Joba and Jeter Lead Yankees in 2-1 Win

In the first game of a three-game series against the Astros, in Houston, Texas, Joba Chamberlain had his best pitching performance since moving into the starting rotation.

Joba threw 88 pitches, over 6 solid innings of work, giving up only one earned run, on 6 hits, 2 strikeouts, and 4 walks (two intentional). Chamberlain would have pitched one more inning, but was lifted for pinch hitter, Wilson Betemit, in the top of the 7th inning.

Playing in a National League ballpark, Joba did have two at-bats in this game. He struck-out his first time up; and, reached first base on a force play at second, on a failed bunt attempt, during his second time up at the plate.

Requiring the AL pitchers to be part of the lineup [and hit] is one of many reasons that I do not like these interleague games. The pitchers are being put in situations that they are not familiar with, which can cause an injury; and, presents a major disadvantage to the American League in games played at the home field of the National League teams. I would much rather see the Yankees play more games against the teams in the AL East, or, at the very least, more games against the other teams in the American League.

So, with the score tied at, 1-1, Chamberlain was removed for a pinch-hitter in the 7th inning. This move removed any chance of Joba getting the win in this game, as the Yankees did not score the go-ahead run in this inning.

The Yankees staked Joba to an early, 1-0, lead, in the first inning, as Bobby Abreu reached first base on a fielder's choice; stole second; and, advanced to third on a bad throw into centerfield, by catcher, Brad Ausmus. Alex Rodriguez then stroked a RBI single to left, that drove home Abreu with the Yankees first run.

Chamberlain allowed the Astros "only run" of the game, in the 4th inning, on a walk to Carlos Lee, who then stole second, and scored on a single by Ty Wigginton.

The great pitching effort by Joba kept the Yankees in this game, setting the stage for the bullpen, and Derek Jeter, to seal this Yankee victory in the final three innings of the game.

The Astros starter, ex-Yankee, Shawn Chacon, also pitched a great game, giving up only one run, while throwing 106 pitches throughout 6 1/3 solid innings, allowing the Yankees only three hits, and four walks, and striking out two. Reliever Wright finished out the 7th inning, as the score remained tied at, 1-1.

Jose Veras replaced Joba Chamberlain, and pitched a scoreless bottom of the 7th inning. 

Houston brought in reliever, Doug Brocail to pitch the top of the 8th. Derek Jeter was the first batter up, and greeted Brocail by hitting a dramatic homerun into the right-centerfield stands, to give the Yankees the lead, 2-1. It was now up to the bullpen to close out this win.

Veras pitched another scoreless inning in the bottom of the 8th, to cap off a great performance that included giving up no hits or walks, while striking out three. So, we would now look for Mariano Rivera to get the save in the 9th; or, did Joe Girardi have another reliever in mind, as Kyle Farnsworth was warming up in the bullpen.

The Yankees did not score in the top of the 9th, as they maintained a one-run lead going into the bottom of the inning.

Well, because Mariano pitched in 5 of the last 6 games, Girardi called Farnsworth into this game to close it out. 

In my view, this move by Joe Girardi is a direct result of "the pitch count" in the last game against the Oakland A's. In that game on Thursday, June 12th, the Yankees were leading, 4-1, [on the grand slam by Hideki Matsui], as the game entered the bottom of the 9th. Up to this point in the game, Andy Pettitte retired the last 12 [A's] batters he faced, and he still looked strong, even though he had thrown 113 pitches in the first 8 innings of the game.

This would have been the perfect opportunity to rest Mariano Rivera, and allow Andy Pettitte to complete the game by pitching the 9th inning. Mariano would have received the rest he needed, and "would have been available to close out the 2-1 game vs. the Astros" !!!

In the 4-1 win against the A's, there was no reason to bring Mariano into that game, unless Pettitte got into trouble in the 9th. And, it looked like Girardi was going to leave Pettitte in the game when Andy did go to the mound, and took his warm-up throws. But, then, after he finished, Girardi walked from the dugout to bring Rivera in the game for the save situation.

Girardi said after the game, on Thursday, that he let Pettitte warm-up on the mound, so Mariano could throw a few extra warm-up pitches in the bullpen, before entering the game.

Mariano Rivera coming into the A's game for the save, made him unavailable to close out last night's 2-1 win vs. the Astros.

Bringing Kyle Farnsworth into the 9th inning was "very risky", but he did get the final three outs of the game for his first save of the year. It would have been very devastating if Farnsworth blew the lead, but the Yankees did win the game. The winning pitcher was Jose Veras (1-0).

The Yankees are now two games over .500, with a record of, 35-33, this season.