Maybe getting swept at Fenway was the best thing that could have happened to this team at the beginning of the season.
Tonight every Yankee contributed to beating the Angels, coming back from a 9-4 8th inning deficit to win 10-9, in what was their best performance as a team so far this season (video here). Let's take a look:
Jeter had an RBI.
Damon walked and scored in the first inning.
Teixeira walked to lead off the 9th and scored the tying run.
Matsui had an RBI and a big hit in the 9th.
Cano had 3 hits, including a clutch single in the 9th, plus an RBI. He has now hit in 18 straight.
Swisher was hit by a pitch and left the game early. He's fine.
Gardner had a huge hit and a walk.
Cabrera kept the game close with an RBI single.
Pena smacked around every pitcher he saw, getting three hits and 2 RBI.
Berroa scored the winning run.
But the man of the hour was Posada. First he launched a rocket into the seats in the first inning. Then in the bottom of the ninth, with the bases loaded, Posada worked a 3-2 count and lashed the next pitch into the gap in left, sealing the victory and swatting the Angels for another day.
These guys needed to be challenged and the Red Sox provided that challenge. I think the Yankees are raising their game because of it. A lot of times, when teams get involved in big games early in the season, it helps their focus and they play better immediately afterwards (this partially explains the fast starts of most of the players who were involved in the World Baseball Classic).
Since leaving Boston the Yankees are 4-1. The Red Sox are 2-3. Overall the Bombers are 13-10 now, and next week will be very revealing. The Devil Rays, who the Yankees dominated at the Trop, are coming to town for two games. Before them, the Sox will pay us a visit for two as well. These are big games, so watch out for the big players to come through.
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