HOT & STICKY BUT THE YANKEES SWEEP THE BLUE JAYS

America's corn crop may be wilting under the oppressive heat and drought that is gripping our country this summer, but not the New York Yankees.  In 94 degree heat and skyrocketing humidity, along with field temperatures that reached as high as 122 degrees, the Yankees thrived. Starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda and company were unfazed by the difficult conditions.

Kuroda pitched around an Alex Rodriguez two base error in the first; survived a hit up the middle in the second off the bat of Kelly Johnson, that Robinson Cano knocked down but could not pick up, by striking out the side; and he survived a JP Arencibia line drive that Dewayne Wise misplayed into a double to start the fifth inning. 

The fifth looked like a bonafide Blue Jays threat, but a diving catch in left by Andruw Jones, combined with a nice grab of a foul pop at first base by Mark Teixeira off the bat of Rajai Davis, and a 4-3 ground out by Omar Vizquel to end the inning, resulted in no runs for the Blue Jays.  Kuroda breezed through the sixth, encountered some difficulty in the seventh but stranded two runners without allowing a run.

Then the rain finally arrived at Yankee Stadium.  A 51 minute lightning delay to begin the game resulted in a late start to the day's festivities, then heavy rain hit the Stadium in the bottom of the seventh inning.  The Yankees were leading 6-0 at the time. The offense had started the day quickly thanks to a double by Derek Jeter to open the Yankee half of the first, followed by an RBI single to right by Nick Swisher and a two-run HR off the bat of Mark Teixeira. 

Ten pitches into the game and Jays starter Ricky Romero was in trouble.  The Yankees were able to add another run in that inning with a double off the bat of Cano and an RBI single to right from Andruw Jones.  Cano's hit extended his hit streak to 21 games, the longest of his career.

The Yankees added single runs in the 4th and 6th innings respectively.  Jayson Nix and Dewayne Wise were in the middle of both rallies.  Nix scored on an RBI single by Wise in the fourth inning following his one out double to center field.  In the sixth, Nix singled to left and scored again on yet another RBI single by Wise, this time to center field.  These two runs brought the Yankee lead to 6-0 and then the rain delay took over as fans scurried for cover in the downpour.

After an extended delay, the game was called and the Yankees came away with a 6-0 win and a three game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays!

Game notes: 

• Alex Rodriguez looks like he is experiencing some throwing problems with an errant throw in the first for the E5, another wide throw in the 5th inning off a Brett Lawrie ground ball that was saved by a great catch on Teixeira's end, and a high throw to second that Cano saved.  Alex also bobbled a ground ball off the bat of Yunel Escobar in the sixth.  The Blue Jays suffered their second serious injury in two days when Brett Lawrie dove into the third base camera well trying to make a play on a foul ball off the bat of Teixeira.  He injured his right calf/leg.  
• This year Omar Vizquel became the oldest man in major league baseball history to start a game at shortstop; he is 45 years old.  
• Russell Martin is hitting .182 after 220 at bats.  The worst average in MLB history by a catcher with a minimum of 400 at bats in a season is currently .191 by Billy Sullivan of the Chicago White Sox in 1908.     
• David Phelps was recalled and DJ Mitchell was sent back down for their West Coast Road Trip.

--Frank Gentry, BYB Writer




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