(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
For the third game in a row the Yankees didn’t tee off on a Cubs starter that they should have, but fortunately it wouldn’t end up mattering as a huge Nick Swisher three-run bomb broke a 4-4 tie in the 8th inning and sent the Yankees on their way to a 10-4 win and series victory in Chicago.
For the third start in a row, CC Sabathia was good enough, but not quite Sabathia-like, giving up four runs over seven innings, scattering eight hits while only striking three out. Randy Wells went six innings and gave up four runs.
After recording zero home runs in their first two games at Wrigley, the Yankees wasted no time in this one, as Brett Gardner led the game off with a home run. After falling behind 4-1, a Swisher single and Eduardo Nunez groundout brought the Yankees to within one, and a Russell Martin sac fly tied things up in the 6th.
Though it’s the smallest of small sample sizes, in the week since Derek Jeter hit the DL, Eduardo Nunez has hit .318/.400/.500 in 27 PAs, and though we may tremble every time a ball is hit to short, his bat isn’t exactly making anyone miss Derek and his .297 season wOBA.
The Yanks head to Cincinnati tonight to face the Reds, who boast the 4th-best offensive attack in the National League by wOBA.
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Nunez’ defensive problems notwithstanding, he made a very nice play throwing out Castro.
He seems to be rushing. He has the range, and the arm to be a good defensive short stop, he just plays like the game hasn’t slowed down yet for him. Once he learns to pace the speed of the different runners, and allow himself to simply make plays he will be solid on that end.
Highlight of the game, outside of the Swish HR, had to be the Pena-to-Nunez double flub off the bad hop in the 9th inning. The 6-run lead helped make it funnier than it would have been in a close game, but that was still hilarious.