GAME 71: Yankees at Braves

YANKEES (38-32, Tied for 2nd place AL East)
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Gardner CF
Cervelli C
Chamberlain RHP

Pitching: RHP Joba Chamberlain (3-2, 3.89).

BRAVES (34-36, 4th place NL East (but really with the Nationals in that division, it's basically last))
McLouth CF
Escobar SS
Jones 3B
McCann C
Anderson LF
Kotchman 1B
Francoeur RF
Johnson 2B
Kawakami RHP

Pitching: RHP Kenshin Kawakami (4-6, 4.42)

TIME/TV: 7:05 p.m., YES, ESPN2.

BON VOYAGE VERAS: Jose Veras was traded to the Cleveland Indians for cash considerations. Now, there are no specifics on who the cash considerations are going to, because I could not believe that the Indians are actually paying the Yankees to watch Veras give up runs.

RUSTY RIVERA: Mo hasn't pitched in 8 days.

ROAD TRIP: All 3 of Chamberlain's wins this season are on the road. Joba is 3-0 with a 2.72 ERA on the road so far this season.

IF ONLY THE GDP WAS THIS HIGH: The Yankees have grounded into 60 double plays (GIDP for anyone who didn't get the joke) in 70 games this season, including 8 in the last 7 games.

HE'S DUE?: A-Rod continues to struggle (aka suck). He is 1 for his last 20 and his batting average as dropped/free fell from .256 to .207.

MAKE IT QUICK: The Yanks are 16-10 when the game is completed in under three hours, and are 22-22 when the game is over.

UPDATE 7:13: Jeter and Damon forgot they were in Atlanta. If this was at the Stadium, they Yanks would be up 2-0 already.

UPDATE 8:02: I guess they said this on-air before, but apparently the Yankees had a team meeting after the game yesterday. That's good because these guys need to wake up. Baseball is not a game where you can just try harder and do better. It's not football where you can just go hit someone, but they need to be sharper mentally and right the ship.

UPDATE 8:26: Well, Francoeur just bombed one to left center to put the Braves up 1-0. The way the Yankees are hitting, Joba better make sure it stays at 1-0.

UPDATE 8:36: Gardner just got picked off as our first and only base runner. Let's see Girardi get tossed.

UPDATE 8:38: Francisco Cervelli picked a good time to hit the first home run of his career.

UPDATE 8:42: If the 1st base umpire had not screwed up that call, the Yankees would be up 2-1, at least if you believe in the fallacy of the predetermined outcome, as Michael Kay would say.

UPDATE 8:52: That may just be the hit that breaks A-Rod out of this slump. An 0-2 pitch that he hits to right center that drives in the 2 go-ahead runs is big for a player's psyche.

UPDATE 8:58: I guess a guy named Joba would idolize a guy named Chipper.

UPDATE 9:04: Even Swisher getting in on the action tonight. Yanks up 4-1.

UPDATE 9:18: This is John taking over. Little jam here for Joba. His throwing error on that bunt by Kelly Johnson makes it first and second one out. Pinch hitter likely for the pitcher right now.

UPDATE 9:20: Pinch hit single for Prado, now 4-2 Yankees. First and third one out. That'll be it for Joba. Phil Coke coming in to face Nate McLouth, this is the biggest at bat of the game. The Yanks need this game desperately, too.

UPDATE 9:29: I leave my TV for 1 minute and I miss a great catch by Swish, which led to a sac fly for McLouth. Yankees escape with the lead still in tact. 4-3 Yanks in the eigth. This may also be the last update of the night. Again, we are 18-19 year old kids. We go out at night, and we are seeing Transformers 2 tonight. We will have the game recap probably around 1 am in the morning.

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