Yankees (68-60) vs. Orioles (61-66)
Carl Pavano (0-0, ...) vs. Jeremy Guthrie (10-9, 3.15)
Carl Pavano returns.That's right. He's back. The Yankees he he can give its injury ridden staff a bit of a late season boost as the Bombers try to chase down the Red Sox for the AL Wild Card.
Pavano which, under went season-ending Tommy John surgery last year, is in the final year of a four-year, $39.95 million contract with the Yankees, which has been marred by various injuries. Pavano has appeared in just 19 games with New York, including two starts last April before he was shut down for the season, and underwent surgery on June 5.
Guthrie did not get the win for the first time in four starts his last time out, an eventual 6-3 loss to the Red Sox, but the right-hander did not pitch poorly. Guthrie struggled in the second inning. He allowed two solo homers in inning, but got through seven for his 19th quality start of the season. Guthrie now leads the league in that category and has given up just six runs in his last five starts. He is 1-1 this season against the Yankees, allowing three earned runs in the loss and just one in the victory.
Joseph Staszewski is here to take you pitch by pitch through Pavano's return and another important game for the Yankees.
Top of the Ninth: Yankees get just a single by Cano
Bottom of the Eighth: Jose Veras replaced Bruney and limits the O's to just a single by Hernandez.
Top of the Eighth: Yankees go down in order.
Bottom of the Seventh: Bruney sets the Orioles down 1-2-3.
Top of the Seventh: Matsui homers to right center for his 500th RBI as a Yankee. YANKEES 5, ORIOLES 3
Bottom of the Sixth: Bruney replaces Pavano, who is in line for the win. Orioles get just a single from Payton.
Top of the Sixth: Yankees again cannot get a man on against Guthrie.
Bottom of the Fifth: Mora is hit by a pitch and that is all the Orioles get.
Top of the Fifth: Yanks again go quietly.
Bottom of the Fourth: Millar is hit by a pitch and Payton singles, but that is all the Orioles get as Pavano strikes out the side to end the inning.
Top of the Fourth: Yankees go down in order.
Bottom of the Third: Pavano sets the Orioles down 1-2-3.
Top of the Third: A-Rod is hit by a pitch with two-outs and Giambi follows with a two-run homer to right center. YANKEES 4, ORIOLES 3
Bottom of the Second: Scott gets the inning started with a double off the wall to left. Millar walks and Payton single to load the bases with not outs. Castro hits a sac fly to center to score Scott. Roberts drives in Millar with a ground out and Markakis singles to center to score Payton. ORIOLES 3, YANKEES 2
Top of the Second: Yankees go in order.
Bottom of the First: Roberts leads of the inning with an infield single and Markakis follows with another single. Mora then lines out softly to Cano behind second. Cano then tags Roberts sliding back to second for a double play. Huff single to right and moves Markakis to third. Hernandez grounds out to end the inning on Pavano's 22nd pitch.
Top of the First: Damon leads off the inning with a single and is later driven home on a two-out double off the wall in left center by A-Rod. A-Rod then scores on a ground ball into the shift by Giambi. The throw to first pulled Guthrie off the bag. YANKEES 2, ORIOLES 0
Comments (1)
4 Things:
1. Good job by Pavano. No, 3 runs over 5 innings doesn't count as a quality start but for his first start in two years, I'll take it. Lets hope that he woke up today feeling fine and this is something to build off of.
2. Can't overlook Dan Cabrera today. Yankees have trouble with power pitchers and if he's throwing strikes he's as good as anyone in the league.
3. Speaking of Cabrera's, don't be fooled by Melky's robust .429 BA in Scranton (9-21) of those 9 hits only one has been an extra base hit (a double) he has 5 walks and 4 strike outs.
4. If the Yankees win today and Boston loses, if the Yankees sweep Boston they will cut their lead in the WC to 1.5 games. With Beckett, Drew, and Lowell out and Bucholtz struggling, there's no reason the Yankees shouldn't be able to put their foot on Boston's neck.