Yanks made the bullpen pay that game, taking the contest 3-2.
The next time out Tallet allowed three runs, two earned, in six innings. He walked four, still not a good number. The Yanks took that one, too, and saddled Tallet with the loss. He also appeared in relief once, at the beginning of August (bad timing), allowing a hit and a run in an inning of work. It was a solo shot that extended the Yankees lead from 7-4 to 8-4, so not a huge deal.
For the Yanks it will be Sergio Mitre. He’s had a rough go so far as a Yank, though his best start was his last. He pitched 6.1 innings of shutout ball against the White Sox, allowing just one hit. The only reason he left the game was because he took a comebacker off the forearm. That pushed his start back a couple of days. He’s started twice against the Blue Jays this season, allowing three earned runs in each, while going 4.1 and 5 innings. He’ll need to do better this time around.
A-Rod gets a day off, as does Posada. Even so, the Yanks lineup is no laughing matter. Sounds like Gardner will be back tomorrow. This comes, of course, when Melky is hitting well. Figures.
1. Derek Jeter, SS
2. Johnny Damon, LF
3. Mark Teixeira, 1B
4. Hideki Matsui, DH
5. Nick Swisher, RF
6. Robinson Cano, 2B
7. Jerry Hairston, 3B
8. Melky Cabrera, CF
9. Jose Molina, C
And on the mound, number forty-five, Sergio Mitre.