The Yankees did something tonight they have not done much this season: they beat the Los Angeles Angels (of Anaheim, of the US, of the Galaxy…).
The game was played as though it was a playoff game–low scoring, with some key defensive plays and small-ball run scoring. Considering that right now the Yankees and Angels could potentially meet in the ALCS, this is not something that should pass entirely without comment.
Though Joba Chamberlain pitched only four innings, he did look the best he has looked in a while. His only mistake was a home run to Vladimir Guerrerro.
The Yankee bullpen–Alfredo Aceves, Phil Coke, Phil Hughes and Mariano–was not perfect, but was able to limit any damage so that the Angels never had more than a one run lead at any point of the game. The bullpen tonight was best epitomized by Phil Hughes: he issued a walk to load with no one out, but allowed only one run to score–so the Yankee offense, which also wasn’t great tonight, was still close enough to come back and take the lead.
Mark Teixeira easily had the best night on the offense, but Nick Swisher homering again (I’m half-serious here, folks) is also worth mentioning. It’s the law of averages realizing that Swisher’s home/road splits really are a little too weird.
The Yankees more or less beat the Angels tonight with small ball–the same way the Angels usually beat the Yankees. In the eighth inning, Brett Gardner pinch ran for Mark Teixeira, attempted to steal third, and then going home when the throw to third went into the field.
To remove Mark Teixeira from the game was no small thing–Teixeira’s an MVP candidate, and Gardner’s only real asset is his speed–but this is the type of season 2009 has been for the Yankees. Things tend to work out.
“We don’t always want to be a club that has to hit the ball out of the park to score runs,” Girardi said on the postgame.
Today’s game certainly epitomized that.
In the end, the Yankees gain a game in the race for home field advantage, lower their magic number to 12, and get to beat the Angels in the process.
It’s easy to say what-if, but sometimes it’s better to just enjoy the result.
Related posts:
It was a HR to Vladimir Guerrero not Torri Hunter…
Also Hughes did not “walk the bases loaded” He gave up two singles and walked one batter…
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Rebecca Glass Reply:
September 14th, 2009 at 11:24 pm
Ayayay, maybe I shouldn’t write recaps while fighting a migraine sans-painkillers?
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The other Chris H Reply:
September 14th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
haha… Just catching the mistake for you, no ones perfect.
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Joba pitched pretty well tonight, I wouldn’t say he was dominate but he was really decent and pitched well enough to win the game had he gone 5 innings. He really had come and go control all night but when he needed to he buckled down and made a pitch, his secondary stiff really guided him through the game in particular the slider and change up while the curve was there is wasn’t great. The fast ball hit 94 and 95 in every inning he pitched but he averaged around 91 until the 4th inning when he stated throwing a little harder and was mostly at 93 average but the change was good all night and was used quite often and along with the slider it really made him less predictable than he has been recently, he was really pitching tonight and not just throwing it’s good to see development even if it is slow and over 3 or 4 innings at a time but eh time out he has been slightly better than before.
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