Javy, Yanks keep rolling

In the Yanks 3-1 win over the A’s, Javy Vazquez — making his 400th career start — proved the haters wrong. He went seven innings and gave up a run on three hits with two Ks and as many BBs. His ERA now stands at a meager 4.81, remember when it was approaching 10.00? Neither do I.

The former scape goat has put up stellar outings in his last seven starts and has arguably been the team’s best starting pitcher (with the exception of Pettitte) over that span. In the aforementioned starts he owns a 2.93 ERA and has held opposing hitters to a .179/.251/.327 line with 37 strikeouts to just 14 walks with six homers allowed. God damn.

He still get no run support, though. The Yanks have scored two runs or fewer in six of Javy’s last nine starts prior to Monday. Get a load of the run support that the Yanks have given each pitcher, it’s kind of embarassing:

1. Hughes: 7.7 runs/game
2. CC: 6.1 runs/game
3. (Can I) Pettitte: 6.1 runs/game
4. AJ: 4.4 runs/game
5. Javy: 3.5 runs/game

Maybe it’s the California sun, the hatred of Dallas Braden, the A’s BS offense or some other unknown factor but check out Javy’s last three starts versus Oakland: 3-0, 2.21 ERA, .187 BAA. Holy shit.

Fun Facts:

• Granderson went 1-for-3 with an RBI triple to try and make us forget about that ugly 3-for-26 stretch he had. His three-bagger in the second stanza was the Yanks’ AL-leading 20th this season…they had 21 in all of 2009.
• Jeter, hitting in the two-hole for the first time this season, went 1-for-4 and recorded his 9,001st career at-bat.
• It took until July 5, but Tex (.435) finally has a higher slugging percentage than Brett Gardner (.427). (courtesy of Mike Axisa) In all honesty Tex probably won’t win the batting title this year, but he is on pace to hit 30 homers and drive in 100 runs. He’s at 14 dingers and 54 RBI, let’s see if he can keep this up.
• Perhaps Joba, who pitched a perfect eighth and hit 97 MPH on the radar gun, should only pitch on the road. Take a look at his home/away splits. That shit is mind-boggling.
• Swish Dog went 2-for-4, the lone player on either team with multiple hits, with a double and scored to try to make a case for his inclusion at the All-Star game. Speaking of which, go to MLB.com and vote for him in the Final Vote to “Send Swish.”
• Mo pitched a perfect ninth to notch his 19th save of the year.

With the win, the Yanks opened a two-game lead over the Rays in the division, while the Red Cox sit a half game behind TB.

If you thought Monday’s game was a pitchers’ duel, you should be in for a treat Tuesday. The starters have been hot as hell recently, with CC at 6-0 with a 2.00 ERA over his last six starts and Trevor Cahill boasting a 7-0 record with a 2.12 ERA over his last nine starts.

LET’S GO YANKS!!!!!!!