The Yanks signed John Maine to a minor league deal today. Maine didn’t pitch in the majors in 2011, nor has he this year. In 2010 the 31-yr. old RHP went 1-3, 6.13 in nine starts for the Mets. He is 41-36, 4.35 in his MLB career, ERA+ 98. His best year was 2007 for the Mets when he went 15-10, 3.91.

From Lohud’s blog:

Former Yankees outfielder Chad Curtis has been charged with five counts of criminal sexual conduct after accusations he inappropriately touched two students at a Michigan high school.

Now that’s odd. Curtis was a person who sort of ticked off some teammates because he was, as they put it, too pushy as far as his religion and beliefs. You may remember him for his two HR (one a walkoff) in Game 3 of the 1999 WS, and for catching the last out of that WS. Now to let the system find him guilty or not.

Yanks 23-21, 4th in A.L. East, 4 1/2 out. OPS+ 110, ERA+ 103. Even with their pythagorean record.

BA/HR/RBI  SB/attempts  OPS+

Jeter SS .348-5-16  3/4  134 Granderson CF .256-14-25  1/3  140 Rodriguez 3B .281-7-18  5/5  119 Cano 2B .297-5-18  1/1  122 Teixeira 1B  .226-5-21  1/2  79 Ibanez LF .263-9-27  2/2  130 Swisher RF  .236-7-27  0/0  102   really slumping lately Chavez DH .293-3-6  0/0  113 Martin C .173-4-10  1/1  74   needs to get off the “Interstate”

RHP  Nova   4-2, 5.69  ERA+ 74     Needs to do better

Jeter has 3152 career hits, tied with Paul “Big Poison” Waner and two behind George Brett on the all-time list.

A-Rod is 180 hits from 3000, and 89 RBI from 2000. The HR count is at 636, and he is 152 runs scored away from 2000.

Nice numbers, but 24 seems old for A ball. We’ll see how he progresses. Still, A ball is still a ways away.

Yanks 21-20, and fighting to stay above .500. They are 4th in the A.L. East, 5 1/2 out, and just one game in front of cellar-dwelling Boston.

OPS+ 109, ERA+ 103. Even with the Pythagorean record. (They are what some elements say they should be).

Jeter 6 .347-5-15  3/4  135 leads MLB in H. 3147 career hits, 5 behind Waner.  
Granderson .258-13-23  1/3  137   I’d like to see him RUN! Steal, Curtis, GO!  
Cano  .309-4-16  1/1  124
ARod-DH  .270-5-15  4/4  106    1 HR since 4/27. With Gardner, Nunez not
there, the Yanks leading basestealer!
Ibanez .273-9-27  2/2  140  team leader in OPS+, tie for RBI
Swisher .252-7-27  0/0  111
Teixeira  .226-5-20  1/2  76  dropped to 7th, hot Ibanez is at 5 
Chavez  .291-3-6  0/0  109
Martin .168-4-10  1/1  71   needs to get off the Interstate

Kuroda RHP   3-5, 4.50  ERA+ 94.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Which one shows tonight?

Yanks 20-17, 3rd, 3 1/2 out. One game better than Pythagorean,
OPS+ 113, ERA+ 103.

BA/HR/RBI/SB/Att/OPS+

Jeter 6  .366-5-15  2/3 150    Hit count: 3144
Granderson 8 .248-13-23  1/3  136    Remember when he used to STEAL?
Cano 4 .302-3-14  1/1  114
Teixeira 3  .234-5-20  1/2   83
Ibanez 7  .263-7-22  2/2  128
Swisher DH  .258-7-26  0/0  123
Chavez 5  .295-3-6  0/0  120
Jones 9  .226-4-8  0/0  107
Martin 2 .172-3-9  1/1  72

Hughes 1  3-4, 5.50   ERA+ 78

Hmmm. See my previous post regarding aggressive baserunning. With Alex (4 for 4) out, Gardner DL’d and Nuneeeeez down, you don’t see any baserunners in the lineup. 12 attempts (8 successful) by the WHOLE lineup. Jeter isn’t running much. One guy who can and doesn’t is Granderson. He had 25 steals last year and doesn’t run anymore.

The Yanks picked up Matt Antonelli off of waivers. The second baseman is 27, a righty hitter, and has 57 major league at bats (2008 Padres), hitting .193-1-3. He’ll go to AAA.

