Round 1: The Yankees Clobber The Indians

Lebron James took a seat among the crowd just behind the Cleveland Indians’ home plate as the Indians hosted the New York Yankees for a three-game series over the weekend. For the first series, 21 year-old rookie right-hander Phil Hughes pitched for the Yankees and showed a dominant form that kept Cleveland to 4 hits and 1 run in six innings by mixing up fastballs, curves and breaking balls. Phil Hughes out-pitched Indians’ pitcher Fausto Carmona, who has an impressive 13 wins under his cap.

The Cleveland Indians all turned up with the number 14 jersey as a tribute to late hall-of-famer Larry Doby, the first black player in the American League. And while the tribute was well appreciated by fans, the lackluster performance of the Indians, especially on defense, cost them the game as they were outscored 6 to 1 by the Yankees.

Alex Rodriguez hit his 37th homer of the season, and 501st overall. Rodriguez was back in the Yankees’ lineup after sitting out one game with a bruised right calf, courtesy of a  Josh Towers fastball  during an intense series with the Blue Jays. A-Rod crushed Carmona’s second pitch of the second inning, hitting a towering shot over the wall. After two singles and a sacrifice, catcher Jose Molina, filling in for Jorge Posada, who was recovering from a sore neck, hit an RBI groundout.

The Yankees went up 3-0 in the third. New York’s Johnny Damon blooped a single off shortstop Johnny Peralta’s glove and Derek Jeter followed with a hard grounder that Peralta barely slowed with a dive. Abreu’s fielder’s choice grounder scored Damon. Derek  Jeter’s RBI single in the fifth gave Phil  Hughes a 4-0 lead, and the right-hander carried a two-hitter into the bottom half before Barfield connected for his third homer — and first since May 25. Jeter had three hits and Bobby Abreu drove in a pair of runs for New York , including an infield triple in the 8th inning that scored Jeter. The Yankees were managed by bench coach Don Mattingly, who filled in while Joe Torre served a one-game suspension for the pitch-hitting antics of Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens.

Also in the supporting cast for the Yankees’ win over the Indians, was the stellar relief pitching of American Indian Joba Chamberlain, who was varying his pitches at speeds of 95+ MPH. Joba Chamberlain struck out four in two perfect innings, giving him six Ks in four scoreless innings since being called up Tuesday from the minor league.

“It doesn’t seem like they are fazed by too much,” Yankees captain Derek Jeter said, “and rightfully so, they’ve got great stuff. Joba throws a 100 mph off-speed pitch. That can’t be too much fun.”

It’s just the first win of a 3-game series. The next match on Sunday August 11 will show Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina try to outpitch Paul Bird of the Indians. The last series match will be on Monday August 12 with Yankees’ Andy Pettite going up against the Indians’ Jake Westbrook.

With The Yankees’ maintaining good form, I have a feeling I know where I’ll put my money.

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