Source: FanGraphs
The ten-game winning streak has been followed by a three-game losing streak, both the longest such streaks of the season for the Yankees. Let’s recap…
- Early Hole: Andy Pettitte has been pretty awesome since coming out of retirement, but the game was effectively over before he recorded his third out on Friday. He allowed five first inning runs — three on a homer by Ike Davis that Nick Swisher nearly brought back — with two outs, his first five-run first inning in eleven years. He did settle down and fire five scoreless after that, but sheesh, five runs in the first is as close to guaranteed loss as it gets.
- Bombs Away: The Yankees have a way of making even the biggest ballparks look small, and they didn’t need any help from the new CitiField dimensions to get back into the game. Alex Rodriguez launched a homer into the apple in dead center, Andruw Jones parked one in the second deck in left field, and Robinson Cano cleared both bullpens with a two-run shot to right. Just like that, a 5-0 game became a 6-4 game.
- Almost: Frank Francisco tried to give away that two-run lead in the ninth, but the Yankees were unable to make him pay for his poultry-based comments. Curtis Granderson took strike three on a fastball right down the middle with men on first and second and I have no friggin’ idea what he was thinking. Was he sitting splitter? I can’t imagine he was, that’s a pitch you adjust too. Anyway, Mark Teixeira followed that up with a fly ball and the game was over. If only Andres Torres didn’t make that diving catch on Russell Martin’s rocket to open the inning. Alas.
- Leftovers: I know he went on to throw two more scoreless innings, but I don’t like Pettitte being allowed to hit leading off the fifth. You’re down five and need to generate offense, so get a pinch-hitter in there … the My9 broadcast said Andruw has now homered in 42 different ballparks, the most of any active player … everyone in the starting lineup had a hit — including Pettitte — except for Martin, who had the one taken away in the ninth … Swisher had an interesting night defensively, though I’ll never get on a player for not robbing a homer. That’s on the pitcher.
MLB.com has the box score and video highlights, FanGraphs the advances stats, and ESPN the updated standings. Game two of the weekend set is a dreaded Saturday night game and will feature Ivan Nova against Chris Young. Check out RAB Tickets if you’re going to head out to Flushing.
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