The Sommer Frieze

Sorry, I was very busy today so I’m catching up a little. The Astros beat the Yanks 9-5 today. They broke open a 5-5 tie with 2 in the 7th and 2 in the 9th. Steven White took the loss.

Andy Pettitte started and had a 1-2-3 first inning. 13 pitches, 9 strikes. He gave up a 2-run HR in the 2nd. His line? 2 2/3 IP, 2 R, both earned, 3 hits, 0 walks and 2 Ks. Pete Abraham reports that Andy was happy though, and feels after all that went on this offseason, that he’s finally caught up.

Edwar came in and got the last out in the third. He gave up a hit first.

Mo pitched the fourth. 8 pitches, 7 strikes, 2 strikeouts in a 1-2-3 inning. Mo reported that it was four-seam fastballs today and not the cutter.

LaTroy Hawkins pitched the fifth. He gave up 2 runs, both unearned due to a Shelley Duncan error. 2 hits, no walks or Ks.

White pitched 1 1/3. 3 runs, 2 earned (Passed Ball by C P.J. Pilittere), 2 walks, 1 K.

Bruney gave up a hit, then got a K. Oops. Looked that way on the boxscore. My bad. According to Pete Abraham: Joe Girardi put Brian Bruney in a tough spot in the eighth inning, bringing him in with the bases loaded and one out. He struck out Victor Diaz and then gave up a two-run single by Lance Niekro.

“I thought he threw well,” said Girardi, who is looking for situations to see what he has (or could have) in the bullpen.

I like that though. Girardi giving his bullpen tough situations in spring training—bringing in guys with men on—to see what he has and what they have. Nice. Too easy just to start innings and get work in. Work on game situations. Nice.

Heath Phillips continues to impress. He and Traber are really packing Sean Henn’s bags. 1 1/3, 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 walks, 1 K.

Jose Veras pitched the 9th. 2 runs, both earned on 2 hits, no walks and 1 K.

Mo and Phillips good, rest not. Bruney and Edwar not in long enough to judge, but they both gave up hits before getting their only outs.

Offensively, A-Rod and Posada DH’d. Both have sore throwing shoulders that they need to get the stiffness out of. A-Rod did have a double. Posada doesn’t have a hit yet. Of course he’d like to get one soon, but his concentration is mostly on the young pitchers right now.

Brett Gardner had 2 hits, and flashed his speed. The hits were a double and triple. Greg Porter also went 2-2, with a single and double. Wilson Betemit had a HR.

Mussina goes tomorrow. Also scheduled are Farnsworth, Karstens, Albaladejo and Ohlendorf. Hopefully Moose shows something and Karstens continues his fine work so far.