GAME 89: Yankees vs Tigers

YANKEES (51-37, Second Place AL East)
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF
Pitching: RHP A.J. Burnett (8-4, 3.77)

TIGERS (48-39, First Place AL Central)
Granderson CF
Polanco 2B
Cabrera 1B
Thames DH
Thomas RF
Inge 3B
Anderson LF
Laird C
Everett SS
Pitching: LHP Lucas French (1-0, 1.93).

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

They're Baaaaack: After what seemed like an eternity, the Yankees are back to playing baseball. They are 51-34 entering the second half and 3 games behind the divison leading Red Sox. These games down the stretch mean more and will give us a good indication on what this team is made of if they play in the postseason. Let the fun begin.
Keep on Burnin': A.J. Burnett is 4-1 with 1.34 ERA in his last five starts. He has struck out 35 batters and allowed 23 hits in his alst 33.2 IP.
El Capitan and Godzilla: Derek Jeter is hitting .382 since June 21 and has raised his average to .321 which is third in the AL. Hideki Matsui is 12 of his last 31 (.387) with four homers and 12 RBI and six runs scored.
Mitre to Start: Journeyman Sergio Mitre has been announced as Tuesday's starter. He will be spot starting due to Chien Ming Wang going on the DL. Alfredo Aceves will be back in the bullpen.

UPDATE 7:14 : Well Curtis Granderson picks off where he left offa t the All-Star Game. He led off with a double and the Tigers were able to get the run to scor,e 1-0 Tigers. Meanwhile Michael Kay has taken another series off. That's three in a row, and put the All Star Break in the middle of that. Yes folks, "the Voice of the Yankees" is on a 2-week vacation during a 6 month season. Not that we're complaining..

UPDATE 8:30: Curtis Granderson just hit a solo HR and it's 3-1 Tigers. Yankees need to get going off this no-name guy whose last name is French. Verlander and Edwin Jackson go the next two days so they need to win today.

UPDATE 8:50: TIgers playing like the Mets as a single into leftfield goes through Anderson's legs allowing Damon to score from first. Now its 3-2 1 out with Teixeira on second.

UPDATE 8:55: After the Tigers start playing like the Mets, A-Rod decides to get in on the fun and gets doubled off to kill the rally. The play was right in front of him and it was the softest liner Matsui could have hit to Polanco.

UPDATE 9:35: Mark Teixeira hits a 3-run shot into Damon's Deck off Zumaya. Technincally it shouldn't be called Damon's Deck, but, er, we'll get into that on one of our Michael Kaysim posts. But Tex coming through in the clutch with a monster shot!

UPDATE 10:04:Want to know why Phil Hughes is so great? He just pitched 2 innings and every out he got was a strikeout. Six K's in 2 IP. He was touching 97 on the YES gun. This guy is Philthyyy. He must not want Halladay on the Yankees.

UPDATE 10:54: Rain delay is almost over. Baseball should resume shortly.