08/21: Bullpen and Late Rally Rescue Subpar Vazquez Start

Posted by: David
Javier Vazquez has been up and down all season. Recently, it has been mostly down. On Saturday afternoon in the Bronx, Vazquez started the game by allowing a home run to Ichiro Suzuki and then two batters later allowed a mammoth shot to Russell Branyan. Branyan's solo shot reached the upper deck in right field (the first ever at the new Yankee stadium) and the Yankees were down 2-0 before they ever stepped to the plate.

The Yankees however erupted quickly with a key two run single from Robinson Cano and a two run home run from Jorge Posada and New York had a 4-2 lead. However, Ichiro hit another home run off Vazquez and they later tied the score at four. Vazquez was done after three innings and worry has beset the Yankee starting rotation. With Burnett's awful outing last night and Pettitte being hurt it looks like Sabathia and Hughes are the only two reliable starters. Hughes also will be set back with the unknown innings limit.

The Yankee bullpen with Gaudin, Logan, Robertson and Rivera only gave up one run in six innings. The Yankees would score in the seventh with rookie call up Eduardo Nunez getting hit first major league hit to score a run and put the Yankees ahead at 5-4. They would add two more before the inning was over. Robertson got two on in the eighth with two outs and Rivera was summoned for his first potential four out save since last August.

He got Michael Saunders to hit a foul pop up to first to end the inning. The Yankees would add two more runs in the bottom of the eighth and held a comfortable 9-4 lead with Rivera needing only three more outs.

Rivera caught Josh Wilson looking for the first out. However, Ichiro with his magical bat looped a single over short for his third hit of the day. Ichiro would take second on defensive indifference and then Chone Figgins was jammed and punched a soft bloop single to center field. Suzuki took third on the play. Russell Branyan then grounded to third but Cano was playing deep in the hole and just made the force play for the second out and Suzuki score to make the score 9-5. Jose Lopez then grounded back to Mo to end the game.

For Rivera the save was his 25th of the season in 27 save opportunities and also the 551st of his career. With the run allowed, his 2010 season ERA now stands at 1.18.

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