Both Amanda and I have been to a couple of Yankees games this year, but we hadn't been to one together until today. Before today's game, when I was in attendance the Yanks were 0-2, and when Amanda has been there they are 2-0, and sadly the record did not improve today. I am now 0-3 this year and really can't remember the last time I was at the stadium and they won. I am pretty sure they won at least 1 game I went to last year, but it's starting to get depressing, and my mother in law is threatening not to invite me to any more games.
Anyway, on to a recap of the game.
Dan Giese made his first start in the major after a long grind in the minor leagues. Giese is 31 years old and before his time this year with the Yankees only pitched in a 8 games with the San Fransico Giants in 2007. I wanted to find out more information about him so I headed over to baseball-reference.com, a fantastic site for baseball stats, and they don't even have an entry for him yet. The reason he finally got an opportunity to make a start on the big league stage is because of the recent injury to Chien-Ming Wang, and I am happy to say he took full advantage of it. Giese may have ended up with the lose, but it certainly wasn't his fault. Giese went 6 and 2/3 scoreless innings before running into trouble in the 7th. Giese had 2 outs when he committed a throwing error which extended the inning and eventually lead to a 2 run double which ended his day. He ended up being charged for 3 runs, none of them earned. I am pretty sure that I can speak for all Yankees fans when I say, sign me up for that any day of the week. Any time you can get 6 or more innings of quality pitching from your starter you are in great position to win, and that's all you can really ask for. I am very happy for Dan Giese, his work ethic and perseverance paid off and he got his chance on the big stage, and I was among the fans that gave him a standing ovation as he left the field.
The Reds started rookie Daryl Thompson who went 5 innings with 4 hits and 4 walks in his major league debut. While Thompson pitched fairly well, especially for a rookie making his debut in the bright lights of Yankee stadium, the Yankees had several opportunities early in the game. In the second inning the Yankees loaded the bases with no outs on the strength of 2 hits and a walk. They were then quickly dispatched as Posada struck out, Cano fouled out, and Cabrera struck out. Not getting any runs in a situation like that can be devastating, not only do you come away empty handed, but you give a young pitcher more confidence. Obviously there is no way to say how a few runs in this early situation would have changed the game, but taking a lead early on a young pitcher could have gotten you deep into the Reds bullpen early and dramatically changed the tone of the game.
All in all it was an off day for the offense and the bullpen, which gave up 4 runs in 2 1/3 innings. The Yankees have won 7 of their last 9, winning 7 in a row prior to the series with Cincinnati, but with this 2 game slide they are now 5 games out of the division and 4.5 out of the wild card. We aren't even at the half way point of the season, so there is plenty of baseball to be played, but the Yankees have to capitalize on the softer schedule over the next week before they get back into playing the AL East.
Comments (1)
I just want to clarify the threat about Yankee losses and you in attendance. You are welcome to go to any game you choose, just not when I'm at one!
Posted by Susan Ottenstroer | June 22, 2008 8:49 AM
Posted on June 22, 2008 08:49