Jim Baumbach profiles Yankees draftee, and switch pitcher, Pat Venditte.


Via Anthony Rieber.

Friday night's game featured a pitcher's duel between Yankees starter Joba Chamberlain and one-time Yankee Shawn Chacon. Chacon had the better game statistically (he pitched one additional out and allowed three less hits), but Joba was right there with him and threw 6 innings of 1 run ball, allowing 6 hits while striking out 2 and walking 4.

The Yankees scored first thanks to an A-Rod RBI single in the first inning that scored Bobby Abreu. It would be all zeros from there until the Astros finally answered with an RBI single of their own.

Jose Veras relieved Joba to start the seventh and was awesome, retiring all six batters that he faced. The final run of the game was scored in the eighth when Derek Jeter led off the inning with a go ahead home run. Yankees 2, Astros 1.

Mo has been worked pretty hard lately, so Girardi opted to go to Kyle Farnsworth. The first batter Farnsworth faced, he hit. You can imagine the collective sound throughout the nation, loosely translated to "here we go again". But, then, something happened. Farnsworth retired the speedy Michael Bourn. Jose Molina caught Ty Wiggington stealing to clear the bases. And Geoff Blum struck out swinging to end it. Farnsworth collected the save, his first of the year.

Hideki Matsui continued his hot bat, as the only Yankee to collect 2 hits, going 2 for 4. Posada had the other hit, along with a walk. Cano, A-Rod and Giambi had walks, as well, and Abreu stole his sixth base of the year.

With the win, the Yankees moved into third place in the division, 6 games behind the Red Sox. Tonight, at 7:05 PM ET, Mike Mussina (9-4, 3.82) will take the hill against Wandy Rodriguez (2-2, 1.99).

Ed Price reports that Shelley Duncan has been demoted to Triple-A and Alberto Gonzalez has been brought up to provide depth in the infield.

Right before Father's day, Harlan Chamberlain sets a great example for his kids. Man, does he seems like a good guy.

Hat tip to Steve L. for the link.

Happy Birthday Hideki Matsui...and what a grand way to celebrate.

Not much to say about this game. Andy Pettitte was fantastic, going 8 strong while allowing 6 baserunners (5 hits, 1 walk) and striking out 6. He was on the wrong end of a 1-0 score for much of the night after giving up a run in the second on a double, a groundout that moved the runner over and a single that scored him.

For much of the game, Joe Blanton was just as good in opposition...until the 6th. Derek Jeter led off the inning with a single, Bobby Abreu worked out a nine-pitch walk and A-Rod followed with another walk. That loaded them up for the birthday boy...and boy, did he deliver. 4-1 Yankees.

Mo came in and struck out 2 to and lowered his ERA to 0.87 to garnder his 18th save. So here were are again, one game over .500. Will the Astro's series be the one where the team finally hits the 2 over mark again? Let's hope so...because this treading water is just annoying.

From Peter Abraham:

Peter Abraham reports that J.B. Box is expected to miss three weeks due to tendinitis in his right shoulder.

There's not much analyzing to do here. Darrell Rasner simply stunk up the joint last night, in what was his first bad start of the season, and the Yankees lost in Oakland by a score of 8-4. The Yanks are now in a three-way tie for third in the East, 5 games behind Tampa Bay for the wild card and 7 games behind Boston for the division lead.

The Yankees went ahead 1-0 in the second on Jason Giambi's 15th home run of the season, but a disaster third inning blew the game open for the A's. A throwing error by Jason Giambi allowed the leadoff hitter to reach base, and that would open the flood gates as Rasner got knocked around to the tune of of six runs (five earned) in that inning. Rasner would leave the game in the 4th inning, finishing with a line of 7 runs (6 earned) off 9 hits in only 3 and 2/3.

The bullpen did a solid job the rest of the way, allowing only a run in the final 5 and 1/3 innings, but the damage had already been done. The Yankees made things a little bit interesting in the top of the 9th, scoring 3 runs, but it was too little too late.

So the Yankees will play the rubber game of this series in familiar territory, at .500. Andy Pettitte will face Joe Blanton, who surprisingly is 3-8 but has pitched better than that. Game starts at 10:05 E.T.

Peter Abraham has a list of new draft pick signings, according to Damon Oppenheimer. He lists:


Plus a pair of undrafted free agents: RHP Mike Obradovich from Florida Atlantic and C Ryan Baker from Cincinnati.

So, if those earlier reports are correct, the Yankees have signed a total of 18 draft picks.

Chad Jennings reports that Yankees relief prospect J.B. Cox is on the DL with a sore right shoulder (not related to his Tommy John surgery or his elbow). There is no word on how much time he'll miss.