The Yankees won a tight game 2-1 behind stellar pitching, sharp defense, and timely hitting. Joba Chamberlain pitched six strong innings of one run ball surrendering six and issuing four walks. Joba has been making tremendous strides with each start but must continue to control his pitch count and reduce walks. Joe Girardi summoned Jose Veras to pitch the 7th and 8th inning speaking in volumes of the confidence he has in the rising reliever. Veras proved his manager correct earning the win, tossing two perfect innings while striking out three, lowering his ERA to 3.32 and he hasn’t allowed a run since June 3rd. With each strong outing Veras is proving he belongs to man a critical late inning role, but Kyle Farnsworth may have delayed that process earning his first save since September 27, 2006. Farnsworth hit the first batter he faced, but worked around the blunder thanks to the help of Jose Molina’s arm, gunning down Ty Wigginton making a dash for second base. Farnsworth proceeded to strike out Geoff Blum to end the game and certainly made the 9th inning exciting, but most importantly he proved the Yankees can win and close out a game when Mariano Rivera needs a game off. Offensively the Yankees continue to struggle mightily against mediocre pitching. The Yankees left seven men on base, but delivered when necessary, as Alex Rodriguez drove in Bobby Abreu in the first inning and Derek Jeter hit a tremendous tiebreaking home-run in the 8th inning. The offense must establish some form of consistency and receive contributions from all nine batters. The Yankees look to go three games over .500 with a win tomorrow for the first time this season, as the new and improved Mike Mussina duels Wandy Rodriguez.
Derek Jeter provided the tiebreaking RBI on a long home-run mashed to right field.
Video clip of Derek Jeter’s 8th inning home-run curtesy of MLB.com:
