Yankees 8- Mariners 5

Mariners 5 12 2
Yankees 8 11 0
Box Score

WP: Brian Bruney (3-0)
LP: Sean White (2-1)
S: Mariano Rivera (19)

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Melky Cabrera. Melky went 1 for 3, but also drove in three runs out of the 9 spot in the lineup. Once again, he came through in the late innings with the game-winning double in the 8th inning.

Image via Wikipedia

PLAY OF THE GAME: Alex Rodriguez's home run in the 7th inning. His A-Bomb to deep left field gave the Yanks a 2-run lead (at least until Bruney blew it.) I thought it had a chance at the upper deck for a second there but it was a little too close to center field.

TURNING POINT OF THE GAME: Melky Cabrera's RBI double in the 8th inning. Bruney had just blown a 2-run lead. Matsui and Swisher got on before the Melk Man ripped one to center field.

GAME NOTES:

• I don't know how many times I heard that Mariano might throw the first pitch and the last pitch of the game today. I lost count at 20... and that was in the fourth inning.
• Alex Rodriguez is obviously back on track, as he had a home run and some nice plays in the field today. But, they still need to make sure they stick to the plan with giving him days off. He needs days off, there is no doubt about it. Mike Lowell had the same surgery, and now he's on the DL. Girardi and the Yankees need to make sure that doesn't happen to A-Rod.
  
• Joba did just good enough to get the Yankees through the game, but he needs to do more than that. And yes, I typed this before Paul O'Neil said this on the post-game show.
  
• Phil Hughes is a starter by trade, and now he's pitching out of the bullpen. He's been pitching brilliantly in relief, so why take him after only nine pitches? Nine! He probably threw more than that in the bullpen to warm up! Girardi did not need to go to Bruney there, but, instead of saving him for tomorrow, he threw 22 pitches and allowed four base runners and two runs. The two Phils (Hughes and Coke) are your best options behind Mo out of the bullpen right now.
  
• The Yankees pitching staff gave up 12 hits and 5 runs to a Mariners offense that has been struggling. Not good, but they pulled the win out anyway.
• And the Yankees pulled to 2.5 GB in the AL East after the Red Sox blew a 9-1 lead against the Orioles. If that ever happens to the Yankees, don't expect a blog update for a couple days.
  

QUOTE OF THE NIGHT:
"No way, Michael Kay."- Mariano Rivera

TOMORROW:
Mariners at Yankees 7:05 pm at Yankee Stadium
Jarrod Washburn (4-5, 3.22 ERA) vs. Andy Pettitte

(7-3, 4.38 ERA)

AND REMEMBER: VOTE TEX!