YANKEES WIN BIG BUT FANS EXPECT MORE

The Yankees won today, and Yankeeland has rejoiced... but it's not just about this win today, it's about the beyond.  We need a streak of wins, 5 or 6 or 8 to really get us back in the groove us fans are used too.  It's August... we need to start pulling away. Today may be the beginning of it.

The Yankees avoided a three game sweep in the Bronx at the hands of the Orioles.  They were able to punish two Baltimore pitchers for 10 hits, 2 of which were HRs, 4 walks, and 11 runs.  All of this occurred in the first three innings.  The highlights were a Curtis Granderson home run off Zach Britton, a two run single by Derek Jeter and a grand slam home run by Robinson Cano off reliever Kevin Gregg.

Oriole starter, Zach Britton, entered with a 1-0 record and 5.74 ERA.  Yankee fans may recall Britton as being the Oriole pitcher that once allowed 9 runs in one-third of an inning.  That had never happened before and has not happened since.  The Yankees were not facing a pitcher who could legitimately be characterized as a quality starter.

The Yankees led 11-1 after three innings.  Yankee starter Phil Hughes also did not pitch great, but he survived even though he allowed nine hits and two walks in six innings of work.  He threw 107 pitches, 70 for strikes, in recording his 11th win against 8 losses.  Hughes was aided by Orioles futility with runners in scoring position, as they managed an 0 for 15 day in that circumstance.

Joba Chamberlain also pitched for the first time in a year.  Coming off Tommy John surgery and an injured ankle, Chamberlain was OK...he got the rust off.  He allowed a HR to JJ Hardy in the seventh.  Hardy was the first batter he faced.  Chamberlain allowed three more hits, a walk, and another run on an Endy Chavez double in his 1.2 innings of work.  Yankee PR hype had promoted Chamberlain as throwing a 95-97 mph fastball during rehab.  It never happened.  The Joba fastball hovered around 91-93 in this outing. Interesting.

The Yankees tacked on a run in the eighth inning.  Two walks and a hit batsman were followed by a sacrifice fly RBI off the bat of Yankee newcomer, Casey McGehee, who also walked twice and scored two runs in the game. 

Today's final:  Yankees 12  Orioles 3.  Tomorrow is an off day for the Yankees.    

--Frank Gentry, BYB Writer

ORDER A BYB SHIRT NOW, DROB WEARS ONE! Also, Please comment, we have DISQUS, it's easier than ever. Let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.