After a brutal six game stretch in which the Yankees lost five and saw there 10 game AL East lead dwindle down to 5 games, the Yankees needed to find someone playing worse than them to jump start there game. Cleveland was tailor made. Cleveland was in the tenth inning of a game with Minnesota last Sunday, one run away form taking the AL Central lead. Corey Koskie hit a two run home run and the Indians went on a seven game skid.
Last night, Mike Mussina took the hill against Cliff Lee. Lee started the season 10-1 but has been hit hard of late. Bernie Williams lead off with a double and quickly scored on a Derek Jeter single. In the second inning, the Yankees scored twice more on a Tony Clark home run. Mussina had a 30 cushion going into the second inning. That lead was reduced rather quickly with a Travis Hafner walk, a Casey Blake double and a Ronnie Belliard two RBI single.
The Indians came all the way back to tie the game in the fourth inning when Jody Gerut tripled and scored Ronnie Belliard. The game stayed tied into the eighth inning when Ruben Sierra scored Sheffield on a long single to deep right. The game was right where the Yankees wanted it, with a lead going into the eighth inning. Tom Gordon came to get Lawton to ground out and then Victor Martinez to strike out. However, Travis Hafner would not go down that easy, doubling to deep center. Casey Blake then scored Hafner on a single to tie the game. Gordon got out of the inning without any further damage. the game was now scored 4-4 into the ninth inning. Time for Gary Sheffield to do his thing.
Sheffield stepped up with one on in the ninth inning and launched a two-run home run, giving the Yankees a 6-4 lead. Unfortunately, Jeter was hit-by-pitch, which took him out of the game. Enrique Wilson scored on the Sheffield home run, replacing the injured Jeter. Jeter says he will play tonight, but don't be surprised if he takes the night off. Rivera came in to close out the 6-4 Yankees win.
In other injury news. Gary Sheffield has decided to not have another cortisone shot in his shoulder. Dr. Frank Jobe said that if he did get a shot, it might cause more damage to the arm. Jason Giambi, was sidelined again in Tampa with a pulled groin.
Tonight the Yankees send Javier Vasquez (13-7, 4.29) against Scott Elarton (2-9, 6.96). The game is scheduled for a 7:05pm start.
