Pronk Proves to be Key

For someone who isn't supposed to start against left handed pitchers, Travis Hafner sure looked like he was playing today with something to prove. The power hitter is Girardi's go-to guy against right handed pitchers, but he notched a key homer against a lefty starter in today's game. Ben Francisco has been horrid and Girardi finally had some guts and took him out of the starting lineup after giving him countless chances to prove that he could hit lefties. Vernon Wells continued to hit today after driving in the tying run in the seventh inning before Hafner hit an RBI triple to right-center field.

CC Sabathia battled tonight, going eight innings and allowing four runs (three earned). CC gave the Yankees a chance to win, despite the Yankees being in a 3-0 hole early. This team is different from Yankees teams in years past. They are gritty and gutty, and take each at-bat seriously. That's how this team of replacements has done so well this year. Eventually the injuries will catch up and the team will level off but it's nice to see they are playing so well. I give a lot of credit to Girardi and the front office for assembling this team that people were laughing at after the first two games of the season against the Red Sox.

The Yankees will try for a four game sweep tomorrow afternoon when Phil Hughes takes the mound to face RA Dickey who has fared better in his last couple of starts. Dickey lost his last start against the Orioles but pitched well after a crooked inning.