Wang Awful, But Yankees Win Anyway

YANKEES 8

RANGERS 6

If the Yankees thought that they were getting the Chien-Ming Wang that had back-to-back 19 game winning seasons in 2006 and 2007, they better think again. Wang was awful in his return to the rotation, allowing five runs in four and two-thirds innings, and he was responsible for putting New York into a 5-1 deficit half way through the game.

Manager Joe Girardi disagrees: “I thought he pitched better than his numbers indicated.
“I’m not making excuses,” he said. “I was happy with what I saw. I know people are going to say, ‘Oh boy, he gave up five runs.'"

Yeah, he gave up five runs all right, and he looked as though he lost his command for much of the afternoon. It is an improvement from his three previous starts in April, but, keep in mind, Wang was getting bombed early and often in those starts. This was just downright inconsistent. Thus, Girardi's comments are not saying much at all.

Luckily for Wang, he has a terrific offense behind him.

In the bottom of the fifth with the bases loaded, Mark Teixeria lined a double down the left field line to clear the base paths to tie the game at five. Next, Alex Rodriguez's single to right field drove in Tex for the fifth run of the inning, handing the Bombers a 6-5 lead.

The Rangers would not go away; Ian Kinsler's solo home run in the sixth tied the game up at six apiece, giving Texas hope of pulling out the series, but the Melk Man delivered again. Melky Cabrera's two run shot to left put the Yankees up for good 8-6. Mariano Rivera struggled in the ninth, surrendering two hits with only one out in the inning. Rivera bore down, got Nelson Cruz to strike out and David Murphy to pop out to end the ball game. Box Score.