Currently: Friday night’s forecast in Cleveland includes the possibility of thunderstorms and 20-mph winds, but that’s alright with the New York Yankees.
As long as there aren’t any bugs.
The Yankees return to the shores of Lake Erie on Friday for the first time since a swarm of midges helped derail their playoff hopes there last October, as they open a four-game set against the Indians—who are trying to extend their longest winning streak of the season.
After dropping the first game of last year’s AL division series, the Yankees led 1-0 in the eighth inning of Game 2 behind a strong effort from starter Andy Pettitte, who is scheduled to start Friday.
But with a cloud of bugs sticking to his head and neck, reliever Joba Chamberlain walked Grady Sizemore and threw two wild pitches, enabling Cleveland to tie the game. The Indians won 2-1 in 11 innings on Travis Hafner’s RBI single, then finished the series by winning Game 4 at Yankee Stadium.
“It’s like somebody let them go,” Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter said of the bugs. “Just when you think you’ve seen it all—that’s home-field advantage.”
The Yankees (12-11) have won eight straight regular-season games against Cleveland (10-12), including a six-game sweep of last year’s season series.
But their third straight first-round defeat last season led New York to change managers, as Joe Girardi replaced Joe Torre in the Bronx. Girardi’s team started just 9-10 this year, but a win by Pettitte (3-1, 2.45 ERA) in his last start gave the Yankees their first of three straight wins before they lost 7-6 to the Chicago White Sox on Thursday.
Chamberlain took his first major league loss in that game, giving up an RBI single to Joe Crede in the bottom of the ninth inning.
“He’ll be fine. He’ll bounce back,” Girardi said. “He’s given up a run before in his life.”
Pettitte, meanwhile, has won each of his last three starts, but his best effort came Sunday in Baltimore, as he retired the first 14 batters he faced and ended up allowing just four hits and no walks in seven scoreless innings as the Yankees won 7-1.
The left-hander also threw 6 1-3 scoreless innings in last year’s playoff game in Cleveland. Last August, in his first start there in more than five years, he went 7 1-3 innings, allowing two runs and earning a 5-3 win.
On Friday, he’ll face Paul Byrd, who won the clinching game at Yankee Stadium last fall. He pitched five innings and allowed just two runs in that 6-4 win, after the Yankees had pounded him for seven runs in just two innings in an 11-2 win last August.
The right-hander hasn’t beaten the Yankees in the regular season since 1999, and his team has lost his last seven starts against them.
Byrd (0-2, 4.43) is still seeking his first win of 2008, but he’s pitched well in his last two starts, allowing just one earned run, walking none in 13 innings and getting a pair of no-decisions. He’s gotten just three total runs of support in four starts this year.
But after scoring 26 runs in the last three games, Cleveland (10-12) is hoping to win its fourth straight. The Indians swept Thursday’s doubleheader at Kansas City by pounding out 15 hits in a 9-6 win in the first game and getting a three-hitter from Cliff Lee in a 2-0 victory in the nightcap.
New York’s offense could be aided this weekend by the return of reigning AL MVP Alex Rodriguez, who has been out since Sunday due to a quadriceps strain. Rodriguez rejoined the team Thursday, and might serve as DH this weekend as he works his way back.
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Let's Go Tribe!
