Not so fast, Tom Verducci. The Yankees picked up two victories yesterday against the Minnesota Twins, which also represented their second and third first two one-run wins of the season (h/t to Bex).
David Robertson, Joba Chamberlain and Mariano Rivera combined to pitch four scoreless innings while Derek Jeter provided the lone run scored in the game, a solo bomb to left-center, and as it was hit in the 6th inning A.J. Burnett was able to notch the win, a nice reward for his five shutout innings of work on Tuesday night.
The Andy Pettitte World Domination Tour™ continued in the second game, with Pettitte firing 8 economical innings (using only 94 pitches!) of two-run ball en route to a 3-2 Yankee win. Of course, things got interesting in the 8th, as the score was still knotted at two. With runners on the corners, one out and Joe Mauer at the plate, it seemed all but certain that Mauer would be plating the go-ahead run. Instead, Pettitte induced an inning-ending double play which, AWESOME. Pettitte, rightly so, was PUMPED UP after that play. If you are able to get Joe Mauer, the best hitter in the American League, to bounce into an inning-ending twin-killing with the go-ahead run 90 feet away, you absolutely have to go on and win that game.
Thankfully Nick Swisher heeded the call and saved us all from what would likely have been an extra-inning loss. I feel like I crunched the numbers a while back although I’m not sure I ever posted anything about it on Yankeeist, but I’m pretty sure the Yankees are historically abysmal in extra-inning games on the road. After two quick outs by Brett Gardner and game one hero Jeter, Swisher CRUSHED a 1-1 pitch deep into right field to give the Yankees a huge 3-2 lead. As we’ve seen in these first two games, it is not easy to hit home runs at Target Field. The Twins alone hit at least three shots I saw that would’ve been gone in many other stadiums.
Even with the series win, the offense is still asleep at the wheel (when the heck was the last time the Yankees won a game 1-0?), and a sweep would really help continue to allay some fears, especially if they can pile on some runs. Considering Boston’s hot, the Yanks would do well to take tonight’s game and continue their winning ways by administering a hurting this weekend on one of the few lousy clubs in the American League.
Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
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3 Responses to Yankees take two in Minnesota on strength of Pettitte, Swisher and Jeter
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TIQ IQ
pssst they won their first one-run game in that first game against the Mets ;) But these games were #2 and #3.
Andy Pettitte World Domination Tour, I LOVE IT. I genuinely think that if the lead had been even just 2 runs, he would have gone for the CG. I also openly admit to screaming "GET A RUN AND A WIN FOR ANDY YOU ASSPONIES!!!!!" at the television after he got Mauer to GIDP. Glad they listened. ;)
Whoops — clearly I've been so enraged at the lack of offense that I'm selectively forgetting games they've actually won.
I read something interesting a few weeks back about good teams not winning 1 run games because good teams usually win games by 2 runs or more; bad teams win games by 1 run.
I think Verducci is getting ahead of himself; it's a little early to crown an interleague play winner.
The pitching seems to be rounding back to form, but the Yankees offense is still sleepy. Hopefully the addition of Curtis Granderson will inject some life into that which is looking pretty lifeless. also, I think they could do with some patience; I feel like everybody is pressing, swinging at the first pitch way too often.
i wonder what the numbers say about teams winning in extra innings on the road? that must be the hardest win to get…
i'm going to the game on saturday – anybody else going?
~jamie