Yanks 20-15, 3rd place. 1 1/2 out. OPS+117, ERA+ 106.
They are one game BETTER than their pythagorean record.

BA/HR/RBI/SB/attempts, OPS+

Jeter 6 .367-5-15  2/3  151   9 hits behind Paul Waner, 11 behind Brett.
Swisher 9  .277-7-26  0/0  138
Cano 4 .303-3-14  1/1  113
Rodriguez 5  .292-5-14  3/3  122  See Below
Teixeira 3 .231-5-19  1/2  83   Need to get him going.
Granderson 8 .257-12-21  1/3  142   12 HR, 21 RBI mean solo HRs
Jones DH .240-4-8  0/0  115
Nix 7    1 for 10; hit a HR, 2 RBI
Stewart 2  .240-0-5  0/0  49     6 for 25

Sabathia 1   5-0, 3.51   ERA+ 123

Alex has 38 hits, 30 singles. The average is ok, but you wonder about the power. 3 doubles, 5 HR.

Pettitte went 6 1/3, 4 R, 7 H, 3 walks and 2 K. 2 HR, 1 WP. He gave up no hits until the fourth, when the first hit he gave up was a two-run HR. Even after five, he had given up just two runs on two hits.

In the sixth, he gave up a 2-run HR off the foul screen, and got out of a bases-loaded jam.

For his first time out after being away since October, 2010, he wasn’t that bad.

The Yanks’ bats against the aging and fading Millwood? That was bad.

The Yanks got 1st and 2nd in the third. One out. Jeter GIDP.

In the fifth, the Yanks got a bases-loaded walk to Martin to cut it to 2-1, but with the bases loaded and one out, Jeter GIDP again.

Jeter did get hit #3142 in the 8th, tying Robin Yount on the all-time list.

Ripken 3184, Brett 3154, Waner 3152, JETER 3142, Yount 3142, Gwynn 3141.

Down 4-1 in the 8th, a bases-loaded two out walk to Cano cut the lead to 4-2. Teixeira then struck out. The Yanks were 0 for 5 with RISP.

Wade replaced Pettitte, 1 2/3, 1 R, 2 H, 0 walks, 3 K. ERA 1.62

Rapada came in and got a couple of outs, but why did Girardi stick with him? Rapada is a LOOGY. You don’t let the guy face righties.

After getting two outs (both lefties) with a man on second, Rapada walks a righty batter, then a lefty batter. Bases loaded. He stays in to face a righty batter. A hit and an error by Rapada bring in two runs. 6-2.  Rapada has great splits vs. lefty batters. Terrible ones against righties. Leaving him in against the righties cost the Yanks a chance at a comeback. Righties hit .349 off Rapada. Lefties .164. You cannot let Rapada face righties if you can help it. After Rapada got the two lefties, Girardi should have brought someone else in to face the righty (Garcia?) for the last out. By not doing so, he gave up two runs. In the end, it didn’t matter, but…

Rapada 1 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 h, 2 walks, 1 K. 3.72.

In the bottom of the ninth, big mistake by Swish. He doubles to lead off the inning, but is thrown out going for three. Down by four runs? That is inexcusable.

The Yanks only got six hits, two by Chavez, two by Swisher.

Eppley was sent down when Pettitte was activated.

The win came on Yogi Berra’s 87th birthday. The Yanks honored the icon before the game. Yogi was driven into the Stadium by “Driving Mr. Yogi” pal, Ron “the Gator” Guidry.

Raul Ibanez continued his strong recent hitting. He followed a Teix double by doubling in the first run of the Yanks’ four run second inning. Martin doubled in Ibanez to make it 2-0 and Nix’ 2-Run Hr made it 4-0. After that, Hughes cruised against the weak-hitting Mariners.

The outing followed good outings by CC on Thursday and Kuroda yesterday. Maybe after a rough April the rotation is finally straightening out. Tomorrow is Andy Pettitte’s return to the majors and we’ll see how he does.

Ibanez hit a HR (7, #259 career) in the fourth to make it 5-0.

Jeter got two hits. He’s now at 3141 and tied Tony Gwynn (3141) on the all-time list. The next hit ties Robin Yount (3142). In the 8th, Jeter’s 2nd hit, a SB and an RBI single by Cano made it 6-1 (Seattle got a solo HR by Carp in the 7th).

Hughes went 7 2/3, 1 R, 6 H, 1 walk and 4 K. 3-4, ERA to 5.50.

