Yankees 7, Indians 4: Scoring runs proves a sound strategy

After a two-week hiatus, Andy Pettitte returned to face the excellent Justin Masterson and the powerful Indians lineup. It would prove to be a much drier and more pleasant game than the one that preceded it.

Following two scoreless innings, it was none other than former Yankee/silly person Nick Swisher who would drive in the first run of the game on a fielder's choice to third that brought home Michael Bourn. The Yankees would counter in the bottom of the inning with two straight hits(Brignac and Romine!?) and a Brett Gardner walk. After Robinson Cano grounded into a forceout at home, Mark Teixeira found a signal and sent a grand message into the right field seats, giving him his first homer of the season and the Yankees a 4-1 lead.

The lead would not last, as Pettitte had very little to offer tonight. In the fifth, a sac-fly to extremely shallow right-center made it 4-2, and then Pettitte forgot what a strike was. Pettitte proceeded to walk Swisher and Mark Reynolds on four consecutive pitches each. Next, Carlos Santana made him pay and ended Pettitte's evening with a two-out double that bounded off David Adams' glove and into the stands. Shawn Kelley would come in to prevent any further damage.

But the Yankees would continue what should be considered an offensive onslaught for the 2013 squad. With two outs and runners at second and third, Gardner laced a single that scored Ichiro and Romine, the latter of whom would have likely been gunned out by Bourn had Masterson decided not to cutoff his accurate and on-time throw. In the seventh, Travis Hafner showed he is not completely cooked with a solo bonk into the right field stands. And those seven runs would be more than enough, as Joba Chamberlain, David Robertson and Mariano Rivera came out of the bullpen to pitch a scoreless final three innings.

It can't be overstated how nice it is to get a win immediately following the rain-soaked debacle that occurred Sunday night. I won't exaggerate the importance of today's win or anything, but sometimes it's just good to feel positive after feeling so crummy.

The two teams match up again at the Stadium tomorrow at 7:05. Scott Kazmir and David Phelps are your probables.

Box Score