Yankees and Dutchies in Major League Baseball, Sunday April 12

Yesterday I expressed my displeasure with the performance of the Yankees on Saturday. Some times you wonder if the players you rant about have read your article. Nah…. I rather think that Joe Girardi showed his disgruntlement and had some tirade.

Anyhow, the difference between Saturday’s game and Sunday’s game was like day and night. Where the Yankees seemed to be asleep and uninterested, they were very awake yesterday. Of course a seven run first inning is a nice confidence builder.

Thanks to a force out with runners on the corners, hit by Carlos Beltran, Jacoby Ellsbury could score the opening run. Other runs were scored on a bases clearing double by Alex Rodriguez, a two run homerun by Chase Headly and a solo shot by Stephen Drew.
In the top of the fourth, the Red Sox scored three runs, two of them driven in on a double hit by Xander Bogaerts.
But the Yankees countered immediately as they also added three runs to their total. Didi Gregorius hit a lead off single, followed by a single hit by Jacoby Ellsbury that made Didi advance to third. A single by Brett Gardner drove in Gregorius and Ellsbury, who had previously stolen second base. Gardner moved to third on a single of Carlos Beltran and was driven in on a sac fly by Mark Teixeira.

Two innings later the Yankees scored three more thanks to a bases loaded walk, drawn by A-Rod, a single by Chase Headley and a sac fly by Stephen Drew.

Eventually the Yankees won 14-4. I still think this season will be a bust, but this result is niiiiceee. 😉
Masahiro Tanaka earned the win despite allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits in five innings of work. He struck out four and walked three. Still not persuading numbers.

Despite Andrelton Simmons‘ good performance at bat, going 2 for 3 with two RBI and a runner left on base, the Braves lost their perfect status, by losing to the Mets 4-3. Simmons hit a double and a triple and turned two 6-4-3 double plays.

The Nationals got a much needed win as they beat the Phillies 4-3. Matt den Dekker didn’t get an at bat as he was brought in as a defensive sub in the bottom of the tenth inning.