Logan got a K to finish the 8th and pitched the 9th.

1 1/3 IP, 1R, 2H, 0 walks and 4 K.  ERA 2.45.

In other news, the Yanks picked up Justin Thomas (LHP) off waivers from Boston. Probably minor league depth. The 28 year old has a record of 0-2, 6.65 in 27 major league games.

The Yanks get Eric Chavez back off the DL. Nunez and his errors got demoted back to AAA. He’ll play SS regularly there. Funny, his speed could ”replace” Gardner’s speed in LF until Gardner returns. But, then, Gardner’s D couldn’t be replaced.

Yanks 17-14, 4th in AL East, 2 1/2 out. Even with the Pythagorean record (they are what the Pythagorean predicts what their record should be based on runs scored vs. runs allowed). OPS+ 115, ERA+ 105.

BA/HR/RBI/SB/Total attempts/OPS+/  Comments
OPS+ ERA+ 100 is average, more is good, less is bad.

Jeter SS .376-5-15  1/2  161   3138 hits; Gwynn 3141, Yount 3142  
Granderson CF .273-11-20  0/2  154
A-Rod 3B .287-5-14  3/3  124    634 HR; 22 slams one behind record
Cano 2B .286-3-11  1/1  105   Heating up?
Teixeira 1B .212-4-17  1/2  69   hope that bronchitis goes away
Swisher RF .276-7-24   0/0   141
Ibanez LF  .269-5-16  2/2  121    Without Gardner, Raul in LF 
Chavez DH .290-3-5  0/0  131   Bringing him back slowly, at DH
Martin C .188-3-7  1/1  74

Kuroda P   2-4,  3.75   ERA+ 116

Yanks 15-13, 4th in AL East. 3 1/2 out.
OPS+ 115, ERA+ 101

It has been raining all day in Eastern PA (about 100 miles from NYC). Tonight’s game could be ppd. There is also rain in tomorrow’s forecast, and possibly Thursday. The only surprise, if any, is that Nunez, a righty batter, is in LF instead of Wise, a lefty hitter against the righty Shields.

Jeter leads the AL in B.A., and the majors in hits.

Jeter SS .397-5-15  1sb/2att  OPS+ 175, 3136 hits, 5 behind Gwynn.
Granderson CF .284-9-18  0/2  157
Rodriguez 3B .269-5-14  2/2    118    634* HR; 2803 hits
Cano 2B  .261-2-8  1/1   84  hopefully Sunday’s slam woke him up. 
Teixeira 1B  .222-4-16  1/2  73   He and Cano need to pick it up. 
Swisher RF  .279-7-24  0/0  155
Ibanez DH  .254-3-13  2/2  98
Martin C  .192-3-7  1/1  82  see Cano and Teix.
Nunez LF .261-0-5  4/5   80

Nova P   3-1, 5.58    ERA+ 78    Some ugly OPS and ERA+ numbers here.

No word on Pettitte yet, or what those “complications” are regarding Mo’s knee.

UPDATE ON PETTITTE: He will be called up Sunday.

Gardner was supposed to start a couple of rehab games yesterday. Rainout last night, and there is supposed to be a DH today. It’s unknown whether he’d play in one game or both. Heck, with the rain, the whole DH could be washed out.

But our friends at the Bronx Baseball Daily blog report that Gardner will be playing for AAA tonight. He’ll play for them for a few games and then return to the Yanks later this week.

As for Pettitte, no decision yet on bringing him up or giving him another minor league start.

It may just be because of his testimony at the Roger Clemens’ trial, but guess who pitches today for AAA Empire State (SWB)? None other than Andy Pettitte. Both games start at the same time. Should Andy be ready and Hughes lay another egg, it would be no problem for Andy to just take Hughes next start, dump Hughes to the bullpen, and someone like Eppley would be sent down (no offense to Eppley).

Swisher is back, and the Yanks could use him. They aren’t putting rallies together. Let’s backtrack. Beat the O’s 2-1. Only runs of that game? 2-run HR by Chavez. The next night just one run, Granderson’s HR, in a loss. The next night? Shutout. Friday a win, four of the six runs on a two-run HR by Jeter and a 2-run HR by Teixeira. Last night a loss. The only run via a Martin HR. No rallies. You can’t just rely on the HR. Because of the leg problem, Swish comes back slowly, DH-ing today. Nothing against Paulino, but he’s a guy the Yanks should pound. Instead, Jeter made out with the bases loaded. Opportunity lost. Then, the next inning, to show how bad things are going, Granderson gets a leadoff double, then is thrown out at third tagging up after Teixeira flyout to RF.

