NYY 8, SEA 1: Welcome Back Wang

This photo is very appropriate. For 7.2 innings today, Chien-Ming Wang was all alone. Alone on the mound, and alone on the bench. Wang retired the first 22 batters he faced in the Yanks 8–1 win over the Mariners. In the eighth, Wang got Richie Sexson to tap out in front of the plate, then left a change-up up in the zone, Ben Broussard deposited it in the right field seats spoiling the perfecto, no hitter and shutout with one swing of the bat.

Here’s Wang’s final line for the day:
8 IP, 1 earned, 2 hits, 0 walks, 4 Ks, 103 pitches, 65 strikes.

Jeter bounced back from his 0–6 yesterday with a 3–4. Posada bumped his average up to .344 with two hits and an RBI.

I know much has been said about the Yankee starting pitching, and to be fair, it’s all been deserved. Injuries have ravaged the rotation, and the rookies they’ve had to rely on have gotten roughed up. This week was the first time the top three starters in the rotation all started. Wang, Mussina, Pettitte and Hughes combined to go 4–0 throwing 25.1 innings with a cumulative ERA of 1.06.

Keep those numbers in mind over the next couple of days when Darrell Rasner and Matt DeSalvo are called upon to make emergency starts for the Bombers. Once everyone is healthy, this staff will be fine.

Player of the Game: That Wang dude.