Fortunately for Ron Gardenhire, his Twins will never have to step foot in this Yankee Stadium ever again. It must be something in the air here. Whatever it is, the Twins stumbled their way into another loss at the Stadium, as Mike Mussina made it impossible for Minnesota to make up for a myriad of mental mistakes. Mussina shut the door on the Twins, and the Yankees won the game by a score of 5-1 for their 6th straight victory and their 10th straight at home. The Rays and Red Sox both won as well, so the Yanks remain 3.5 and 3 games back, respectively.

Moose was on his "A" game all afternoon and gave what may have been his best outing of his stellar season, throwing 8 shutout innings, allowing just six hits and striking out seven. He threw 105 pitches (73 for strikes) and didn't walk anybody. Mussina is now tied for the A.L. lead with 13 wins and has his E.R.A. down to 3.26. If he keeps this up for another two months and keeps the E.R.A. down around the 3.00 mark, could we possibly be talking about Mussina (dare I say it?) as a Cy Young candidate?

Neither team was able to push a run across until the bottom of the 5th, when the Twins were just begging the Yankees to get on the board. With runners on first and second with one out, Jose Molina grounded into what should have been an easy double play ball, but Twins 2B Alexi Casilla thought there were two outs and never threw to first to double up Molina. Justin Christian followed that up by doing something the Yankees of the late 90's did that maybe distinguishes them from this team, which is taking advantage of the other team's mistakes. Christian lined a ball down the left field line, scoring both Robinson Cano and Jose Molina as the Yankees went ahead by a score of 2-0. Twins pitcher Glen Perkins was pretty irate, but he made a similar bonehead play in the previous inning, as he failed to cover first on a ground ball hit to the first base side that allowed Bobby Abreu to reach.

The Yankees added three more in the 6th, highlighted by a two-run double off the left-centerfield wall by Alex Rodriguez. Richie Sexson was next to hit and brought A-Rod in with a sacrifice fly.

After Mike Mussina had thrown 105 pitches in 8 innings (I wouldn't have been opposed to throwing him back out there in the 9th), Joe Girardi summoned Latroy Hawkins with the Yanks up 5-0. Hawkins labored a little as he allowed three hits, and when he allowed the tying run to come on deck, Girardi called on Mariano Rivera to record the final out (is the "save" stat rediculous or what?)

Funny how some trendy analysts were trying to label the Yankees as "sellers" during the break because they were a whopping 5.5 games out of the playoffs with 67 games to go. Turns out just a week later, the Yanks are just three games behind Boston and a sweep of this next series would give the Yankees a share of the wild card lead. The Yanks will open up their series at Fenway tomorrow night and the first game will feature a very intriguing pitching matchup, as Joba Chamberlain is set to go up against Josh Beckett. Game starts at 7:05 E.T.

I don't know how many people are prospect watchers like me but I just wanted to point out that two of the hottest hitters in the minors right now play for the AA Trenton Thunder. Going into the ninth of tonight's Trenton/New Hampshire game with a 1-1 score, it looked like Austin Jackson and Chris Malec would have their respective 9- and 8-game hitting streaks come to an end. But I guess you can't keep a good hitting streak down...because A-Jax doubled and came around to score on a Chris Malec triple. Malec would then score on a Colin Curtis single (Curtis went 2-for-3 to get his OPS back over .700 after a horrendous June).

Over the last 10 games and 36 ABs, A-Jax has just been ludicrous. Check this out...20 for 36 (.556) with 5 XBHs (4 2Bs, 1 HR) and a 6:4 BB:K ratio. He's hitting .397/466/.551/1.017 in July. Yeesh.

Almost as sizzling has been Chris Malec, who has put up a tidy 17 for 32 over his 9 game hitting streak. He's racked up 6 XBHs (4 2Bs, 1 3B, 1 HR) and worked a 4:2 BB:K ratio. Oh, and he's hitting .406/.523/.580/1.103 in July. I can understand keep Jackson at AA for a while...but come on, Malec has clearly shown (after a slump at the beginning of the season) that he can handle AA pitching. At his age (26 in a month), give him some ABs at AAA so he can start there next year and possibly help the big league club at some point during 2009. I mean, come on, does he not seem like he would be a more worthwhile option than a Wilson Betemit type? And it's not like the kid is blocked by some superstars. You're telling me he can't take away ABs from 3B Cody Ransom (.256/.325/.481/.806...but 32), 2B Nick Green (29 and putting up a .221/.274/.340/.614 line) or even Eric Duncan (23 but putting up the same line as he did last year at 1B/3B; .241/.304/.399/.703)?