Girardi insists nothing is wrong with A-Rod, who has started at DH in 9 of the Yanks’ 28 games. Jeter & Ibanez have started at DH 5x each.

From Lohud:

Also, Girardi said, the number of DH days will begin to dwindle after Nick Swisher and Brett Gardner come off the disabled list. For now, Raul Ibanez has been playing the field against right-handed starters, which opens some chance for other players to DH. That won’t be the case much longer, and Girardi is trying to take advantage while he can.

Jeter SS .390-5-15  1 sb/2 att.  OPS+ 169  Hit count: 3134; see below
Granderson CF  .279-9-17  0/2  160  AL HR leader.
A-Rod 3B .260-4-11  2/2  108
Cano 2B  .255-1-4  1/1  77
Teixeira 1B .229-4-16  1/2  74  Middle of lineup woes. 
Swisher DH .284-6-23  0/0  156
Ibanez LF .239-3-12  2/2  88   Looking like 2011 Posada.
Martin C .206-3-7  1/1  94
Wise RF     1 for 4, a double.

100 is average. What you see above is a lot of below average, and three guys carrying the lineup.

Hughes RHP   1-4, 7.48, ERA+ 58. 
See above. Andy is looming. Once again, 100 is average. 58? Horrible.

Jeter still leads the majors in hits, the AL in BA & TB

Also from LoHud: Gardner may be begin a rehab assignment tomorrow and be back sometime this week. Chavez is feeling better and should be back when his 7-day concussion DL stint is over.

The game is on TBS.

Maybe it will. But not if Mariano Rivera can help it.

“I’m coming back. I’m not going out like this,” the G.O.A.T. (greatest of all-time) stated today.

As Yogi said, it ain’t over until it’s over. As Bluto said in Animal House, “Over? Did you say over? It ain’t over until we (Mariano) says it’s over!”

The Yanks made some moves today. For more OF depth, they brought up DeWayne Wise, and pitching-wise, they brought back Cody Eppley. Mo went on the DL, of course, and D.J. Mitchell was sent back down.

They must have jinxed him.

I hope it isn’t what I fear it may be.

Mo was injured shagging flies during BP. He was carted off the field, putting no weight on his right leg.

I’m hoping it’s a sprained right knee, and not a possibly (at his age, 42) career-ending ACL injury.

We’ll find out more later. But it didn’t look good.

MLB states Soriano would close. I’m not too sure about that. I’d use Robertson.

Updates as they become available.

Oh yeah, those 4 RBI in 24 games? Cano is dropped back to 5th.

And all that overshadows rookie David Phelps first MLB start.

Yanks 13-11, even with Pythagorean. 3 1/2 back, 4th in A.L. East.
OPS+ 111, ERA+ 101.

Jeter DH    .385-4-13  1sb/2att  OPS+ 163  3128 career hits.
40 this year leads MLB.
Granderson CF .275-9-17  0/2   164  leads AL in HR
Teixeira 1B .226-3-12  1/1  69   UGH.
A-Rod 3B .267-4-11  2/2  111   RBI? Down.
Cano 2B .255-1-4  1/1  81   4 RBI in 24 games. Enough said.
Jones RF .167-3-5  0/0  83
Nunez SS .270-0-3  3/3  67
Martin C  .150-2-6  1/1   60
Nix LF   1st major league game of 2012

Phelps P   0-0, 3.57   ERA+ 124

Let’s just say this. Look at some batting averages, RBI totals, and Low OPS numbers. If there is a “correction” coming, some people are going to be raking. But that correction needs to start NOW. In Game 25.

Utility man Jayson Nix will be called up from AAA. Nix was just hitting .233-0-4 at AAA. For his MLB career, .207. He does have a little pop, hitting 12 HR in 2009 and 14 in 2010. But it’s his versatility that is his forte.

Although no corresponding move has been announced, it’s assumed Chavez is DL-bound.

26 year old OF Adonis Garcia, a Cuban defector, has signed with the Yanks for $400,000. No word yet on where he is headed. High A, AA, or whatever. For now, extended spring. He’s 5’7″, considered a good hitter, although probably not for power.

