Ramiro Pena (top) gets first runs batted in of his major league career in Yankees' 7-4 win over Angels last night at Yankee Stadium, just after Melky Cabrera (bottom) breaks 4-4 tie with bases-loaded single in eighth inning. Bombers have now won three in a row after snapping a four-game losing streak. (Both photos courtesy of New York Daily News)
Tuesday's hero was Phil Hughes. Wednesday, it was Joba Chamberlain. Last night, the offensive youth of the New York Yankees provided all the spark the Bronx Bombers would need to open their four-game set against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at the new Yankee Stadium.
After Angels reliever Justin Speier intentionally walked Nick swisher in the bottom of the eighth inning with the score tied at 4, Melky Cabrera took advantage of the bases-loaded situation with a clutch RBI single. Ramiro Pena, seeing action at third base with Cody Ransom on the disabled list and Alex Rodriguez still recuperating from hip surgery, followed with a 2-run double for the first runs batted in of his major league career; and Phil Coke pitched a perfect top of the eighth for the win as the Bombers topped the Halos by the score of 7-4.
"He's taken full advantage of his opportunity," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who has used Cabrera in center field instead of Opening Day starter Brett Gardner. "I thought he had a great approach tonight." Cabrera is hitting .327 on the season, compared to Gardner's .220 clip. After the offensive explosion, Mariano Rivera, who at 39 is the elder statesman on the Yanks' 25-man roster, pitched a scoreless ninth for his fifth save of the year, which came less than a week removed from giving up clutch home runs to Boston's Jason Bay and Detroit's Curtis Granderson.
The Yankees continue their series against the Angels tonight at the Stadium, with Andy Pettitte opposing Jered Weaver on the mound. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m. Eastern time.
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