Yanks Take Momentum Into the Break

Well, it’s been a disappointing first half of the season, but today the Yanks capped it in style with a 12–0 win over their nemesis, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Chien-Ming Wang battled his blister/broken nail problems to throw 6.1 innings, scattering 5 hits and 2 walks while striking out 3.

The Yanks used the long ball to score 9 of their 12 runs, Matsui, A-Rod and Cano each hit three-run bombs, Earl Weaver would be proud. Ervin Santana looked putrid for the Angels. He allowed 9 earned in 3 innings of work.

I’ll use the All Star break as a chance to look back at what’s happened and look forward to what the Yanks need to do if they’re going to make the playoffs (and what they should do if the playoffs become an impossibility by the trading deadline). For tonight, sleep easy Yankee fans. The Yanks took two straight series from playoff-caliber teams and are riding a 5–2 streak into the second half.

Player of the Game: Alex Rodriguez, 2 for 4, 2 runs, 4 RBIs and 1 HR. A-Rod’s pre-break numbers stand up with the best first halves in the history of baseball. .317 ave, .413 OBP, .665 SLG, 30 HR, 86 RBI, 79 runs.