First off, a shocking day as NFL great Junior Seau has apparently committed suicide. I’d love to know the reason(s) why. Seau last played in the NFL just a few seasons ago, in 2009.

Mark Prior, who attempted a comeback with the Yanks minor league system last year, has signed a deal with Boston.

I don’t know if this will be a trend or not. Maybe only because Swish is out, and Ibanez is in the OF and not DH, but once again, Chavez is at 3B while A-rod DHs. No Nunez tonight. Girardi going for the power, with Jones in LF and Ibanez in RF.

Yanks 13-10, 3rd in A.L. East, 2 1/2 back. OPS+ 115, ERA+ 102. Even with the Pythagorean record.

1/7th of the season is over.

1. Jeter SS  .400-4-13  1 sb/2 att.  OPS+ 173.  3128 hits, 13 behind Gwynn.
Leads majors in H, AL in BA, OBP
2. Granderson CF  . 276-9-17  0/2   169     Leads AL in HR

Here is where the lineup gets disappointing.

3. A-Rod DH  .256-4-11   2/2  108   See below.
4. Cano 2B  .255-1-4  1/1  82    Ditto.
5. Tex 1B  .233-3-12  1/1  74    Once more.
6. Ibanez RF .237-3-12  2/2  93
7. Chavez 3B .310-3-5  0/0  145   9 for 29
8. Jones LF .182-3-5  0/0  98   6 for 33
9. Martin C  .158-2-6  1/1  68

Nova RHP  3-0, 5.18  ERA+ 85

Look at the middle of the lineup. A-Rod, 37 in July, may never be the old A-Rod again (in other words, to pull off a renaissance the way Jeter is doing now). Maybe all Alex is anymore is a Swisher-like offensive player, meaning .265-27-85. Not bad, but not $30 million worth, and not cleanup hitter worthy or #3 worthy. More like a 6 or 7 hitter. The problem is, there are too many years left on his contract, and the decline has probably started. Put it this way, do you expect .300-40-120 from A-Rod anymore?

Cano, what can you say? 1 HR and 4 RBI in 1/7th of the season? Granted players get hot and cold. But do the math. 7x what he has now… Pathetic. It’s safe to say that he has been 75% worse than we expected so far. Teix .233. He usually starts slow, but look at those OPS marks for Cano and Teix. 100 is average. You have an 82 and a 74 in the middle of the lineup, meaning 18 and 26% worse than average. Then you get Ibanez at .237. Jones is all or nothing at .182, and Martin has been a disaster with the stick so far at .158.

Yes, the starting pitching has been a problem. Nova is going for his 16th consecutive regular season winning decision tonight, but even at 3-0, his ERA is a 5.18. But it’s also time to mention and get on the lineup. They lead the league in HR, are 3d in B.A., 2nd in OPS… but it’s been the gigantic effort of a few, and one of them—Swisher—is out.

You know a correction is coming.

But it’d be nice to see the middle of the lineup start producing.

Minor league pitcher Manny Banuelos comes off the DL. He’s scheduled to start for the AAA club tonight.

Clemens may have received a gift today. When asked if it’s 50/50 that he “misremembered” the conversation about HGH that he had with Roger, Andy Pettitte stated, “I think that’s fair, yes.” Meaning that the seed of reasonable doubt has been sown. So what is it? Yes or no? Did that conversation take place or didn’t it? What a mess.

After the outing, Pettitte declared himself ready to go for the Yankees, but it appears as if the Yanks are going to be cautious and give Andy one and maybe two more minor league outings before bringing him up.

Yanks 12-9 (even with Pythagorean record), OPS+ 120; ERA+ 100 (100 = average).

Lineup from LoHud blog

1. Jeter SS   .396-4-13  1/2 (sb/total att.) OPS+ 173
2. Granderson CF .272-8-16  0/2  162
3. Rodriguez DH .253-4-11 2/2  110  .301, 633 HR, 1904 RBI
4. Cano 2B .264-1-4   1/1   90
5. Teixeira 1B  .229-3-12  1/1  75
6. Ibanez RF  .255-3-12  2/2  106
7. Chavez 3B .320-2-3  0/0  133   8 for 25
8. Martin C  .176-2-6  1/1  81
9. Nunez LF  .345-0-3  3/3  109

Kuroda P  1-3, 4.38     ERA+ 102

A-Rod 307 SB, Jeter 340. Jeter career B.A. is .314. Alex .301.
Jeter 3124 hits, A-Rod 2795.

