Five in a row, top of the AL East

After a 7-3 victory over the A’s, the Yanks have now won five in a row and seven of eight overall to claim first place in the AL East. It was the third straight game and fourth in five tries that an opposing pitcher didn’t finish the fifth against the Bombers; and now six of the pitchers the Yanks have faced have went five innings or less, five have pitched six innings or less and only two have went past six innings. This Yanks team is patient as hell and takes pitches like a motherfucker.

Some things I noticed:

• Javy had a solid outing, but he shouldn’t have been out there for the sixth; the bullpen needed work anyway. His velocity wasn’t all there (not getting above 91) but his defense was pretty good and he finally got his first win. I’ll take it. WE CAN BUILD ON THIS.

• Granderson got a hit off a lefty!

• We got to see Edwar again! It’s so much more fun facing him from the other side. That guy walked four batters in two innings — yikes.

• A-Rod hit homer #585, and absolutely crushed the ball. He’s now one homer behind Frank Robinson for seventh all-time.

• Joba was wheeling and/or dealing. He got out of a bases-loaded jam, hit 96 and plowed through the four batters he faced, fanning three of them.

• Cano drew three walks (tying a career high)?!?!?!?!?! He also led the team in pitches seen with 31. Wow, is the world coming to an end?
• Swish Dog snapped his 0-for-16 slump with a two-run single.

• It was the 11th consecutive game without an error for the Yanks. I guess the April swoon decided to skip a season.

• The Yanks managed more runs than hits.

Some things that annoyed me:

• It sucks Mo had to come into the game, why did Marte only get to face one batter?
• That misplayed ball that dropped between Grandy and Cano, and the ensuing jack by Kurt Suzuki in the sixth.
• I hate West Coast road trips, the games end way too late.

Next up: Phil Hughes against Ben Sheets at 10 tonight. Let’s go Yanks.