Yankees ready to take series from Cleveland

By Gary W. Marchese Jr.

Cleveland, OH (July 28) – The New York Yankees will take on the Cleveland Indians tonight trying to win three out of four and take the series before heading to Tampa for a first place showdown.  The Yankees are currently 1 1/2 games ahead of the Rays who won their game earlier today.  The Yankees will send Dustin Moseley to the mound making his first start of the season.  Here are the lineups and some news and notes for tonight’s game.

Yankees Lineup:Jeter(SS), Granderson(CF), Teixeira(1B), Rodriguez(3B), Cano(2B), Swisher(DH), Gardner(LF), Cervelli(C), Curtis(RF)

Indians Lineup:Crowe(CF), Cabrera(SS), Choo(RF), Santana(C), Kearns(LF), LaPorta(1B), Nix(3B), Duncan(DH), Valbuena(2B)

Moseley had the same kind of hip surgery that A-rod had last season.  Moseley is with the Yankees because they were willing to be patient with him, they said if you aren’t 100% we will work with you.  He has an oppurtunity now, he isn’t guaranteed more than tonight’s start but he said he just rolls with it.  In the past 16 games Curtis Granderson has started to turn around his season.  He is batting 339 with three doubles, three home runs, six RBI and 12 runs.  Most of the power he has shown has come in the last eight games.  He has three homers and two doubles in the last eight games. 

A.J. Burnett was really good last night and said “It’s the most I have felt like A.J. in a long long time.  That is probably because I was able to throw a curveball for a strike.”  That is the key for Burnett, when his curveball is working everything seems to work out well.  After not winning in June Burnett is 3-1 with a 2.00 ERA through five starts in July.  That is counting the terrible start he had last weekend when he cut his hand in frustration. 

Joe Girardi said he went to Joba Chamberlain in the seventh because he only wants Sergio Mitre to start innings.  He said that is what he is used too.  Brett Gardner had his 30th multi-hit game of the season last  night.  The Yankees have five hitters with 30 or more multi-hit games this season and are the only team in the majors with that many.  The Yankees are 12-3 in their last 15 road games.  Derek Jeter was the only starter without a hit last night. 

The Yankees own the best record by a defending champion since the 1968 Cardinals.  It is the best record after 100 games for the Yankees since 1998.  The Yankees are 21-11 in series finales this year.  They have won each of their last 10 such games.  The Yankees have six shutouts this season and five have come on the road.  They own the most shutouts on the road this season in the AL.  They are trailing only Colorado who have eight and are tied with Cincinatti and Florida.  Burnett has held opponents scoreless in six starts this season which is the most such starts by a AL pitcher this season.  He ties five others for most in the majors.

Posted by gmarchesej on July 29, 2010. Filed under MLB News,News and Sports with Gary W. Marchese Jr.,Sports,US Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.