Tex & Hold ’em: Yanks Lock Down A’s For 7th Straight
July 24, 2009 · Michael Gwizdala · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
Well it only took about four months plus a two hour and 45 minute rain delay, but the New York Yankees have finally swept the Oakland Athletics, winning 6-3 in the Bronx. While the Yankees embark on three more games with the A’s this weekend, their makeup contest results from a rain-out on April 20th in a series where the Yanks took the latter two games of the set. So hence the Yankees roll on to their seventh straight victory out of the break.
Oakland brought its “A game” in the early going, after scoring 32 runs in three games against the Minnesota Twins, they touched up CC Sabathia early. In the second it was a Jack Cust sac fly, followed by an RBI single from Bobby Crosby that gave the A’s the early edge.
By the 4th another RBI single from Kurt Suzuki, coupled with Vin Mazzaro’s seven K’s, it appeared that an already long night might get even longer as Oakland jumped out to a 3-0 lead.
But the bottom half of the fourth told a different story. Former A’s outfielder Johnny Damon got it started with a base knock. Then Mark Teixeira continued his power streak, driving a 3-0 pitch into deep right erasing Oakland’s 3-0 lead for his 24th on the year. Jorge Posada who also continues to rake, doubled in A-Rod for the second consecutive game to square things at 3-3. Capping off the rally to give the Yanks the lead for good was former A’s farmhand Eric Hinske with a run scoring single, making it 4-3 Yanks.
The Yanks would strike again for two more in the fifth, once again compliments of Teixeira and Posada who eventually chased Mazzaro from the game, making it 6-3.
From there Sabathia and the Yanks defense put it in cruise control. Sabathia once again went seven strong with four K’s and zero walks on 109 pitches, netting his team leading 10th win on the season.
Speaking of that defense, Robinson Cano made some absolute gems, from ranging in the hole to running down a ball in shallow right that made for a spectacular show.
And while the Yanks didn’t call on Mo to finish it out, Phil Hughes played the role of Mr. 1996 once again blanking the A’s for two innings, locking down his first career save. For Hughes, he has been lights out, not allowing a run in his last 15 outings covering 22 innings of scoreless baseball.
With that win the Yanks improve to 58-37, 21 games over .500 and now 2 1/2 up on Boston for the best record in the AL and the Eastern Division. One young phenom passes the torch to another as Joba Chamberlain takes to the mound coming off an eight strikeout performance against the Tigers, hoping to give the Yanks their eighth straight win on Friday.
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