GAME 36: Old buddy Mark Reynolds had a big hand in the outcome of today’s Milwaukee victory, with both his glove and bat doing damage. In the bottom of the 8th, Reynolds snagged a high chopper from Brian Roberts and began a rally-crushing 6-4-3 double play. In the bottom of the 9th, it was his bat, as he singled to right knocking in the winning run.
It was yet another contest that featured the consistently inconsistent New York offense of late. The Yanks blew an early 3-0 lead, then did little until Mark Teixeira‘s dramatic game-tying home run on a 3-2 count with 2 out in the 9th. The blast came off of old-time Halo nemesis Fernando ‘K-Rod’ Rodriguez. It’s was K-Rod’s first blown save (and earned run allowed) of the season after a streak of 14 straight.
It was spotty start for David Phelps, who was getting ahead of hitters early in counts, but had trouble closing the deal. Phelps went 5, charged with 4 earned while walking 3. Quoted in MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch recap, Phelps said:
It’s a frustrating game. When I was getting ahead of guys, I wasn’t putting them away, and when I wasn’t getting ahead of guys, I was just giving up hits. I’ve got to do a better job than that.
With CC Sabathia (‘fluid buildup on the knee’) now on the DL, added pressure is placed on Phelps and Vidal Nuno to step up. But key to that is the bats waking up, and giving the starters some wiggle room for a bad inning. Once again, it started out promising as the Yanks plated 3 in the top of the first. It looked like Brewer’s starter Matt Garza would be hitting the showers early, but the offense took a nap after that.
Adam Warren was tagged with the loss, and the quick strike by Milwaukee to end it put a damper on Teixeira’s heroics.
Here’s the box score and a Yankees recap.
NOBODY ASKED ME, BUT… DEPT: While CC gets treatment for the knee issue, it might be the perfect time to get some continued ‘re-thinking’ going on with pitching coach Larry Rothschild about The Big Man’s approach. Here’s a great read by Mike Axisa (CBS Sports) “CC Sabathia compensating for lost velocity with more sinkers, cutters” …
The Yankees finished up with a 3-3 road trip, and return home to face the Mets for a three game set at The Stadium starting tomorrow. Hiroki Kuroda gets the ball and will be tasked with stopping the 2-game skid.
