Bats build a big lead
Bullpen can't protect it but
Cano saves the day
Bullpen can't protect it but
Cano saves the day
In non-poem form, last night's game went from exciting, to frustrating, to exciting again. The offense came out blazing; Damon, A-Rod and blog favorite Morgan Ensberg all homered in the early innings; Jeter started to come alive; even Chad Moeller impressed, singling up the middle on a pitchout. Ian Kennedy looked good through six, giving up only 2 earned runs.
In the sixth, however, the wheels temporarily fell off.
It started when Kennedy was hit on the hip by a Jason Bartlett line drive. Billy Traber then came in and, after getting Iwamura to line out, promptly gave up a homer to Carl Crawford and hit Carlos Pena with a pitch. He was replaced by Brian Bruney who gave up bombs to BJ Upton and Eva (n) Longoria. Bruney settled down and got out of the inning, but the damage was already done; the game was tied.
The next inning, Robbie Cano brought exciting back and gave the Yanks the lead with a long bomb to right. Bruney was then left in to get the first two outs of the eight, and, thankfully, he managed. Mo then came in and blew the Devil Rays away, striking out two in the process.
The bad was easy to spot in this game...the implosion of the bullpen in the absence of Joba (take a moment to send prayers to his father, by the way). And though Bruney's performance was bad, there is some good to take away. He walked no one and threw 16 of 20 pitches for strikes, the type of strike ratio we never would have seen from him last year. So while his command was terrible, he was at least throwing strikes and not walking anyone. It's a step in the right direction for him.
Anyways, here's hoping for a win and mini-sweep tonight.
In the sixth, however, the wheels temporarily fell off.
It started when Kennedy was hit on the hip by a Jason Bartlett line drive. Billy Traber then came in and, after getting Iwamura to line out, promptly gave up a homer to Carl Crawford and hit Carlos Pena with a pitch. He was replaced by Brian Bruney who gave up bombs to BJ Upton and Eva (n) Longoria. Bruney settled down and got out of the inning, but the damage was already done; the game was tied.
The next inning, Robbie Cano brought exciting back and gave the Yanks the lead with a long bomb to right. Bruney was then left in to get the first two outs of the eight, and, thankfully, he managed. Mo then came in and blew the Devil Rays away, striking out two in the process.
The bad was easy to spot in this game...the implosion of the bullpen in the absence of Joba (take a moment to send prayers to his father, by the way). And though Bruney's performance was bad, there is some good to take away. He walked no one and threw 16 of 20 pitches for strikes, the type of strike ratio we never would have seen from him last year. So while his command was terrible, he was at least throwing strikes and not walking anyone. It's a step in the right direction for him.
Anyways, here's hoping for a win and mini-sweep tonight.
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