Here's the lineup, live blog after the jump.
Anytime the Yanks face a pitcher with a girl's name, it's advantage Yankees.
vs. Dana Eveland
- Damon (LF)
- Jeter (SS)
- Abreu (RF)
- A-Rod (3B)
- Giambi (DH)
- Posada (C)
- Betemit (1B)
- Cano (2B)
- Melky (CF)
The Wanger is on the hill.
Flaherty and Singleton in the booth. I don't know about you, but I'm glad to have a series without Michael Kay. No Shelley in the lineup tonight, I'm not really sure why he's on the roster if you aren't going to use him in a game like this, although Betemit has been swinging a hot bat. And away we go...
Top First- Damon grounds back to the pitcher.
- Jeter walks.
- Abreu singles to left, Jeter was running on the pitch and goes to third.
- A-Rod singles to center, Abreu gunned down trying to go to third, A-Rod to second on the throw. Jeter scores, (1-0, Yanks)
- Giambino hits a seeing-eye single to the vacated shortstop hole. A-Rod scores, (2-0, Yanks)
- Posada walks. First and second, two out for Betemit.
- Betemit grounds into a fielder's choice, 5-4. Good start, let's see which Wanger shows up tonight.
Bottom First- Jack Hannahan gets hit on the foot on Wang's first pitch. Not exactly the type of start to the game you'd hope for.
- Damon makes a sliding catch on a Bobby Crosby line drive. That ball was smoked.
- Cust flies out deep to right, shattering his bat in the process.
- Chavez flies out to center.
Top Second- Cano grounds out to second.
- Melky lines out to the second baseman.
- Damon shatters his bat on a ground out to first.
Bottom Second
- Mark Ellis leads off with a double down the third base line.
- Barton strikes out swinging.
- Travis Buck grounds out to third. First ground ball out. Sinker has looked better these last two batters.
- Carlos Gonzalez grounds out to Wang who takes care of it himself with the tag. The sinker seems to finally be sinking.
Top Third- Jeter strikes out on a bad pitch.
- Abreu walks on 5 pitches.
- A-Rod singles through the left side. First and second, one out for the Giambino.
- Giambi k's on a curve in the dirt.
- Posada flies out to right. Two men stranded.
Bottom Third- Suzuki singles on a grounder through the right side.
- Hannahan flies out to left.
- Crosby hits into a double play, 6-4-3.
Top Fourth- Betemit K's looking. Dana is looking sharp as the game wears on.
- Cano flies out to shallow left.
- Melky lines out to first this time. Quick inning.
Bottom Fourth- Cust hits a sharp grounder to Betemit, he boots it. They call it a single, should've been an error.
- Chavez grounds out to first, Cust moves to second.
- Ellis doubles to left center. Cust scores (2-1, Yanks)
- Barton grounds out to first, Ellis moves to third.
- Buck grounds out to short. Inning over. That should've been an unearned run, and a very easy inning for Wang.
Top Fifth- Damon walks on a 3-2 count.
- Jeter grounds into a 5-4-3 double play on a 3-1 pitch. If you can explain to me why Damon wasn't running there I'll give you a dollar.
- Abreu walks on four pitches. That's five walks for Dana so far.
- A-Rod grounds out to short.
Bottom Fifth- Gonzalez walks on 4 pitches. (Leadoff walks score 60% of the time)
- Suzuki hits into a 5-4-3 double play (that's what happens to the other 40% of leadoff walks)
- Hannahan strikes out.
Top Sixth- Giambi walks to lead off (Leadoff walks score 60% of the time)
- Posada flies out to deep right and Giambi tags up and goes to second on the play. I have no idea how that happened.
- Betemit fouls out down the right field line.
- Cano flies out to deep left. The odds say the next 3 leadoff walks will all score.
Bottom Sixth- Crosby singles to left.
- Cust grounds into a 4-6-3 double play.
- Chavez grounds out to Jeter.
Top Seventh- Melky lays down a nice bunt, but he's thrown out by a nicer play by Suzuki. Melky slid into first, giving the RAB guys even more ammunition.
- Damon singles to right. He has to be stealing here, absolutely has to.
- Damon gets gunned down on a botched hit and run. I would've preferred a straight steal, I'm glad Girardi had him on the move, though.
- Jeter k's to end the inning.
Bottom Seventh- Ellis singles to center. 7th straight inning the A's have had the leadoff man on base.
- Barton grounds out to Jeter. Ellis moves to second on the hit and run.
- Buck walks
- Gonzalez singles to center. Bases loaded, one out.
- Suzuki grounds into a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning. Huge pitch there.
Top Eighth- Abreu singles to right.
- A-Rod flies out to right.
- Giambi gets plunked by Embree. First and second, one out for Posada.
- Posada strikes out.
- Betemit strikes out.
Bottom Eighth- Hannahan flies out to left.
- Girardi has seen enough, Wang out, Veras in.
- Crosby grounds out to the pitcher.
- Cust walks.
- Rajai Davis pinch runs for Cust and steals second.
- Chavez walks.
- Ellis grounds out to second to end the inning.
Top Ninth- Cano flies out to center.
- The Melk Man hits a solo shot to right off Foulke, shock and awe at RAB. (3-1, Yanks)
- Damon k's.
- Jeter grounds out to second.
- Huge insurance run compliments of the Melk Man.
Bottom Ninth- Enter Sandman.
- Barton k's.
- Buck pops out to shallow right.
- Gonzalez singles to center.
- Suzuki flies out to right to end the game.
Player of The Game: I'm going with Mo here. 4 straight days of work and he slams the door on the A's.
Team Record: 33-32
Damon: Uno, see graphic above.
Another in Oakland tomorrow night. Sleep well, Yankee fans.
Girl's name...c'mon now...no mud slinging, this isn't the democratic primary!
Carlos Gonzalez has a cannon in centerfield
Abreu was toast at third.
Giambi's mustache is horrible. At least he doesnt have that horribly greasy hair down to his shoulders anymore
It's still greasy. I can't wait 'til the stache is long enough for the handlebars.
Well, they are hitting Wang hard, I just hope they start dropping in!
It looks like Wang is throwing bp. I think the A's may have the least-recognizable roster in the majors.
Have you seen the San Fransisco Giants lately?
At least the Giants have Rowand and Benji Molina. That A's lineup last night had Chavez and that's about it as far as guys who have been in the league 5 years or longer.
Seeing the A's in person, I thought it was amusing that all of the players look the same as far as height, weight, and general build. Frank Thomas was the exception, he looked like Frankenstein.
A-Rod up to more bush league antics
He just tried to call time, nothing bush league about that. Your AA pitcher just got confused out there.
And yes, I'm well aware that your AA pitcher is shutting down the Yanks.
I know he wasn't doing anything. I just like to rag on A-Rod. You would think that the umpire, seeing the hitter wasn't in a stance and the pitcher then stopping his movement, would have just gone with a re-do of the previous pitch. I don't think a balk was warranted in that situation.