No one wants to see the Yankees lose games, but we know they won’t win ’em all. Last night’s one-run loss was a bit disheartening, mainly because a botched double play led to two Blue Jays runs where there should have been none, or one at most. The Yankees did come back from that, but could not muster another run after Lyle Overbay sent one into the Yanks bullpen. Things will be different tonight, though. Things will be different.
For starters, the Yankees will have a more reliable arm in the mound in the form of Joba Chamberlain. His last start wasn’t quite as good as his previous three, but he battled through five innings and left with a hefty lead that the Yanks would not come close to surrendering. They could use another quality start out of him, and as long as he’s not walking the farm he should be fine.
The Blue Jays will send Scott Richmond to the mound. After the Yankees crushed him last time out to the tune of five runs in 1.2 innings he continued pitching well, but was scratched for his start in the July series, which led to him hitting the 15-day DL. He’s had one start since coming back, a three-inning, six-run (three earned) debacle against the A’s. That, combined with the Yanks’ last outing against him, makes you think the Yanks will have a field day with Richmond tonight. But allow me to quote someone knowledgeable on the matter.
“You can’t predict baseball. You just can’t.” -John Sterling
And he’ll remind you of that at least a dozen times during the game tonight, if you can endure him.
In case anyone is interested, I’ll be at the game tonight with Ben, sitting with a decent sized group. We were forced into Section 235, LF bleachers. If anyone wants to get a beer at the Cold Beer stand by third base in the second deck, email me (it’s to the right). The BlackBerry is on.
Lineup:
1. Derek Jeter, SS
2. Johnny Damon, LF
3. Mark Teixeira, 1B
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
5. Hideki Matsui, DH
6. Jorge Posada, C
7. Robinson Cano, 2B
8. Eric Hinske, RF
9. Melky Cabrera, CF
And on the mound, number sixty-two, Joba Chamberlain.