A couple of weeks ago, it looked over. The Yankees were swept by the lowly White Sox and were dead and buried. They trailed first place Boston by 11 and a half games and were an afterthought for the wildcard. Alex Rodriguez had just returned and the circus was just beginning. But a funny thing happened. Since that point, the Bronx Bombers have won 11 of 14 including a four-game sweep of the Blue Jays yesterday. They’re right back in it trailing second wildcard leader Oakland by three games. They enter a crucial weekend series in Tampa five behind the Rays for the first wildcard and six out of the division.
Since Ryan Dempster’s intentional plunking of A-Rod, the Yanks have reeled off five straight and look to keep the momentum going against someone they’re chasing. Entering tonight, they have 35 games remaining including 26 versus division rivals. SIx come against Tampa. Seven against Baltimore, who enter their three-game set against Oakland a half game up on the Yankees for third. They also play Boston seven and Toronto six. The leftovers come against San Francisco and Houston. Certainly, it’s doable for a club written off prematurely.
Suddenly, a once weak lineup is scoring runs thanks to Rodriguez and Curtis Granderson, whose returns coincided with the acquisition of Alfonso Soriano. Soriano has been potent slugging nine homers and knocking in 28. That featured a ridiculous four-game stretch where he hit five homers and drove in 18. Now 37, the veteran left field slugger is still the same streaky free swinging power hitter he was when he started in the Big Apple a decade prior. However, it’s obvious that getting out of Chicago has reinvigorated him. With Soriano and Rodriguez helping protect Robinson Cano, the All-Star second baseman has heated up raising his average to .307 with 23 homers and 81 RBI’s. Robby is seeing better pitches and also reaching base more. His .388 on-base percentage is on track for a new career high. Throw in Granderson’s big bat and they have a much different look. He homered in Thurday’s 5-3 win over Toronto. The Grandy Man has hit in five straight and 10 of the last 11. In fact, the only game he didn’t record a hit was last Friday’s win over Boston when Joe Girardi didn’t start him. Over that 11-game stretch, Granderson is 14 for 34 with two homers, nine runs scored and four RBI’s. He’s also stolen two bases.
Joe Girardi also has righty power bat Mark Reynolds at his disposal who he can use against lefties at first to spell Lyle Overbay. Recently, catching duo Chris Stewart and improving rookie Austin Romine have delivered big hits. Romine’s been steadier behind the plate proving why Brian Cashman held onto him. It certainly doesn’t hurt that Jesus Montero has bombed with Seattle. The former catcher is done for the year and serving a 50-game suspension for Biogenesis. Not that Michael Pineda is doing any better these days. Right now, the Yanks are getting steady play from lead off man Brett Gardner and better pitching. Andy Pettite pitched six yesterday permitting only one earned. His second consecutive quality start. In fact, the home run he allowed to Jay catcher J.P. Arencibia is the only earned run he’s given up over his last two starts. For the ageless 41-year old, that’s a good sign. Even Phil Hughes managed not to allow a homer his last outing working six allowing two earned. Thanks to Jayson Nix’s late heroics, the Yanks won. Too bad he’s done for the regular season.
At least Yankee captain Derek Jeter is on track to comeback. In his first rehab game with Scranton/Wilkes Barre, he went 2 for 3 with a double, single and RBI over five innings against Pawtucket last night. For now, they can rely on Eduardo Nunez, whose picked up offensively and defensively at short. He scored a run and plated two Thursday. He’s 12 for 35 with seven runs, seven RBI’s and three steals over the last 10.
Tonight, they send their best starter to the mound in AL ERA leader Hiroki Kuroda. He’s 11-8 with a 2.41 ERA. Kuroda has been tremendous all season and once again aims to get the Yanks off to a good start. He opposes Chris Archer, who two hit the Yanks last month. Undoubtedly, the lineup he’ll see will be a lot tougher. The Yankee bats must remain patient and make him work. If they do, it likely will be six in a row which would match their season high. Most importantly, they must get this series. There’s no margin for error. We’ll see if they can take the sting out of the Rays.
