Splitsville in the Windy City

After a dismal, dismal showing (5–3 loss) in the day portion of today’s doubleheader, the Yanks bounced back with a blow out win in the nightcap (8–1 win) over the White Sox.

Mussina was horrible in game 1, Wang was masterful in game 2. The bats couldn’t do anything in game 1, the bats exploded in game 2. Yes, the difference was day and night.

It was nice to see Abreu break out a little bit in game 1 (2–4 with an opposite field bomb), and even though he K’d his first three times up in the second game, he did come up with a big hit late in the game.

The Melkman ruined the save opportunity for Mo with a leadoff bomb in the top of the ninth, from there the Yanks pretty much demolished sacrificial lamb, Andrew Sisco.

Farnsworth was lucky to get out of the eighth without giving up a run, but what else is new? Mo came in, broke a bat, struck someone out, and pretty much looked like Mo should look. His cutter was really moving tonight, good sign.

Wang’s sinker is starting to look a lot like Mo’s cutter. When Wang is on, he doesn’t throw anything else, he doesn’t need to. Mid-nineties sinker that dives late, it’s almost impossible to elevate that pitch. Wang may pitch on short rest against the Mets on Sunday, and I doubt short rest will affect him. Sinkerballers usually get more movement on their pitches as they tire.

The Yanks now sit in second place with a 18–20 record, and an eight-game deficit in the A.L. East. The Sox were rained out tonight, they play a day/night double dip of their own tomorrow against les Tigres.

One last note on today’s games: Melky Cabrera has an absolute cannon of an arm. In the first game he almost threw out a runner at the plate from deep left, in the nightcap he had 1 assist and held two runners with strong throws from center. If he isn’t playing center tonight, this game could’ve been tied, or a one-run game going into the ninth. His defense demands that he be in the lineup, and he’s starting to get hot at the plate as well. Thank God the Yanks didn’t trade him for Mike Gonzalez in the offseason.

Player of the Game (Game 1): Bobby Abreu
Player of the Game (Game 2): Chien-Ming Wang: 7 IP, 1 earned, 6 hits, 1 walk, 3 Ks.