According to the Yankees' official website, Jorge Posada is mulling a possible move to first base or DH as opposed to having season-ending surgery if he feels his shoulder still allows him to contribute with his bat. Posada told MLB.com's Bryan Hoch:


Kind of funny how the article mentions him possibly "moving" to DH as if that isn't where he's pretty much been for most of the season, anyway. It does show a bit of a change in Posada's attitude, though, if he is becoming more receptive of the idea of playing first base for more than just the occasional spell for a day off behind the plate.

The thing is, I'm not too sure that his shoulder injury isn't negatively affecting his bat. Posada's hit for a putrid line of .197/.324/.246 over the last 28 days. Jose Molina, by comparison, has a line of .256/.347/.279 over the same span. If Jorge isn't going to be much more than dead weight at the plate for the remainder of the season anyway, then it's probably best for him to get the surgery out of the way so he can hopefully come back at full health next year. I think that Posada at 100% in 2009 would be much more valuable to this team than Posada at 40% for the remainder of 2008 and maybe 60-80% for most of 2009.

Dan Graziano and Ed Price of The Star Ledger are reporting that the Yankees and Mariners are talking about Jarrod Washburn. Ken Rosenthal discusses the complications of such a deal, namely tied to financials: he has whatever is left on this year's $9.85 million dollar salary as well as $10.35 that he is owed next season. Plus, Rosenthal says, the Yankees would likely have to compensate him to waive his no trade clause, as well.

Via Alex.

Darrell Rasner started for the Yankees on Tuesday night, holding the Twins to 0 runs on 2 hits over the first five innings. Unfortunately, the Yankees were unable to give him any run support, scoring only 1 run in their first five turns. That run came on a Robinson Cano RBI single, scoring A-Rod in the second.

In the sixth, Rasner allowed three straight hits to begin the inning, allowing the Twins to score their first run, on a play where Jason Giambi made an error. He forced a ground out before walking a batter to make it first and second with one out.

Jason Kubel grounded into a fielder's choice that, unfortunately, scored a run from second. With a runner on third and Delmon Young at the plate, Joe Girardi opted to go to David Robertson. Robertson got Young to ground out, ending the threat.

Even though that would be the only work for Robertson, he would be the beneficiary of a three run sixth. Bobby Abreu homered, scoring Johnny Damon. A few moments later, Robinson Cano singled in A-Rod to give the Yankees a 4-2 lead.

The Yankees bullpen was in lock down mode. After Robertson's third of an inning, Jose Veras, Kyle Farnsworth and Dan Giese all pitched scoreless innings, with the only hit being off of Giese. Farnsworth even struck out the side. This allow David Robertson to collect victory number 2. His ERA is 1.59.

The Yankees added another four runs in the eighth as Jeter doubled home Damon and Gardner, Abreu doubled in Jeter and Giambi singled home Abreu.

Offensively, Johnny Damon was 1 for 4 with 2 runs and walks, Derek Jeter was 1 for 5 with a double, 1 run and 2 RBIs, Bobby Abreu was 2 for 4 with a double, a homer, 2 runs and 3 RBIs, A-Rod was 2 for 4 with a double, 2 runs, Jason Giambi was 1 for 2 with 2 walks and an RBI and Robinson Cano was 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs. Cano is now 12 for 23 since the break, with 2 doubles, 2 home runs, 4 runs and 7 RBIs.

The Yankees will pick it up again with the Twins tomorrow at 1:05 PM ET. Mike Mussina (12-6, 3.49) will be going for win number 13 against Glen Perkins (7-2, 3.84).

From the press release:


Via Steve.

Bob Raissman reports that Mary Ann Kaat, the wife of former Yankees pitcher and broadcaster Jim Kaat, has passed away.


Our thoughts are with the Kaats and those close to them.

Via Steve.

MLB.com's Willie Bans reports that Hideki Matsui was advised to have surgery on his knee, by the orthopedic surgeon who examined him on Monday, Dr. Scott Rodeo. However, as reported, Matsui refused and will attempt a comeback one more time.

I don't know if everyone has seen this yet...and while it's not directly tied to the Yankees, it does make me feel better about Bobby Abreu's defense in right when you compare it to ...

Jorge Posada is on the DL and may be out for the rest of the season, says Tyler Kepner. Posada says that he can't catch because every throw hurts. He's due to have his shoulder looked at tomorrow and then we'll know more.

Kepner also reports that Johnny Damon is back, in Posada's roster spot, and he is starting tonight at DH, batting lead off.

Finally, Ed Price reports that Hideki Matsui has opted to try coming back one last time before having surgery. The news comes after Matsui was examined today by orthopedic surgeon Scott Rodeo. Dr. Rodeo performed knee surgery on Matsui last year.