Yankees Bats Wake Up Finally

YANKEES 13

TIGERS 9

The Yankees finally woke up and played the type of baseball that we are used to seeing them play. Call it anger, frustration, or a burning desire to prove a point, the Yankees pounded the Detroit Tigers in a makeup game from early May, thumping Detroit 13-9 on Labor Day.

The Yankees got off to a fast start, something they haven't done in a while. In the first inning, Johnny Damon and Derek Jeter were both walked to start the game. Bobby Abreu followed with a single up the middle to move the runners and load the bases for Alex Rodriguez. Rodriguez who has been mired in a slump the past couple weeks broke out big time, as he singled to center to drive in Damon and Jeter handing the Yankees a 2-0 lead. Jason Giambi would hit a sac. fly to left to drive in Abreu, and Hideki Matsui would single up the middle to drive home A-Rod 4-0 Bombers.

In the second the Yankees piled it on. Damon hit a solo homerun to right to give New York a 5-1 lead. Jeter and Abreu would follow with back-to-back singles. A-Rod followed up by beating out a throw to first, which was ruled an error on the play, allowing Jeter to score. A-Rod was credited with an RBI in that situation.

Later, Xavier Nady would single up the middle to drive in Abreu, and Matsui would single to bring home A-Rod. Before anyone knew it the Yankees had put up consecutive four run innings to grap an 8-1 lead on the Tigers.

Fast forward to the top of the third with the Yankees biding for three consecutive four run innigs. With the bases loaded, Abreu singled to left to drive in Ivan 'Pudge' Rodriguez to make it 9-2 Bombers. A-Rod followed with a single to left bringing home Damon to make it 10-2. Xavier Nady would later sacrifice home Jeter. Unfortunately for New York, they could not score another run in the inning, but an 11-2 lead seemed sufficiant.

But it wasn't sufficiant; Sidney Ponson gave it right back. With a man on in the bottom of the fourth, Ponson served one up to Brandon Inge, who blasted a two run jack to left. 11-4 Yankees. Ramon Santiago would follow with a single to left center, and Curtis Granderson worked out a walk. Placido Polanco followed with a ground ball up the middle, that was scooped up by second baseman Robinson Cano, but his throwing error allowd Santiago to score to cut the Yankee lead to 11-5.

Edwar Ramirez then came in for the Yankees and things didn't get much better. Magglio Ordonez hit a sac. fly to right to bring home Granderson, and Miguel Cabrera homered to right to put the Tigers back in the game at 11-8. Still Ramirez was able to Jon Larish to pop out, and Inge to strike out swinging to end the threat.

In the fifth the Tigers got even closer as Ordonez delivered a single to left off of Brian Bruney, to drive home Granderson cutting the Yankee lead to 11-9. Yet Bruney was able to get Cabrera to pop out and Michael Joyce swinging at strike three to end yet another Detroit threat.

The Yankees got insurence in the sixth. Robinson Cano singled down the third baseline to get it going. Later, Pudge singled to third and Damon walked to load the bases. Jeter followed it up with a two run single to right field to give the Yankees a 13-9 lead. Nice to see Captain Clutch is back doing what he does best.

With the win the Yankees are now 73-64, still in a big hole in the division and wild card races. Yet, this is a big week for New York, they now travel to Tampa Bay to play the Rays in a three game series. Even though they probably won't catch the Rays in the standings, it is important for the Yankees to make a statement in Tampa Bay this week.