Moseley mows the Sox down as Yanks win 7-2

Even though CC Sabathia gave the Yankees everything they could have asked for and then some in Saturday’s game, the team is still working its way out of the funk that saw them dip into second place for the first time in nearly two months. Scheduled starter A.J. Burnett was a late scratch due to some back spasm, forcing Dustin Moseley into action on short notice. It’s safe to say it didn’t bother him in the least.

Biggest Hit: Tex Marks The Spot

The Yanks jumped out to an early two-zip lead in this one thanks to some of that vaunted Red Sox run prevention, but Bill Hall kept Boston close with a solo homer in the 5th. Roger Clemens used to say that the biggest inning for a pitcher was the inning after his team scored, because it was his job to keep the opposition down and get his offense back on the field as quickly as possible. Three nondescript outs followed Hall’s homer, so the Yanks came back to plate against the Josh Beckett, still nursing that 2-1 run. Just as ESPN came back from commercial, my phone dinged but I didn’t check the message immediately.

Wasting no time, Mark Teixeira jumped all over a 2-1 fastball out over the plate and hit an ab-SO-lute firecracker (World Cup’d) into the rightfield bleachers to restore the two run lead. In the grand scheme of things it was just another run, but at the time it was huge. Getting that extra insurance run is always appreciated.

Honorable Mention: The Cap’n Splits The Outfielders

The Yanks didn’t stop after Tex’s homer in the 5th, with the next two batters reaching base on a walk and hit by pitch. A double, walk, strikeout, and a comical throwing error later, Derek Jeter came to the plate with the bases juiced and two outs in the frame. The lead had already been extended to four, but the Cap’n had a chance for the kill shot. And as he so often does, he came through. A two run double into the right-centerfield gap broke things open, giving the Yanks a six run lead. It wasn’t the biggest WPA swing of the game, but it just felt like the biggest hit. It was the one that put the game out of reach.

After the big five run 5th inning, I finally got around to checking the message on my phone. It was from a good buddy of mine who unfortunately happens to be a Red Sox fan. Channeling his inner Clemens, he wrote: “If Beckett shuts them down this inning, then the Sox win.” So much for that.

Biggest Out: The Rook Grounds Out

For the first three innings, Dustin Moseley cruised right along and faced just one over the minimum. With the Yanks still nursing that 2-0 lead, Moseley again recorded two quick outs in the 4th, but then he lost the plate a little. Victor Martinez singled back up through the box, and both J.D. Drew and Adrian Beltre followed by taking ball four. The bases were loaded for the rookie Ryan Kalish, who took Javy Vazquez deep for his first career homer two days ago and was 9-for-21 on the season coming into this game.

The sinkerballing Moseley started him off with … a curveball, which dipped out of the zone for ball one. The overly anxious rook didn’t wait for a fastball he could drive, instead swinging at the second pitch he saw, a changeup fading down and in on him. Kalish hit the top of the ball, grounding it harmlessly to first for the inning ending force out. Certain doom was avoided.

Honorable Mention: Boone Beats Papi

With the Yanks comfortably ahead by six, Moseley started to fade a bit in the 7th inning, giving the ball over the Joba Chamberlain with one out and men on first and third. Joba allowed a run on an infield single before walking Marco Scutaro to load the up and put the tying run on deck. Joe Girardi then summoned Boone Logan to face David Ortiz with three ducks on the pond, and even though he fell behind in the count 3-1, Logan eventually won the seven pitch battle by getting the noted Yankee killer to ground out harmlessly to Robbie Cano at second. Certain doom was avoided yet again.

The Other Stuff

Big ups to Moseley, seriously. Pressed into action when Burnett’s back acted up, the guy took the ball into the 7th inning and limited the Sox to just two runs. He recorded 16 of his 19 outs either on the ground or via strike three, and didn’t even run up that high of a pitch count. Just 87 pitches (52 strikes) on the evening. Simply a fantastic job.

Alex Rodriguez stole his third base of the season, giving him 300 in his career. He become the third member of the 600 homer, 300 steal club, joining Barry Bonds and Willie Mays. He was lifted in the 9th inning with what’s being called stiffness, but who knows what body part we’re talking about here. Hopefully it’s not the hip.

Meanwhile, Derek Jeter picked up career hits number 2,874 and 2,875 tonight, moving him past Babe Ruth for sole possession of 39th place all time. Mel Ott is one hit away for 38th place, Frankie Frisch five away for 37th, and Zack Wheat nine away for 36th.

Lance Berkman, also known as the worst baseball player in the history of the universe, picked up three hits in his first three at-bats, including a pair of doubles that either directly or indirectly led to three runs. It’s almost as if it’s foolish to judge a player based on 24 plate appearances.

I personally didn’t hear it, but apparently Orel Hershiser said during the late innings of the broadcast that the Yankees were on pace for 94 wins this year. At the moment they have a .627 winning percentage, putting them on pace for 102 wins. It literally took me less than 20 seconds to figure that out.

With Tampa Bay getting completely shut down by Brandon Morrow this afternoon, the Yankees are now two-and-a-half games up in the AL East.

WPA Graph & Box Score

Comeback? You so crazy Bill Hall. MLB.com has your box score, FanGraphs your nerd score.

Up Next

The final game of this four game wrap-around set will be played tomorrow afternoon, before the Yanks head down to Texas to take on the first place Rangers in a quick two game series. Phil Hughes matches up with Jon Lester. That should be fun.