Game 82: Late-inning heroics for the Iron Horse.

As you know, aside from Independence Day, today is also the 70th anniversary of Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day.  Before the game, Michael Goldsmith, the man who was behind the creation of the 4ALS iniative, threw out the first pitch.  He also suffers from ALS.  The fans at Yankee Stadium also were able to watch video of Lou Gehrig's famous speech with Derek Jeter reciting the most-remembered line:  "Today I consider myself, the luckiest man on the face of the earth."  The Yankees also placed a wreath of red, white and blue flowers on his plaque in Monument Park and made a $25,000 donation to MLB's 4ALS iniative.  Only appropriately, Mark Teixeira caught the first pitch.  A couple friends of mine who were at the game texted me saying "Let's win it for Lou!"  And win it we did.

Of course getting to that victory wasn't going to be easy with Wang on the mound.  He didn't start off too poorly, eventually giving up 4 runs on 6 hits in 5.1 innings. He left the game due to an undisclosed injury; I've heard midsection strain, shoulder strain, blister.....who knows right now.  Either way, maybe this injury will be a blessing in disguise as it'll allow Hughes to rejoin the rotation......where he belongs.  The 6.....count 'em 6 relievers we used just to finish out the game gave up a combined 1 run on 4 hits.  Not bad.  Of course we had to win it in the 12th, which leads to my next comment................

Robbie Cano needs a couple days off.  He was absolutely atrocious at the plate today and I counted 3 times just in the last few innings where he had a chance to win the game by hitting a single and either hit into a DP instead or struck out or flied out or basically made an out that didn't score a runner.  It was maddening.  Thankfully, other people in the lineup decided to step up.  Alex went 2-3 with an RBI and 3 walks, Jorge went 2-6 with 2 HRs (including the game winner), Matsui went 2-4 with a double and a HR, Tex went 3-6, Johnny Damon went 1-4 with 2 RBI.....the balls were definitely flying out of Coors Field East today and that's fine by me.  A win is a win is a win.  Now let's do better tomorrow (I'm talking to you, Cano) and take the series. 

Stars of the Game™

That was the best picture of Jorge I could find right now.  LOL