JAV A Night

As I've always said, Javier Vazquez is the guy I want on the mound in a must-win game. OK, I haven't said that at all, but tonight he tamed the dangerous Baltimore Orioles lineup by throwing seven solid innings and getting out of a bases loaded jam, earning his fourth win of the season, tying him with supposed ace CC Sabathia. These are games that the Yankees have to win, and the Orioles basically handed it to them tonight as the Yanks took game one of this critical series, 3-1.

Tonight we had a great Javier Vazquez, and a good Joba Chamberlain. Both have been inconsistent and cost the Yankees some victories. Vazquez was completely lights out until the sixth, and appeared as if he might get a loss in the seventh. Believe it or not, Joe Girardi stuck with him and he escaped the Orioles rally with the game tied. After Miguel Tejada and Ty Wigginton gave the Yankees two runs in the bottom of the frame, Joba had a shut down inning, and Mo was Mo.

Curtis Granderson has really looked impressive since coming back from injury. For months, we've all heard about how he cannot hit lefties, but tonight, he took one into the seats. And it's a homer that does not go out of Comerica, so Curtis has to be smiling and enjoying his new right field porch. The Yankees' bats really did nothing other than that, but a win is a win. When you have an off night, the Orioles still know how to give away a game.

Once again, a victory did not come without a cause for concern. Yesterday it was Derek Jeter's hamstring, and today, it was Mark Teixeira's foot, which was bruised on a foul ball. Fortunately, it's nothing serious, but it's concerning that the Yankees seem to have a player leave with an injury almost every single game. Before Jeter on Monday, it was Robertson on Saturday and Moeller on Sunday.

The Yankees must sweep this series. They have Phil Hughes and CC Sabathia going against the Orioles over the next two days. I totally understand that the Orioles are a "big league team" and can win on any day, but they really do look pretty pathetic. Phil needs to continue his dominance, and CC needs to figure out how to get his fifth victory on the year.