Recap: Hideki Matsui hit his 2nd HR of the year, and his 2-run HR accounted for the only runs of the game as the Yanks shut out the Rays 2-0 to get back to .500. The Opening Day pitching formula of starter, Joba and Mo worked again, as once again Chien Ming Wang (2-0, now 48-18 for his career) took the game to Chamberlain and Rivera. Joba came in in the 7th, with men on 1st and 3rd, no out, and got out of the inning, then Joba pitched a scoreless 8th. He has now pitched 28 MLB innings, and has given up only one earned run for an ERA of 0.32. Mo pitched the 9th for the save, striking out two. Wang gave up four hits in 6+, and Joba and Mo didn’t give up any more. The first hit off Wang didn’t occur until the 5th.
It’s amazing how many people were worried about Wang’s psyche after last year’s playoffs. Hey, in 1960, Ralph Terry gave up the HR to Mazeroski that won the Series for Pittsburgh. Terry bounced back to go 16-3 in 1961.
Tomorrow night’s game is on ESPN2. Last time Moose pitched, it was on ESPN2. Hopefully the result is different and the Yanks have the game well in hand so channel surfing to Memphis/Kansas will be no problem.
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Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Cano 2B
Posada C
Betemit 1B
Cabrera CF
Wang RHP
After tomorrow night’s game vs. the Rays, the Yanks have 18 of the next 20 on the road. The only two home games between April 7th and April 29th will be April 16 & 17 vs. Boston. The only off-day from now to May 5th is scheduled for April 21st….Duncan is serving the first game of his suspension, and Giambi’s sore groin gets a rest….Girardi is back…It’s a new year, and James Shields is grateful; the Rays starter was 0-2, 14.46 vs. the Yanks last year.
Hideki Matsui got his 2nd HR of the year, breaking a scoreless tie with a 2-run shot in the 4th. At this point in the game, Wang has been brilliant, surprisingly striking out five. Wang gave up his first hit in the 5th, and an error by Cano put Wang into some trouble, but Wang got a break. Tampa put on a squeeze but missed it and the runner on third was hung out to dry. Wang then got a K (what’s up with that? He’s a K machine today!) to get out of the 5th.
Got to head out. Recap later.
18 responses so far ↓
1 Nick.K // Apr 6, 2008 at 1:14 pm
1 2 3 for Wang good start.
Lets go bats get this season started.
2 Nick.K // Apr 6, 2008 at 1:19 pm
3 pitches 2 out already not good.
3 Nick.K // Apr 6, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Abreu strikes out, 1,2,3 inning for Tampa
4 Nick.K // Apr 6, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Wang’s sinker today, is absolutely disgusting.
Come on offence.
5 Nick.K // Apr 6, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Bad baserunning Melky singles and Betemit gets thrown out at 3rd.
6 Mike Sommer // Apr 6, 2008 at 2:09 pm
I think it may be a weather thing. Hopefully the bats heat up with the weather, I know living in the Northeast, how I hated getting those bee-stings when I was jammed on a cold day and hit one off the fists. Those fastballs were considerably slower than those the Yanks face! The weather has been very cold and windy, and I’m sure has kept more than a few balls in the park; not only for and against the Yanks, but with the Scranton and Trenton games as well.
I don’t know if it was bad baserunning or a bad send. Mike F. made good points recently about the switch to Meacham from Bowa, so give him credit for accurately predicting a possible problem.
Through four, Wang has been brilliant.
7 Nick.K // Apr 6, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Mike I would still consider my self a new fan there are certain things I don’t know. Could one of the raseons the Yanks are not hitting is because of the hitting coach. They don’t seem to be taking many pitches and swinging on wild pitches.
8 Nick.K // Apr 6, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Matsui with a 2 run homer 2-0 Yanks
9 Nick.K // Apr 6, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Mike what do you think of the umpiring this season not just for the Yanks I go on this forum and they seem to think it been very inconsistent.
10 Mike Sommer // Apr 6, 2008 at 2:32 pm
It’s the same hitting coach as last year, Kevin Long, and we remember how many runs the Yanks scored last year.
I think it’s more weather-related. Remember that it’s a good drop-off in temperature going from Tampa, FL to NYC. I know how cold I was just watching Scranton play LV up in Scranton on Thursday night. The giveaway scarf given out that night came in handy.
It’s just a bit cold for baseball, that’s all. Let’s see what happens when the weather is more conducive to baseball.
11 Mike Sommer // Apr 6, 2008 at 2:33 pm
It has been. Being the first week of the season, it’s like everybody needs to find a rhythm.
12 Nick.K // Apr 6, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Don’t know why I thought the Yanks had a new hitting coach for some reason thats why I asked that question.
Wang is dealing tonight.
13 Nick.K // Apr 6, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Frank Thomas just hit a grand slam of Beckett Jays lead 6-2.
14 Nick.K // Apr 6, 2008 at 3:15 pm
How many time do we have to leave RISP.
15 Nick.K // Apr 6, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Great outing from Wang taken out of the game in the 7th.
Joba time
16 Nick.K // Apr 6, 2008 at 3:29 pm
99mph fast ball in that weather.
17 Nick.K // Apr 6, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Yankees win 2-0 Mo with the save.
18 Jason // Apr 6, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Wang has been excellent, mixing in his slider and change-up very well with the sinker. I was much less concerned with Wang’s psyche and much more concerned with his stuff. He’s given me peace of mind so far this year as he’s become a more well-rounded pitcher. It’s impressive to see, especially with the increased K total today.
Matsui has started the season well, and though he hasn’t belted four homers a game, A-Rod hasn’t been too shabby either. I like that more Yankees were hitting today and not just 3 players. Once the offense picks it up, look out.
Joba and Mariano were again dominant. Girardi has a great thing going with them. All the better, Joba only threw 16 pitches through the 7th and 8th–16. There’s little chance of overwork with such efficiency. Watching him and Mariano shut things down won’t ever get old.
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