Sorry all. Had some technical difficulties this evening. Mike Rose here as your blogger.
Yankees lead 1-0 in the bottom of the fifth. Robinson Cano singled home A-Rod in the second inning. A-Rod started the bottom of the inning with a double to right. Jason Giambi hit a slow grounder to third, advancing A-Rod. Cano followed with a single to right-center.
Meanwhile, Darrell Rasner is pitching one of his best games of the season, allowing just one hit through five.
Joe Girardi went to Rasner before this start and urged him to mix his pitches, change speeds and locate better. Rasner had been throwing fastball and cutters in previous starts, but at the same speed. Seems like the chat worked.
Top of 6th: Carlos Gomez leads off the inning with a double. Rasner got in trouble in the first inning when Denard Span singled and went to second when Melky Cabrera couldn't handle the ball. Span was sacrificed to third, but stayed there with Rasner getting out of it. Getting back to this inning, Span hit a slow roller to Cano, who barehanded it and threw quickly to Giambi, Giambi couldn't handle the throw and Gomez scored. Span gets a single. Alexi Casilla singled, Span to third. But Joe Mauer hit a fielder's choice, Span out at second. Runners at first and third with one out. Justin Morneau walks to load the bases. Kubel hits a grounder that turns into a fielder's choice RBI. Giambi fielded it, made a nice throw to second, but Kubel just made it safely to first base. He actually looked out. Run scored and that was it for Rasner. Too bad. He pitched a terrific game. David Robertson, a rookie right-hander, relieves and gets the final out of the inning. Twins 2, Yankees 1.
Bottom of 6th: Johnny Damon singles to start. Derek Jeter flies to center. Damon doesn't advance. Bobby Abreu hits a big two-run home run. A-Rod follows with a single. No doubt about it on Abreu's homer. After A-Rod's single, Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire takes out the starter, Kevin Slowey. Dennys Reyes will be the reliever. Slowley didn't pitch a bad game, either. One mistake to Abreu. A-Rod steals second. Giambi walks. Cano singles to left-center and A-Rod scores. Big run. Cano is getting hot -- two hits and two RBI tonight. Cabrera lines to Gomez in center field. Reyes is coming out. Jesse Crain relieves and gets the final out. But the Yankees rally for three. Yankees 4, Twins 2.
Line on Rasner: 5.2 innings, four hits, two earned runs four walks, two strikeouts.
Top of 7th: Jose Veras relieves. Veras has been great this season (and a 97-mph fastball doesn't hurt). But his breaking stuff has also been lights out. Robertson and Veras could be the go-to guys the remainder of the season. Plus, Farnsworth has been very good of late. Girardi did catch Farnsworth early in his career with the Cubs. That prior relationship has definitely helped settle Farnsworth down. And Edwar Ramirez has also been good. The bullpen might be in good shape after all. By the way, 1-2-3 inning for Veras. Yankees 4, Twins 2.
Bottom of 7th: Gardner walks. Damon hits a little nubber -- with some good backspin -- and is safe. Score that E5. First and second, no outs. Jeter's up. He doubles down the leftfield line, scoring two. Big hit. That opens the game up. Too bad Rasner won't factor in the decision. He pitched well. Abreu doubles to right, Jeter scores. Good night for Abreu. Ron Gardenhire is replacing Crain. The new pitcher is ..... Brian Bass. That's what .... four pitchers tonight for the Twins? We had a good pitcher's duel going. Abreu advances to third on A-Rod's fielder's choice. First time in a while that the Yankees have had back-to-back games with at least seven runs in a game. Giambi grounds a single up the middle, Abreu scores. We have a rout going. Cano (now with his average up to .264) grounds to short, but Casilla can't handle the throw. Looks like Nick Punto rushed the throw. Should be an error on Punto. No need to rush it. Would've been tough to get Cano with a double play. But Cabrera grounds into a double play. Yankees 8, Twins 2.
Top of 8th: Richie Sexson replaces Giambi at first. Kyle Farnsworth, who has really turned it around, is in, replacing Veras. Veras pitched a scoreless inning with a strikeout. Denard Span walked. Farnsworth struck out Casilla swinging. Farnsworth then gets Mauer swinging on a nasty slider. Make that three because Morneau also struck out swinging. Yankees 8, Twins 2.
More on Farnsworth: Farnsworth hasn't given up a hit since June 22 against the Cincinnati Reds at the Stadium.
Since then: 10 appearances, 9 innings, 0 hits, 5 BB, 0 ER, 10 K. His ERA has dropped from 4.24 after June 22 to 3.35 after July 22.
Bottom of 8: Jose Molina pinch hits. Molina struck out swinging. Gardner grounds out the pitcher, Bass. Damon walks. Jeter struck out looking. Yankees 8, Twins 2.
Bullpen: The Yankees' bullpen has been impressive tonight -- 2.1 innings, four strikeouts, one walk, no hits and no runs. And Robertson -- who threw one pitch -- is in line for the win.
Top of 9th: The well-rested Dan Giese is in. He last pitched July 3. Kubel struck out swinging. Delmon Young singles. Brian Buscher flies out and Punto grounds out to second. That's five straight for the Yankees and the first time all season they're over .500. Plus, the Tampa Bay Rays are losing big. Getting wins and gaining ground. That's what the Yankees need. FINAL: Yankees 8, Twins 2.
Comments (12)
Remember when everyone wanted Cano out of here?