Notice A-Rod DHing more with Chavez at 3B?

Pettitte pitching for Tampa (High A) tonight. Check the minor league recap later for details. If all goes well, just one more minor league start before rejoining Yankees?

The Yankee starters coming into this game were terrible. Only Kuroda had an ERA less than 5.00. Even CC was at a 5.27.

CC came through. 8 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 2 walks and 8 K. The only mistakes were a HR to his ex-teammate, Prince Fielder, and an RBI double by Miguel Cabrera. He goes to 3-0, but his ERA is still high at 4.58.

For much of the game, it appeared like the Yankees would squander CC’s great game. For the game, the Yanks stranded 15.

A gift call (was it strike three?) on Jeter helped the Yanks to two in the second—an inning which saw two infield hits. Granderson walked with the bases loaded, and A-Rod’s infield hit (Jeter had the other one) accounted for the other run.

Granderson hit HR #8 in the fourth, a drive that Austin Jackson almost snared.

With the score 3-2 Yanks in the seventh, they broke it open. Alex got an RBI groundout, RBI #1904 of his career, enabling him to pass Willie Mays on the all-time list. Cano finally got his fourth RBI of the season (enabling him to pass, of all people, Chris Stewart) to make it 5-2.

In the eighth, Andruw Jones, who replaced Swisher (tight hammy), hit HR #3, #423 of his career. 6-2.

Robertson pitched the ninth. 1-2-3 with 2 K and his ERA remains at 0.00.

The Yanks go to 12-9. Jeter’s 2 infield hits put him now at 3124 career hits.

Swisher will have an MRI. I’ll have word on that, a possible DL stint, and a possible callup when the info comes in.

Update per Meredith Marakovits, Twitter (YES network): Low grade strain for Swish. Will be out a few days but no DL as of yet.

Update II from MM: Phelps to take Garcia’s start and stay in the rotation. If he does well, he could stay there. As for Hughes, watch your back. Andy’s coming.

The rotation soon could be CC, Kuroda, Nova, Pettitte and Phelps.

Nothing major in the lineup today. Alex @ 3b, Chavez DH and Stewart will catch CC.

Derek Jeter SS  .386, still at 3122 hits.
Curtis Granderson CF  7 HR leads team
Alex Rodriguez 3B   1 career RBI behind Mays; .253
Robinson Cano 2B   20 games. Just 1 HR, Just 3 RBI.; .253
Mark Teixeira 1B    .244 
Nick Swisher RF   23 RBI
Raul Ibanez LF
Eric Chavez DH
Chris Stewart C  3 for 10 so far.

LHP CC Sabathia   2-0, 5.27

UPDATE: Eppley was sent down, Garcia to bullpen. Phelps hasn’t been told that he is in the rotation, but that seems to be the move (Mitchell could start as well).

Game on TBS

Jeter started things off in the first with a single, and later in the inning, Curtis Granderson’s bases-loaded single plated two.

CC gave one back in the first.

In the fifth, Derek Holland (he of the wimpy moustache. Sheesh. I’ve seen WOMEN with better moustaches!) made a cardinal mistake. He walked the leadoff hitter, who happened to be weak-hitting Chris Stewart. That’s almost as bad as walking the pitcher when a pitcher leads off an inning in the NL. Stewart to second on an error on a pickoff throw,  Jeter singled, and Stewart scored on a SF by Swisher. After a single by Cano, A-Rod—0 for 17 vs. lefties for the season at that point—hit #632 to make it 6-1.

In the sixth, Stewart surprisingly doubled, and scored on a double by Jeter. 7-1.

CC then faltered, giving up a HR to Josh Hamilton in the sixth, and two runs in the seventh. 7-4.

CC went 8, 4 R, 7 H, 1 walk and 8 K. (2-0, 5.27).

Mo finished up for save #4 of the year and #607 of his career. After blowing the game on opening day, Mo’s ERA is getting back to respectability, at 2.84.

Mo a 1-2-3 9th.  Two flyouts and a groundout.

Baseball signings: Bill Hall to the Orioles, Hideki Matsui a minor league deal with Tampa Bay.

For Michael Pineda may not be back for quite some time.

Joel Sherman on Twitter reports:

Pineda IP in extend spring, still felt some shoulder weakness, shut down, #Yankees will determine next few days how to proceed

Before this, it was thought that Pineda might be ready around Memorial Day. Now, you have to wonder.

