Teixeira and Martin with a Huge Game

After coming off taking three out of four games against the Red Sox, the Yankees offense looked sluggish to start the game. Teixeira hit a two run shot off starter CJ Wilson and for most of the game, that was the entire Yankee offense. In the eighth inning, Scott Downs came in with an ERA of 0.30 to face the heart of the Yankee order. Derek Jeter doubled into the right-center field gap then Granderson worked a tough walk against Downs. For Granderson, that walk was significant because it brought the tying run to the plate in Mark Teixeira. It was also important because Granderson had been 0-12 against Downs in his career before that plate apperance. If he was not going to get a hit against him, a walk is the next best thing. Mark Teixeira then clobbered a 1-2 pitch from Downs deep to left field for a three run home run that tied the game. Nick Swisher worked a walk and was pinch-run for by Wise who later scored on a big double by Russell Martin. Martin, who was hitting .179 coming into tonight drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth to give the Yankees a permanent lead.

Hiroki Kuroda gave the Yankees a representative performance tonight. If you take away the Trumbo three run shot, he factors into the decision and maybe gets a win. Kuroda went 7.1 innings and allowed five runs, three of which came on the Trumbo bomb. The bullpen came in sealed the deal to give the Yankees their Major League best fifty-third victory. How fitting it was that the final out came on a caught stealing when Martin nabbed Kendrick trying to advance on a ball in the dirt. Russell Martin does not have many memorable moments this season but I'm sure that this game will be on his mind for quite some time. If this game helps him improve, it gives the Yankees another competent bat in their already strong lineup.