MLB 09 The Show: Girardi takes over for Torre

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Finally got time to get a game in today.

The Yankees finally ended their 3 game losing streak with a 4-1 victory over Jered Weaver and the Angels. With the win the Yankees climb back to .500 and are 12-12.

Phil Hughes pitched 6 innings of 1 hit ball and gave up 1 unearned run, walking 3 and striking out 3. Robinson Cano put the Yankees ahead for good with a solo HR in the 6th and Jorge Posada added a 2-run HR in the 7th innings off of Darren Oliver.

Game 3 of this 4 game series will see Joe Saunders vs Ian Kennedy.

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Before our victory over the Angels in the above post, the Yankees made a couple of moves to help their struggling bullpen.

Billy Traber and David Robertson were called up from Triple AAA and Edwar Ramirez and Brian Bruney were sent down.

Traber now gives the Yankees a lefty they can use from the pen. Bruney and Ramirez can hopefully regain their form. Bruney pitched 4.0 innings in his first game in the minors and gave up no hits and had 5 K's but he did walk 3 batters.

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May 2nd Angels vs Yankees

After ending their 3 game losing streak with a win yesterday, the Yankees once again had bullpen issues and lost 6-5 to the Angels Saturday afternoon.

The Yanks jumped on Angels starter Joe Saunders for 4 runs in the 1st inning but could not close the deal. Ian Kennedy (6.0 innings, 3 ER) gave then a solid outing and left with a 5-3 lead but the bullpen still is struggling and could not hold the lead. David Robertson, just recalled from AAA, lasted on 1/3 of an inning and gave up 3 hits and a run. Kyle Farnsworth, out best setup man so far, had his worst outing of the year and gave up 4 hits and 2 ER in 2.2 innings.

A-Rod continues to be our best hitter going 3-4 with a HR.

Final game of the series will see Carl Pavano vs Jon Garland.

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May 3rd Angels vs Yankees Pavano vs Garland

Sunday afternoon saw the Yankees lose another close game to the Angels 6-4.

Carl Pavano went 6.0 innings and gave up 9 hits and 5 ER. After replacing Chien-Ming Wang in the rotation, Pavano is 1-1 with a 7.94 ERA. If this continues, Darrell Rasner might be getting a call to join the Yankees.

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Riding a 2 game losing streak, the Yankees open a 2 game series against the 1st place Red Sox today. Game one was a bloodbath as the Red Sox defeated the Yankees 15-4.

Mike Mussina never got on track and was lit up. He went 6.1 innings and was tagged for 11 hits and 9 ER. So far, he is 0-5 this year with a 8.07 ERA. Maybe Father Time is trying to tell Mussina to hang up his spikes. He barely hits 90 MPH on his fastball and his pinpoint control just isn't there...

Mike Lowell led the Red Sox hit barrage going 4-5 with 5 RBI. J.D. Drew 4-5 with 4 RBI.

The Yankees bullpen continues to pitch terribly. David Robertson pitched 2.0 innings and gave up 2 ER to raise his ERA to 11.57 in 2 outings. Newly called up Billy Traber fared even worse: 0.2 innings, 6 H and 4 ER for a 54.00 ERA...

Only bright spot again was A-Rod, who went 4-4 and has raised his average 38 points in the past 3 games.

Game 2 will see Andy Pettitte vs Daisuke Matsuzaka.

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Manager Joe Girardi called a press conference before today's game against the Red Sox to announce that veteran Mike Mussina cleared waivers and was demoted to AAA Scranton.

"Mike Mussina is a great pitcher and a great competitor," Girardi said. "We expect him back in the big leagues very soon." Mussina has been awful this year and is 0-5 with a 8.07 ERA. Darrell Rasner has been recalled from Scranton and will take Mussina's spot in the rotation. His first start will be Friday at Baltimore.

May 5th Red Sox vs Yankees

Red Sox 10 Yankees 4

The Red Sox finished a 2 game sweep of the Yankees at the Stadium as Daisuke Matsuzaka improved to 4-1 on the season. Dustin Pedroia went 4-5 with 2 RBI's and went deep along with Kevin Youkilis, Mike Lowell, and Jason Varitek.

Andy Pettitte did not have his best stuff, lasting 6.2 innings, giving up 9 hits and 6 ER. Alex Rodriguez continues his hot hitting, going 2-4 with a HR and 2 RBI's. Wilson Betemit went 4-4 and is now hitting .357 on the season, causing Girardi to DH A-Rod a little bit more and taking at-bats away from DH Hideki Matsui.

Next up is a 2 game series against the Tampa Rays: Game 1 is Andy Sonnanstine vs Phil Hughes.

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May 6th Rays 2 Yankees 3

The Yankees finally got back in the win column today with a 3-2 victory over the Rays.

Phil Hughes was great today going 8.0 innings and allowing 4 hits and 2 ER. Mariano Rivera pitched out of trouble in the 9th before picking up save number 7.

Matsui and Giambi each hit solo homers and hopefully have turned the page after struggling for the first month of the season. Wilson Betemit continues his torrid hitting with 2 more hits to bring his average up to .366.

Game 2 of the series will see Edwin Jackson against Ian Kennedy. Then the Yankees will travel to Baltimore for a 3 game series against the Orioles.

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Thursday, May 7th. Rays 3 Yankees 0

After taking game 1 of a 2 game series with the Rays, the Yankees fell flat and got shutout by Edwin Jackson and the Rays. Jackson was great, pitching 7.2 innings of shutout ball before the bullpen closed it out for him.

Only bright spot for the Yankees was Ian Kennedy, who pitched 7.0 innings and gave up 5 hits and 1 ER.

The Yankees travel to Baltimore for a weekend 3 game series. Game one is newly called up Darrell Rasner against Radhames Liz.