Yankees 5, Tigers 3: Bart Outduels Verlander

by Travis G on May 2, 2011 11:10 PM EDT in Game Recap

Bart out-pitched Verlander! Who'd have thunk that a month ago?

Jim Leyland rode his ace through six innings and 127 pitches, but he walked four and allowed eight hits, leading to three runs. The Yankees really should've scored more than thrice against Verlander, but they went 2-14 with RISP. Conversely, Bartolo Colon was rarely in trouble. He didn't walk one batter and struck out seven. Two of the three runs he conceded came via solo homers by Alex Avila. His low pitch count allowed him to complete seven innings with fewer than 100 pitches. He again flashed a low to mid-90s fastball with crazy 2-seam movement, inducing 10 groundouts against two flyouts. Of his 97 pitches, all but six were fastballs.

The offense sputtered after getting to Verlander early. Jorge Posada lined a bases-loaded double in the first that scored two, then a Brett Gardner single and Eduardo Nunez double led to the third run. But they waited to score again until the ninth. Hopefully the two hits apiece (including a double) from Swisher and Posada signal the end of their slumps.

A lot of credit should go to Curtis Granderson for his 12-pitch leadoff AB in the ninth against Jose Valverde, which seemed to mess him up - he followed with a four-pitch walk, two singles and a wild pitch that helped the Yanks get their fourth and fifth runs.

The "Seventh Inning Guy" (Joba) pitched the eighth inning (what's the world coming to?!) and looked dominant, tossing 10 of 14 pitches for strikes, reaching 98 MPH on the radar gun. Mo was Mo in the ninth.

Play of the Game: Nick Swisher's ninth inning single that scored the go-ahead run, scoring Mark Teixeira from second (31%).

Comment of the Game: Jedi Master A-Rod

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Comments

This night shift sucks

I really want to watch fatty pitch live and not rerun on my BlueRay just once. I love it when a cast off makes everyone look like monkeys. He is a beast and I’m going on the cheeseburger and small children diet so I can kick ass to.

Sometimes you can just hear the gears shredding apart in Ricky's head. (Bubbles from the Trailer Park Boys).

by cashman bashman on May 2, 2011 11:25 PM EDT reply actions

Frustrating game in terms of RISP, but at least they won. Another solid performance by the Bartman.

Also I thought this was cool- MLB put up videos of Willie Mays.
Hitting number 600.
Getting his 3000th hit.

And cheers to Hideki for a walkoff shot today over the Rangers!

Unless you're a pitcher or Gustavo Molina, kindly SWING THE BAT and ignore the Binder's bunt signal.

by Andrew GM on May 2, 2011 11:27 PM EDT reply actions

sigh bringing in a lefty to face matsui as always

people just never learn

by lololol on May 3, 2011 1:13 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah they could've definitely scored more

If they had lost I would’ve been a little peeved. But they didn’t and I’m happy, which is the most important thing!

"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"

by I'mGivingYouARaise on May 2, 2011 11:34 PM EDT reply actions

It really blows my mind the production we’re getting from Colon.

by BitterSportsFan on May 2, 2011 11:38 PM EDT reply actions

does it blow your… colon though?

Unless you're a pitcher or Gustavo Molina, kindly SWING THE BAT and ignore the Binder's bunt signal.

by Andrew GM on May 2, 2011 11:42 PM EDT up reply actions

http://supercolonblow.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/colonblow.jpg

by Ryan757 on May 3, 2011 12:07 AM EDT up reply actions

I hesitated for a solid 20 seconds before clicking that...

"Son, Nobody is half as good as Mickey Mantle"

by ntrokel on May 3, 2011 1:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Verlander Justdidn't have it tonight!

"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"

by I'mGivingYouARaise on May 3, 2011 12:00 AM EDT reply actions

lol

The idiot formerly known as pkyankeefan! Now in Technicolour!

by Hasan Paliwala on May 3, 2011 12:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Wait, Joba pitched the 8th?

Did anybody see Soriano? Isn’t he in some corner in the locker room crying? Stupid Girardi, hurting his feelings like that.

The idiot formerly known as pkyankeefan! Now in Technicolour!

by Hasan Paliwala on May 3, 2011 12:13 AM EDT reply actions

didn't have the lead, so it didn't count

So I cut his wrist...vertically!! He was on the floor dyin'...makin a sceene!!

by Briceratops on May 3, 2011 1:03 AM EDT up reply actions

He's actually said he doesn't pitch the same in a tie game

Implying that he pitches worse

by waw on May 3, 2011 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Oh Lord,

what can he possibly do to pitch worse?

by jjdel8895 on May 3, 2011 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh, c'mon, he could pitch MUCH worse than the couple of bad outings we've seen

by waw on May 3, 2011 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions

You're always going to have the occasional night like this

Lots of stranded runners. But they turned it into a victory, so good. Can’t hurt if the race is close in September

It’s kinda frightening that Verlander can look so nasty even when he’s clearly having an off night

by Dr. Copp on May 3, 2011 12:24 AM EDT reply actions

He actually said he thought his stuff was “too good” and he had trouble controlling his 100 mph fastball lol

Unless you're a pitcher or Gustavo Molina, kindly SWING THE BAT and ignore the Binder's bunt signal.

by Andrew GM on May 3, 2011 1:51 AM EDT up reply actions

As I said in another post- baserunning, baserunning, baserunning.

Jeter’s base-stealing days appear to be behind him. All the things that made him an exceptional shortstop are slipping away- the power, stolen bases, OBP. It’s not fun to watch. Nunez is beginning to look like a player now that he’s getting a chance. Hmmmm…….

I never would have thought in February that a lineup missing Cano, Posada not hitting his weight, :Colon: on the hill, Jeter at .240 etc would have had a chance against verlander in Detroit.

by designatedquitter on May 3, 2011 10:50 AM EDT reply actions