Yankees 4 Red Sox 1; Wang Dominates
That was about as good as I've seen Wang pitch, right there with his flirtation with perfection last year against Seattle. Going the distance on only 93 pitches, Wang threw a two-hit masterpiece, allowing a home run to JD Drew that Abreu really should have caught. He faced only two over the minimum, not allowing a walk, fanning three and, while getting 10 ground outs, getting a remarkable 14 fly outs. Some were deep, but many were easy pops. Wang was in total control, giving the bullpen a night off.
Wang had to be good because Buchholz started extremely well himself. Through four, he only allowed a single to Matsui. But the Yanks broke through in the fifth when Matsui and Posada walked to lead off, Giambi fanned but Molina, who has been big thus far this year, doubled in Matsui, 1-0 Yankees. Gonzales--who is making Betemit increasingly expendable--walked to load the bases, but Melky lined to first for an unassisted double play, bad luck really on a hard-hit ball. In the bottom of the fifth, Drew homered with two outs, but Wang allowed nothing else.
The Yanks threatened in the sixth when A-Rod hit a two-out single, Matsui doubled, but Posada grounded out to end it. They added two more in the seventh when Giambi blasted a homer to center, 2-1, Molina doubled through a wide gap in left center with Boston shading Molina to right center, Gonzales bunted him to third, and against Okajima Melky the Clutch hit a sac fly to make it 3-1, textbook run manufacturing. Wang cruised through the bottom of the seventh, getting two ground outs and catching Ramirez looking. The Yankees got singles from A-Rod and Posada, and Giambi walked to load the bases in the eighth, but Aardsma fanned Molina. The Yankees added an insurance run in the ninth when Gonzales doubled, Melky bunted him to third and with two outs Abreu singled him in, 4-1.
A-Rod had two hits and is hitting .310, Matsui was 2-3 and is hitting .342, a great start. Molina has been enormous, getting two hits to raise his average to .346, Giambi's homer was big and snapped a 1-20 start, Posada and Abreu each had a single, and how about Melky helping manufacture runs with a sac fly and a bunt, great job in the lead-off spot. Girardi's moves paid off nicely, and the team's patience was excllent, drawing four walks. I just knew they'd push runs over with the lead-off walks in the fifth. Though the team left 9 on base, five in scoring position, they dominated the last five innings and threatened or scored in all of them.
But Wang was the story, having total command of all his pitches and locking down Ortiz and Ramirez with a collective 0-6 with three K's. The best start of the year, which is saying something given Mussina's six-inning gem against Toronto. Wang is now 3-0 with a 1.23 ERA. Three starts, three wins, three gems. Tremendous.
Speaking of which, Mussina (1-1, 3.09 ERA) faces Beckett (0-1, 9.64 ERA) this afternoon. Thanks to everyone for stopping by the HDLR last night. It was a blast. Let's Go, Yankees!!! [Three exclamation points for you, Jimmy.]
Wang had to be good because Buchholz started extremely well himself. Through four, he only allowed a single to Matsui. But the Yanks broke through in the fifth when Matsui and Posada walked to lead off, Giambi fanned but Molina, who has been big thus far this year, doubled in Matsui, 1-0 Yankees. Gonzales--who is making Betemit increasingly expendable--walked to load the bases, but Melky lined to first for an unassisted double play, bad luck really on a hard-hit ball. In the bottom of the fifth, Drew homered with two outs, but Wang allowed nothing else.
The Yanks threatened in the sixth when A-Rod hit a two-out single, Matsui doubled, but Posada grounded out to end it. They added two more in the seventh when Giambi blasted a homer to center, 2-1, Molina doubled through a wide gap in left center with Boston shading Molina to right center, Gonzales bunted him to third, and against Okajima Melky the Clutch hit a sac fly to make it 3-1, textbook run manufacturing. Wang cruised through the bottom of the seventh, getting two ground outs and catching Ramirez looking. The Yankees got singles from A-Rod and Posada, and Giambi walked to load the bases in the eighth, but Aardsma fanned Molina. The Yankees added an insurance run in the ninth when Gonzales doubled, Melky bunted him to third and with two outs Abreu singled him in, 4-1.
A-Rod had two hits and is hitting .310, Matsui was 2-3 and is hitting .342, a great start. Molina has been enormous, getting two hits to raise his average to .346, Giambi's homer was big and snapped a 1-20 start, Posada and Abreu each had a single, and how about Melky helping manufacture runs with a sac fly and a bunt, great job in the lead-off spot. Girardi's moves paid off nicely, and the team's patience was excllent, drawing four walks. I just knew they'd push runs over with the lead-off walks in the fifth. Though the team left 9 on base, five in scoring position, they dominated the last five innings and threatened or scored in all of them.
But Wang was the story, having total command of all his pitches and locking down Ortiz and Ramirez with a collective 0-6 with three K's. The best start of the year, which is saying something given Mussina's six-inning gem against Toronto. Wang is now 3-0 with a 1.23 ERA. Three starts, three wins, three gems. Tremendous.
Speaking of which, Mussina (1-1, 3.09 ERA) faces Beckett (0-1, 9.64 ERA) this afternoon. Thanks to everyone for stopping by the HDLR last night. It was a blast. Let's Go, Yankees!!! [Three exclamation points for you, Jimmy.]
Jason,
Thanks for ending your excellent Post with [I guess] my now famous trademark, ( !!! ) three exclamation points !!!...After all the excitement, and great win by the Yankees last night, I think I should give serious thought to putting out a line of "Exclamation Points" tee-shirts !!!...But, I would only have three in the collection....One shirt with "one" ( ! ) exclamation point on the front and back of the shirt, in honor of Mike...A second shirt with three (!!!) exclamation points on each side of the shirt, of course, the signature piece of the collection....and, a third shirt that will have exclamation points in a continuous circle around the shirt [front and back] which could be called the "homerun" shirt...And, just like a great pitcher with three good pitches [who changes the delivery, release point, and angle of his arm] expanding his pitches to 6, or 9, or more, etc.... Well, the exclamation points would be offered in a many different colors, thus expanding the whole collection to many more than "just three different varieties of shirts" !!!.....Oh, the possibilities !!!....Anyway, the Yankees played a great game yesterday, and the win was just what they needed as they continue on this very grueling 18 out of 20 games on the road [trip]...But, the most enjoyable part of the win, was seeing Wang pitch such a great game...and, A Complete Game !!! [wow] ...It shows how Joe Girardi has a totally different approach [as compared to Joe Torre] regarding letting the starters pitch longer in the games they start....Wang is well on his way to a "more than" 20 wins season, and is clearly the Ace of the pitching staff !!!....Hopefully, Mike Mussina pitches just as well in today's game....It's always great to beat the Red Sox...Go Yankees! A Sweep will definitely be capped off with ( !!! ) "three exclamation points"...Jason, enjoy today's game !!!
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