Source: FanGraphs
Well that was not how I hoped the generally successful nine-game road trip would end. The Athletics pounded the Yankees on Sunday afternoon, sending them back to New York on the heels of a 10-5 loss. That score is deceptively close too — the Yankees scored their final two runs with two outs in the ninth. They still won five of nine games on the trip overall (with one rainout). Let’s recap:
- Nunonono!: I’d like to thank Vidal Nuno to putting this one out of reach early, allowing me to focus on other stuff Sunday. He served up a three-run homer in the first inning (Derek Norris) and a three-run homer in the second inning (Coco Crisp), finishing the afternoon with eight runs on eight hits and one walk in three innings. Even the outs were hit hard. Nuno came into the start with a 1.80 ERA on the road and that jumped all the way up to 4.18. Statistical correction ain’t always pretty.
- Garbage Time: The Yankees scored all five of their runs after the Athletics scored their ten runs. Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira hit back-to-back doubles for the first run, Carlos Beltran hit a solo homer for the second, Jeter lifted a sacrifice fly for the third, and Brett Gardner clubbed a two-run homer for the fourth and fifth. Old buddy Jim Johnson allowed Gardner’s homer. I miss having him in the AL East. Five runs are pretty good, but they were ultimately meaningless. Game was over already.
- Bullpen: Long man David Huff threw three innings on Saturday, forcing Joe Girardi to use his regular relievers after Nuno. That meant one inning for Jose Ramirez (two runs on three hits and a walk), one inning for Shawn Kelley, two innings for Adam Warren (four strikeouts), and one inning for Matt Thornton. I was really hoping we’d get to see Ichiro Suzuki pitch, but alas. He wants to do it, you know. Hopefully some time before the season ends.
- Leftovers: Beltran and Ichiro both had two hits while Gardner, Jeter, Teixeira, and Kelly Johnson had one each. Alfonso Soriano came off the bench to pick up a hit as well … Beltran forgot how many outs there were following a fielder’s choice in the eighth inning. He simply walked away from first base and back to the dugout. That’s an out for abandoning the base … Teixeira, Jeter, and Jacoby Ellsbury were all lifted in the late innings to get some extra rest. Girardi confirmed everyone is healthy.
For the box score and video highlights, get over to MLB.com. For some other stats, FanGraphs is the place to go. ESPN has the updated standings. The Yankees return home and open a three-game series against the first place Blue Jays on Tuesday night after enjoying an off-day Monday. Masahiro Tanaka and rookie Marcus Stroman will open the series. Check out RAB Tickets if you want to catch any of those games live.
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