Yanks win Game 1

The Yankees took the first game of a day-night doubleheader, 4-2, from the Reds.

Freddy Garcia was on, he went seven innings and gave up two runs — unearned — on three hits with four strikeouts to one walk. Fabulous Freddy is now 4-1 with a 1.62 ERA in six day-game starts this season with a .199 BAA. He threw only 89 pitches today — 60 for strikes — so it was kind of bizarre that Girardi pulled him in the eighth in favor of D-Rob.

I hate being that guy who second guesses the manager, but why would you pull a guy who was wheeling and/or dealing after 89 pitches in the first game of a double dip when there’s a relatively unknown guy pitching in the second game? Who knows what relievers will be needed if Brian Gordon struggles, and it’s been announced that D-Rob will not be available in the nightcap. Oh well, they won the series so let’s just hope everything works out.

D-Rob threw a one-hit eighth and has been on fire recently. In his last six appearances, D-Rob has given up no earned runs in 6 2/3 innings with 10 strikeouts. He now has a 1.19 ERA, good for second lowest among AL pitchers with 30 innings pitched. Not to be outdone, Mo tossed a perfect ninth for his 19th save.

Swish Dog had an RBI (and a nice catch) and Cano went 2-for-4 with an RBI (and a nice play on D), however Girardi said that Cano will not play in the second game. Ramiro Pena, who made three errors in two innings but kind of redeemed himself with a nice play in the ninth, will start at second in the latter tilt.

Posada recorded his first homer — a two-run tater in the sixth — since April 23 at Baltimore. Just for reference: the last time Posada homered Osama bin Laden was still alive (hat tip to @rebeccapbp on that one). In his last 13 games, Georgie is hitting .436 (17-for-49) which has raised his average from .169 to .227.

It was announced after the game that Jeff Marquez was put on the DL with a sore shoulder and Buddy Carlyle will be called up. (I’m not your) Buddy will be in Cincy and available for the second second game.

Gordon will take on Johnny Cueto in the second game at 7:05. For what it’s worth, Gordon hit .275 in 3,810 minor league at-bats with 119 homers (he’s a converted outfielder) and was 4-for-8 with a homer in AAA this season.

LET’S GO YANKS!!!