NewsA-Rod's bat shows signs of life
New York (39-32) at Atlanta (34-37), 7 p.m. ET
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com
06/25/09 3:23 AM ET
ATLANTA -- Alex Rodriguez rounded first base as two Yankees runs registered on the scoreboard at Turner Field, clapping his hands. It was a big hit for the team, but equally as important for the slumping slugger. |
Rodriguez's sixth-inning single on Wednesday helped him bust out of a 1-for-25 skid at the plate, lifting a weight off his shoulders and delivering a much-needed boost to the New York lineup, which had been limited to 13 runs in its past six games.
"It's been frustrating not being able to get the big hits and hit the ball well consistently," Rodriguez said. "For me, the good news is the last two days, I've felt very good about the way my body has reacted. "I was telling the guys in here that although the results weren't good [Tuesday], I felt pretty good about my swings. I think there's a lot of good things to come." As Rodriguez attempts to play with a surgically repaired right hip that could require another procedure at the conclusion of the season, the three-time American League MVP continues to battle the Mendoza Line at .210. But Yankees manager Joe Girardi said he saw good signs in Rodriguez's 1-for-3, two-walk showing on Wednesday. "I'm really excited for him, because we know that he's a very productive player in a little funk for the month of June," Girardi said. "We know he's too good to stay in it. He's going to come out of it, and he was really good for us." In fact, before Tuesday's game, Rodriguez dropped by Girardi's office and declared that it would be his "real" Opening Day. Girardi said that he planned to speak to the Yankees and A-Rod's doctors before deciding if the slugger would play on Thursday, but he said that he is encouraged by Wednesday's progress. "I've known that this year was going to be a process, and the good news is the best I've felt is the last two days," Rodriguez said. "They haven't been throwing the ball by me. "That's a really good sign for me. When they shoot that ball by me ... that's what [hitting coach] Kevin Long really preaches, to stay tight and don't reach. I've been doing a lot of reaching." Pitching matchupNYY: LHP Andy Pettitte (7-3, 4.26 ERA)
Andy Pettitte in Atlanta? Brings back visions of Game 5 of the 1996 World Series, in which Pettitte fired 8 1/3 shutout innings to outduel John Smoltz. And while Pettitte may not be the same pitcher he was then, the Braves aren't the same team, either. Regardless, both parties have improved in recent weeks -- Pettitte firing seven innings of one-run ball in Miami last Friday, and Atlanta boosting its offense with a trade for Nate McLouth. In nine previous regular-season games against the Braves, Pettitte is 5-1 with a 3.13 ERA. ATL: RHP Derek Lowe (7-5, 4.09 ERA)
Lowe will be making his first start against the Yankees since beating them at Yankee Stadium in Game 7 of the 2004 American League Championship Series. While allowing three runs in 6 1/3 innings against the Red Sox on Saturday night, the 36-year-old sinkerballer lost back-to-back starts for the first time this year. But while limiting the Red Sox to one hit through the first four innings, he was much more efficient than he'd been five days earlier, when he allowed the Orioles a season-high seven runs in just 2 1/3 innings. He is 3-1 with a 2.75 ERA in his past five home starts.
Tidbits
With four strikeouts on Wednesday, Yankees closer Mariano Rivera surpassed Allie Reynolds (967) for sole possession of 11th place on the Yankees' all-time list. Rivera has 971. ... Rivera has converted 32 out of 33 save opportunities in Interleague Play, including his last 13. ... Nick Swisher has 17 hits in June, 11 of which are for extra bases (eight doubles, three homers). ... For all of the hand-wringing about the Yankees' struggles against unfamiliar starters, they are 12-9 this season in games started by an opposing pitcher who has never previously faced New York as a starter or reliever, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
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• Friday: Yankees (CC Sabathia, 6-4, 3.71) at Mets (Mike Pelfrey, 5-2, 4.74), 7:10 p.m. ET
• Saturday: Yankees (A.J. Burnett, 5-4, 4.24) at Mets (Tim Redding, 1-2, 6.08), 7:10 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Yankees (Chien-Ming Wang, 0-6, 11.20) at Mets (Livan Hernandez, 5-2, 4.05), 8:05 p.m. ET
Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
