Kuroda, Wise both Brilliant in Win

Today, the Yankees got fantastic performances out of two men who weren't even on the roster one year ago. Hiroki Kuroda and Dewayne Wise both sparkled in the Yankees win to stop a two game skid. Kuroda pitched seven strong innings of three run ball and struck out eleven batters. He tied a career high in strikeouts. Kuroda has been very on and off this year but lately, he has been showing ace-like characterisitcs. He is keeping the Yankees in games and giving them strong pitching, leaving other teams scratching their heads. The Yankees 8-9 combination of Robertson and Soriano were perfect as they retired all of the batters they faced.

The offense did not suffer a hangover from the night before. Cano went 2-4 with a home run, his eighteenth of the season. Also, Dewayne Wise showed the Yankees that he can be used on back-to-back days after pitching! He collected three hits with an RBI double and a solo home run of his own. Dewayne Wise has been an invaluable addition to this team after Gardner's elbow injury. He has provided them with speed on the bases and lately, a hot bat as well.

Tomorrow, the Yankees will celebrate their 66th edition of Old Timers Day. Also, Phil Hughes will try to close out the series against the White Sox with a victory.

The All-Star selection show will be at 1 PM tomorrow on TBS where they will announce the winners of the fan vote.

Disastrous Game in the Bronx

On a night so bad for the Yankees, the only positive of the night was Jeter passing Cal Ripken Jr. on the all time hits list. Other than that milestone, this is a game the Yankees will love to forget about, and hopefully fast. Adam Warren made his much anticipated major league debut tonight. That is the first thing that he will forget quickly. He went 2.1 innings and got smacked around by the White Sox after being spotted an early 4-0 lead. Warren gave it all back and then some. Giardiasis needed length out of Warren tonight and the rookie failed to give him that. After the game, we learned that Warren is being sent down to AAA and that J Mitchell will be called up for tomorrow night's game in the case that Girardi needs a long reliever. After frying the bullpen tonight, they have no choice but to make the moves. They even called up David Phelps for tonight specifically for long relief in case Warren didn't get the job done. The Cory Wade mystery continues. He allowed six more runs tonight in 2.1 innings of work and forced Girardi to call on Dewayne Wise to get the final two outs of the ninth inning.

The offense did its job tonight. Anytime the Yankees offense goes out ad gives the pitcher a 4 runs lead in the first inning, that has to be taken advantage of. In Adam Warren's case, he did not do so. They ended up scoring seven runs in the blowout loss but positive signs are coming from the offense, which scored runs with men in scoring position. This game looks a lot worse given the nature of last night's ninth inning loss. The Yankees need to salvage the last two games of the series to earn a split. Their pitching isn't good enough to keep giving games to the other teams in the AL East.

In hopes of avoiding a three game losing streak, the Yankees will send out right-handed Hiroki Kuroda. The pitcher is coming off a brilliant performance against the Indians. He will pitch opposite Jake Peavy, who has had a career year thus far.

Lineup, I'll be at the game!

Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Andruw Jones DH
Jayson Nix LF
Chris Stewart C

SP: RHP Adam Warren

Questionable Managerial Moves cause Loss

The Yankees were in position to win tonight's game. Nova pitched a gem and the Yankees were up by two runs when they entered the ninth inning. Instead of using Robertson, Girardi kept Cody Eppley in the game who gave up a single to Alex Rios. Clay Rapada was called upon. He got a double play ball him to him but threw the ball into center field to make it first and third with nobody out. Girardi then called on Robertson to work his Houdini magic but no such luck tonight. The first hitter that Robertson faced belted a three-run home run to left field. After that batter, Robertson retired the next three hitters.

What was Girardi thinking? If he was going to Robertson to finish the game anyway, why not give him a clean inning to work with? I usually can't fault Girardi's use of the bullpen but tonight was just a classic example of why over-managing blows up in your face. Now, instead of Nova winning 10 games and the Yankees having a six game winning streak, they have lost the game when Baltimore and Toronto were losing. With the losses of CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte, they need to gain as many games in the standings as they can so when they reach a cold streak, it does not affect them as badly.

I won't pin this loss on Girardi completely. Clay Rapada should have had a double play on the ball that was grounded to him. Robertson giving up the three-run bomb was a result of Rapada's inability to make a simple play. The Yankees will look to rebound tomorrow night as Adam Warren makes his first career start. He will face lefty Quintana who has never faced the Yankees.

Martin out with stiff back

Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Alex Rodriguez DH
Robinson Cano 2B
Mark Teixeira 1B
Nick Swisher RF
Raul Ibanez LF
Eric Chavez 3B
Chris Stewart C

Bad Day in the Bronx Despite Win

It all started in the morning. The game hadn't even been played yet. CC Sabathia would miss two starts because of a adductor strain. That was a manageable timetable for a team whose pitching was immaculate in the month of June. They would be able to overcome no Sabathia for two starts. Adam Warren was called up to start in CC's place and Freddy Garcia would be starting Friday's game against the White Sox. However, when the game started things would quickly change.

Andy Pettitte was cruising through the Indians lineup. He had given up one unearned run on an Alex Rodriguez error and had the lead going into the fifth inning. The first batter he faced, Casey Kotchman lined a ball off Pettitte's ankle and Pettitte was down. The trainer and Girardi came out. Pettitte threw a couple of warm-ups with hesitation. He was hurt. Girardi let him go because Andy is a bulldog. One pitch later, Andy Pettitte was out of the game and two hours later it was determined that he had a fractured ankle and would miss six weeks. No surgery is required so that is a good sign for the Yankees if you could call it that. Pettitte has been the Yankees second horse behind Sabathia. He was pitching better than he ever had pitched in his career and the Yankee rotation was thriving. With Pettitte out until August and CC Sabathia missing his next two starts the Yankees have some work to do to replace their aces in the rotation.

Suddenly, a starting rotation of Kuroda, Hughes, Nova, Garcia and Adam Warren doesn't strike fear for opposing teams. The five men will have to do without the aces of the staff. Garcia has been showing good signs as a reliever and Adam Warren is a strike thrower, but how long will the men get the job done? Warren is making his debut on Friday because Garcia pitched in relief today. I will be at the game Friday against the White Sox, and will witness a Yankee starting pitcher debut. I was high on Warren before the season started. He showed that he can get big-league hitters out in his spring training start against the Red Sox. I have hope in Warren. He is someone who the Yankees may be counting on in the future if he makes his presence known now.

BREAKING: CC Sabathia on DL, lineup

CC Sabathia has been placed on the 15 day DL with a grade 1 strained adductor muscle. He felt it in the fourth inning against the Mets on Sunday night but didn't tell the Yankees until his bullpen session yesterday. He will miss two starts and will return after the All Star break.

Freddy Garcia will return to the starting rotation in Sabathia's absence. He will make the start this Friday against the White Sox. Kind of scares me that Garcia is back in the rotation but maybe this time he will prove something. I will be at the game Friday so hopefully I won't be ripping hairs out of my head if Garcia gives up eight runs. Adam Warren should be getting called up in place of Sabathia on the 25 man roster.

Lineup against Ubaldo Jimenez:

Curtis Granderson CF
Nick Swisher RF
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Mark Teixeira DH
Raul Ibanez LF
Eric Chavez 1B
Russell Martin C
Jayson Nix SS

SP: LHP Andy Pettitte