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Yankees edge Blue Jays

Mike Mussina scattered seven hits over seven-plus innings as the New York Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 3-1, today to earn a split of the two-game series at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.

Mussina allowed a run, struck out seven and did not walk a batter in 7.1 innings. Kyle Farnsworth completed the eighth inning, and Mariano Rivera pitched a perfect ninth inning for his second save. It was the Yankees' first win in which they scored fewer than nine runs.

Alex Rodriguez hit his fifth home run of the season in the fifth inning to break a scoreless tie. The Yankees added another run later that inning when the Blue Jays caught Jorge Posada in a rundown with two outs, but allowed Hideki Matsui to score from third before registering the out.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 3:44 PM | Permalink

PawSox shut out Durham

Jimmy Serrano pitched six strong innings and Jeff Bailey hit his fourth home run of the season, tying for the International League lead, as the Pawtucket Red Sox defeated the Durham Bulls, 6-0, today in North Carolina.

Serrano combined with relievers Manny Delcarmen and Mike Holtz on a five-hit shutout. Holtz struck out the side in order in the ninth.

Bailey's two-run home run off Durham starter Jamie Shields broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning. Bailey scored three runs in the game. Hee Seop Choi added a solo home run in the eighth inning.

The win moved the PawSox' record to 7-7 on the season.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 1:49 PM | Permalink

If Stern's going, he leaves good memories behind

Jonathan Papelbon told reporters after last night's game that he didn't think Adam Stern's diving, game-ending, bases-loaded, snow-cone catch was a catch at all until the umpire called Tampa Bay's Damon Hollins out. Today, some people on talk-radio are suggesting that Stern got lucky making an unwise gamble in going after the ball at all. But there is no question that if Stern is in fact sent down to the minors later this week, he has at least had his moments, with the bat and the glove, filling in for the injured Coco Crisp. But Sox fans should hope that the news is good on Crisp's injured finger after the splint is removed tomorrow. The fill-in combination of Stern and Dustan Mohr is 1-for-15 in the last four games. Overall, Stern and Mohr have batted just .200 playing center field in the nine games since Crisp was injured in Baltimore.

It might surprise you to know that Joey Gathright not only claims to harbor no bitterness over his spring-training tussle with the Red Sox, he actually grew up as a Boston fan.

Stern wasn't the only one making a nice catch last night in center field. Johnny Damon made two great plays crashing into the wall for the New York Yankees as his team lost to the Blue Jays. Damon didn't have a great night at the plate, though: he went 0-for-5, but is still batting .309. The Yankees play a day game today against Toronto; it's on ESPN at 12:30, with Mike Mussina facing Ted Lilly. Strangely, New York is 5-0 in day games this season, and 1-7 at night.

Interesting news from the AP: a record seven Venezuelan pitchers started games in the major leagues last night. The pitchers: Carlos Zambrano of the Chicago Cubs, Victor Zambrano of the New York Mets, Tony Armas Jr. of Washington, Gustavo Chacin of Toronto, Carlos Silva of Minnesota, Kelvim Escobar of the Los Angeles Angels, and Felix Hernandez of Seattle. The country's most famous pitching product, Minnesota's Johan Santana, got the night off. Escobar got the win and Silva the loss in the Angels' 8-2 win at Minnesota; the other five starters were 2-2 with a no decision.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 10:13 AM | Permalink