June 6, 2006: N.Y. Yankees 2, Boston 1
A completely different kind of game from last night's slugfest...but the outcome is the same. The Yaaaan-keeees win! I wasn't sure how this one would turn out, because Wanger struggled at first. He threw 49 pitches by the end of the second inning, which put him on par to last about three innings. But he settled down, even pitching pretty well from the stretch, his bugaboo this year. Went seven innings, and despite giving up a homer to Big Papi, it was a good night's work. Thanks, Tiger. You done good!
At first, the team seemed flat, and the crowd, too. It just didn't seem like it was going to end happily, especially after the Ortiz homer. But the feeling of the game changed when Bernie Williams hit a homerun. Andy Phillips and Melky Cabrera did not get any hits, but they won the game with their gloves. Melky in a spectacular, downright Bubba-esque way. (Note to Torre and Co.: A run prevented is as good as a run scored.)
Everyone's talking about how special this team seems. Heart, chemistry, energy, whatever you want to call it, they have something the Yankees haven't had in years.
And I was pleased that Bubba was invoked in the postgame show. I think it was Kitty who commented that they always thought Bubba Crosby added a special energy and enthusiasm to any game he played in. And now they have Melky, and Andy, and other Baby Bombers doing the same.
As for Bubba...the news on him is good today. The Yankees DFA'd Terrence Long (so long, T-ball!) and called up Nick Green, an infielder. With Jeter ailing, they felt they needed another infielder.
The Yankees designated an outfielder because Bubba Crosby, disabled since May 19 with a strained right hamstring, appears close to a return.
"He's feeling great, running without a problem," Torre said of Crosby, who is at extended Spring Training in Tampa. "Two more days, if he gets enough at-bats, and he could join us for the weekend."
Yay! Bubba could be back by this weekend.
We could really use him in RF. Bernie turned at least two outs into hits tonight with his poor play in the field. He did hit that homer, and I'm grateful, but his outfield days really are behind him now. Or should be.
