Yankees 8 Rays 7; Cano Clutch; A-Rod Bounces Back; Mariano Great; Harlan in Our Prayers

In a topsy-turvy game, the Yankees raced ahead after battering junk-ball nemesis Andy Sonnanstine, the bullpen let the lead slip away, but a clutch pinch-hit performance from Robinson Cano and Mariano's typical greatness pulled out a big win for the Yankees, 8-7 in Tampa.  It should not have taken that much stress, but some clutch hitting was eventually going to emerge.  As important as anything, keep Joba Chamberlain's father in your thoughts and prayers. He collapsed and is in critical condition.  Joba has left the team to join his ailing father back in Nebraska.  Hang in there, Harlan.

The Yankees got it going early and often, and from some necessary sources.  Damon led off the game with a homer to right, ripping an 0-1 pitch to deep right off the beleaguered Sonnanstine for a 1-0 Yankees advantage.  With two outs. A-Rod positively creamed a 1-2 breaking ball to deep left, about 15 rows back, to make it 2-0.  A-Rod just tied Hall-of-Famers Willie McCovey and the legendary Ted Williams for 15th on the all-time home run list with his 521st career blast.  A-Rod savored every minute of it, strutting around the bases a little more patiently than usual.  More importantly, note what A-Rod did in that at-bat.  Though he planted his front foot because he was out in front, his short stride allowed enough weight to stay back, keeping his body and swing in balance so he didn't lunge for it.  When he got it, that ball was absolutely crushed.

After IPK worked a nine-pitch first, Morgan Ensberg cranked the first pitch, a belt-high slider, to deep left for his first homer of the year to make it 3-0.  Boy, pitchers who leave pitches up and over the plate to Ensberg will pay the price.  With his arms extended, Ensberg will spell trouble for mediocre pitching this year.  IPK allowed only a hit on nine more pitches in the second, working smoothly.  The Yanks threatened in the third but stranded two on Matsui's flyout.  Tampa broke through with a run in the third off Kennedy.  Haynes singled and stole second, Bartlett's 6-3 moved him to third, and Crawford sac fly put Tampa on the board 3-1. 

The Yanks broke it open in the fourth, chasing Sonnanstine.  Ensberg fanned, Melky singled and, on a hit-and-run, Chad Moeller (up to fill in for the ailing catchers Posada and Molina) reached across the plate on a pitch-out to not only spare Melky but also single to right, first and third on Moeller's great play.  Gonzo the new utility infielder walked on four pitches, and Damon continued his hot hitting by lining a double to right, scoring Melky and Moeller, 5-1.  Jeter then roped a curve to center to score Gonzo and Damon, 7-1 Yankees.  Abreu lined out to center, A-Rod singled, but Matsui grounded out to end the threat.  As it turns out, the Yankees needed more, but the hot hitting is a most welcome change.

Kennedy got a bad break in the bottom of the fourth.  Longoria doubled to right, and Hinske hit a ground-rule double to left to score Longoria, 7-2.  But Damon should have caught that ball, which hit off the top of his glove.  Going to his right as a lefty, it wasn't the easiest catch in the world for Damon to make, but when it hits your glove, you should catch it, period.  In the fifth, Melky singled and stole second, but was stranded at third.  After Damon, Jeter and Abreu went 1-2-3 in the sixth, the Yankees got into some trouble.  Upton got an infield single to short, Longoria walked, Moeller pegged out Upton stealing third--though it looked like he was safe but called out because the ball was there first--Hinske popped out to Kennedy, Riggans singled Longoria to third making Upton's caught stealing huge, and Kennedy fanned Haynes on a change. 

Kennedy worked out of a jam and I figured he was done, but not to be as the wheels came off the Yankees in the seventh.  After throwing 92 through six, Kennedy re-entered the game and got hit on the hip with a line drive, prompting his speedy exit.  Traber entered and struggled, getting Iwamura on a lineout to right but allowing a homer to Crawford, 7-4 Yankees.  The pitch was low enough but was in instead of away, and Crawford waited and cranked it out.   He plugged Pena and Bruney entered, surrendering an 0-2 homer to Upton, 7-6 Yankees.  Not for long, as Bruney immediately coughed up the lead and Longoria's first major-league homer, tying the game at seven.  Horrible.  Also, anyone wondering why Joba is still in the bullpen, look no further than this game.  I like Bruney and Traber and think that they will be more positive in the pen.  But Joba is simply the most trustworthy set-up pitcher in the pen, no two ways about it.

In the eighth, Moeller fanned to start the inning and, against righty Al Reyes, Girardi made a great move.  After sitting the slumping Cano in favor of the righty Gonzales, clearly sending a message to Cano in what itself was a great move, Girardi sent Cano in to pinch-hit, and he tattooed a 2-1 change to deep right, a no-doubt shot to give the Yankees the 8-7 lead.  Way to begin your April belatedly, RC!  Clutch shot, a game-winning homer.  After Bruney allowed a deep F7 to the weak-hitting Bartlett for the second out of the eighth, and without Joba, Girardi saw enough and inserted Mariano for a four-out save.  Mariano delivered, setting down Iwamura, fanning Crawford on three pitches with a high fastball, getting Pena on a 4-3, and blowing away Upton to end the game.  Big win after dropping two straight in Boston.

A-Rod was huge, going 4-5 with his third homer and eighth RBI, batting .309.  More importantly for me, his refined approach at the plate paid big dividends.  Damon was 2-5 with two runs, three RBIs (five for the season), his first HR of the year to up his average to .213.  Ensberg was 2-5 with his first HR and RBI this year, batting .385, and possibly earning Giambi a second straight game on the bench although, with the righty Jackson tomorrow, we'll see.  Melky and Jeter were also 2-5, with Melky scoring a run and Jeter driving in two.  Melky is batting .306 and Jeter is up to .241.  Abreu and Moeller each had a hit, but Cano came through with a huge clutch homer to win it.  Get some confidence back, RC.  This team needs you.

Kennedy was good, going six and allowing eight hits, three runs earned, walking two and fanning four on 94 pitches/60 strikes.  He was in command and worked out of trouble well.  Traber and Bruney struggled, not a common sight this year but a reminder of how valuable Joba is.  Each allowed two earned runs.  But Mariano is Mariano, working a perfect 1 1/3 IP with two K's on 14 pitches.  Still, at his age, Mariano is the one guy in the majors I'd call on for an out, bar none.

Big win, clutch hitting at the right time, and lots of offense with the 15 hits.  Tomorrow night, Pettite (1-1, 3.09 ERA) looks to take the series win against hard-throwing Edwin Jackson (2-0, 0.64 ERA).  Get well soon, Harlan Chamberlain.