Remember these words
The Yankees don't and will not make any moves and that Prospects are all protected?
NOOOOOOOOTTTT!
source NYDAILY news has an article today
There will be a big wig meeting today to discuss case's for trades.
Hank AND HAL! is very impressed with the teams recent play and want to make a push to win it all this year and beyond and that NO prospect is untouchable except Daniel Mccuthcen (excuse the spelling) and Hughes due to his DL status.
this is not saying they will destroy the farm but this is saying that they will explore optionsthat is suitable.
Throw out the we know what they are thinking theories right out the window.
Teams patience with Gardner will be wearing thin pretty soon.
I
Cano is having an unbelievable second half so far - but is it worth the wait every year?
NY Daily News this morning reports that only one prospect is untouchable in the minds of the Yankees at this point: Mark Melancon. Everyone else, including Austin Jackson, is open for discussion. That doesn't mean that they're going to give away Jackson for Raul Ibanez, but if the right player is out there he's fair game.
I am hearing that we are hot on Washburn right now, but Seattle wants us to take Vidro back as well. Igawa would be going to Seattle. Not really sure what we would do with Vidro though. We already have a logjam at first and DH
My mistake on the Untouchable
But i was correct when I said if the right deal coems along they will pull the trigger. there is already "side" talk of regret of previous trades opps.
SO people can throw away the notion that this team will AUTOMATICALLY stand pat. At the end of the day we do NOT know what the GM will do.
I told you all that Brian said he was going to explore every opportunity avail.
I also said that while this team is playing like last years squad that they will not make hopefully the same flaws as last season and that is tired legs and arms. if they can get some fresh experience on this squad in both pitching and in hitting they can probally win.
The only way a Austin Jaskson goes is if a MARQUEE NAME comes back in return
With this latest Yankee approach -- all prospects open to trades (1-2 exceptions).. We could still see Holliday/Fuentes or Bay/Marte or Washburn here in a week. (4PM 7/31 deadline).
Would the Jays trade Roy Halladay (doubt it to a division rival) but worth a try. They need a right handed hitting leftfielder and Matt Holiday and Jason Bay fit the bill. Need a starter --Ponson is on borrowed time IMHO.But still - I really don't want to get a 3 month rent-a-player and give up prospects that could be used here or in another trade.
ScarletKnight:
I agree with you on Ponson (throw Rasner into that mix as well). Halladay's a pipe dream for the reason you said and also he has a complete no trade clause.
I still think more likely than a big time player we'll see lower level patches - a Jarrod Washburn for the rotation and a Scott Hairston/Casey Blake for the OF.
I'm also starting to warm to the idea of Ramon Hernandez of the O's. I doubt highly that Peter Angelos would allow him to go to NY, but he's been solid with the glove and has really taken off offensively over the last month.
Good morning All,
Hate to say I told you so but, I was calling for Washburn BEFORE we picked up Ponson months ago. He would fit nicely in the back end of the rotation. I like Rasner, but he is not the answer. Ponson, as stated before, is an accident waiting to happen. Washburn could be our # 5 starter next year with no problem.
I was hoping Yanks would trade for a righty outfielder, but I think maybe because Damon is healing so quickly, giving Austin Jackson a sniff at the big league level. It won't hurt to give him a look. If the Yankees are giving Gardner a shot, they absolutely can give Jackson a peek. I would send Gardner down for the rest of the year and bring Jackson up and put him in center, while moving Melky over to left. Let's see what he can do and if it doesn't work out, Damon will be healed by then and inserted back in leftfield anyway.
We are making our move. Comin' to get ya.....
Down with the "Devil" Rays and RS Nation.
Lets Go Yankees!!!
Ken Rosenthal reports that there is one little thing standing between Washburn and the Yankees. Wash has a limited no trade clause which includes NY and, while he's got no issue pitching for the Yankees, his agent (Scott Boras) may want to see if they can coax an extra year out of the Yankees in return for him waiving the provision.
As for the M's wanting the Yankees to take back Jose Vidro - if all the Yankees have to give up is Igawa - I'm okay with that. We can find a spot for him. My only question is: The Mariners stunk this year - we already brought in Sexson so that will mean three guys from the worst team in baseball are going to help us win a title?
My problem with this discussion is that this team is missing it's number one starter, number one catcher, two other starters and the OF is broken, Melky stinks and they are still somewhat in contention so I really don't want the Yanks to bring in a bunch of band-aids like Ibanez, Nady, or anyone else for that matter (unless they do the Wasbhurn thing because I'd be more excited about Igawa leaving than anything).
I just think the team is better off contending as best they can and waiting for next year when Hughes is healthy (fingers crossed), Wang and Posada are back and they can maybe add Tex and/or CC.
Then again, part of me thinks they may not see another season like this from Rivera so it's a tough call but at this point, I would not trade the farm for band-aids, I'd trade parts of the farm for players that will not only help this season, but for longer than that.
Bomber,
The Yanks may not be thrilled with Gardner's production these days but they are clearly getting tired of Melky.
As anyone noticed that Melky's name has been involved in nearly every trade discussion?
The only problem is that most teams aren't interested in him and I don't blame them.
We've seen what Melky can do for over two years. He is what he is - a fourth outfielder.
Gardner will get better. As Chip has said several times, he does take awhile to adjust to a new league.
That's not ideal for a team that really needs him to start producing, but I still see him as someone who will be more productive than Melky.