YANKEES WIN 3 OF 4 TO RANGERS. I'LL TAKE IT

Today was one of those games that you knew was going to be a back and forth. You could almost tell the way Ivan Nova was coming into the game and giving up 2 quick runs. Later on there were 2 more and suddenly the Yankees looked lost... down 4 -0. That changed dramatically in the 6th when the Yankees came all the way back and too the lead 5-4.

Nova's line today looked like this: 5.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 2 K

It wasn't a stellar performance at all, but overall, it almost looked the Yankees pitching kept giving hte runs back to the Rangers and the Yankee bats couldn't keep up.  One thing I can say though, Yankee pitching struck out Josh Hamilton twice in big spots.  I do however wonder if Ivan Nova is getting tired. He doesn't seem like the same pitcher that came out of the box winning this season. Like many pitchers right around this time of year, he looks sluggish and doesn't look like he's pitching with his best stuff. It's a concern for me, how about you?

The Yankees had some timely hitting today. Andruw Jones hit a 2 run homer, Russell Martin had an RBI single that was to bring the Yankees to that 5-4 lead.  At one point, the Yankees actually closed the Rangers lead to 7-6 when Mark Teixeira hit an RBI grounder, but that was it for the Yankees run scoring.

Other highlights include Derek Jeter  who had an RBI single in the 6th inning to extend his hitting streak to 12 games.  Ichiro also had three hits for the Yanks.

It's also important to point out that Robinson Cano didn't start and only came out to pinch hit in the 8th. He was out yesterday too... He had a stiff neck. He walked as a pinch hitter and when Ichiro cranked a double, Cano stopped at third.  Many suggested he could have scored and you know what? Maybe he could have, but who knows if that would have extended the inning or not. I'm not going to get on Cano for that alleged botched running play. He may have blown it, maybe not.

Final score today: Rangers 10 - Yankees 6

No they didn't sweep the Rangers but they did play a rumble in the Bronx today, but in the end, the hitting couldn't score enough runs to save the Yankees pitching. Both Nova and the bullpen, namely Joba Chamberlain couldn't do it. I can hammer Joba if you'd like, but I don't know what you want me to tell you, the guy had Tommy John surgery and then cracked his ankle on a trampoline.  Anyone who thought he'd come back with the first pump and a top speed fastball is dreaming in Lala land. Believe it or not, Joba needs work before we see him in the zone. My opinion is he's literally in Spring Training mode right now after being out for so long.  So yeah, the pen wasn't great today but it can't always be great...it happens. In the end, the Yankees won the series 3 out of 4...I'll take it.

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