So it now appears that it’ll be between Hughes and Garcia for that last rotation spot.

Of course, Kuroda has to pitch better, also.

Update from Meredith Marakovits, YES: Pineda to see a doctor on Monday. Pettitte to pitch for AA Trenton Wednesday.

I was up at the game tonight, courtesy of reader Dennis from this blog. Good seats, right in the porch (more on that in a bit). No sooner did the game start than big trouble.

Five batters into the game, the Yanks were down 4-0. Single, RBI double, bloop double for another run, Smoker of a groundout and a 2-run HR by Morneau into the RCF bullpen and it was 4-0 Twins before you knew it.

The Yanks came back with three in the bottom of the first. The red-hot Jeter singled for the first of his three hits for the night. Jeter is now at 3109 hits, one behind Dave Winfield on the all-time list. After a walk to Granderson and an out, Cano doubled in one and Swisher singled in two. In a tough break that could have turned the game around, Chavez hit a hot bases-loaded smash but it was a DP. If only he got the ball in the air a bit higher.

As for the lineup, it was Jeter, Granderson, Teix, Cano, Swish (DH), Ibanez, Jones (LF), Chavez and Martin. A-Rod didn’t start, only PH in the 9th.

Gardner was a late scratch, about 15-20 minutes before game time. Later, he was put on the 15-day DL. That catch he made in Game 11 aggravated his elbow. The Yanks are calling up RHP Cody Eppley to take Gardner’s roster place for now, figuring that with the short outings of the starters that the bullpen needs another arm. In 12 games so far this year, the Yanks have just 3 quality starts.

Kuroda gave up another run in the third. In the bottom of the third, Cano hit his first HR of the year to cut it to 5-4, and the HR came about six feet from hitting me right in the gut. If you go to Yankees.com and see the video of the Cano HR, you’ll see someone about two rows behind from where the ball landed wearing a Yankees cap, a blue Yankees jacket, the Yankee circle insignia on the left breast, jacket unbuttoned. That is me, with reader Dennis to my left (your right) in the video.

In the fifth, Kuroda gave up another HR to Morneau, who went 3-3 off Kuroda, 2 HR. This one was a bomb to the left of me, and over me into the bleachers. 6-4 Twins.

Kuroda (1-2, 5.00) went just 4 1/3, 6 R, 10 H, 0 walks and 4 K. He was hit hard all night in the game played in a light drizzle.

The Yankees relievers kept it close. Rapada 1 2/3, o R, 1 hit, 1 walk, 2 K. Logan 2 IP, 0 R, 1 h, 1 walk and 4 K and Soriano 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 walk, 0 K.

The Yanks, though, couldn’t get anything going. With one out in the 9th, Jeter got his 3d hit of the game, a solo HR. Hit #3109 was career HR #244. Four HR already this season. Is he hot or what, and compared to what he was like a year ago at this time, what a turnaround.

But a 6-5 loss drops the Yanks back to .500 at 6-6.

Swisher’s 2-run, 10th-inning HR enabled the Yanks to sweep the Orioles in Baltimore and even their record at 3-3.

After going 12 for the win last night, the Yanks went 10 tonight. Tomorrow is an off-day (thankfully, the bullpen could use some rest) and the home opener is Friday afternoon.

The Yanks got off to a good start. Jeter doubled for hit #3098 and Granderson hit a homer.

CC wasn’t ace-like, and I am starting to wonder when he last was. He struggled at the end of 2011, didn’t have a great S.T. and wasn’t great tonight. He did, however, gut it out.

He gave up two in the second, and did not help himself when he reached out with his pitching hand and made contact with a ball that could have been an inning-ending DP had he left it alone. Instead, two runs.

In the fifth, a walk, HBP and a single by Gardner loaded the bases with no one out. Jeter’s groundout put the Yanks ahead, BUT THEY DID NOT TACK ON. After Jeter’s groundout, it was still 2d & 3d, one out, but they couldn’t get anything more. That could be fatal.

CC gave it right back in the bottom half. 2 runs, 4-3 O’s.

In the top of the seventh, Granderson’s 3d RBI of the game tied it up at 4.

CC went 6, 4 R, 8 H, 2 walks and 8 K. ERA 6.75.

The Yanks BP was depleted b/c of last night’s 12-inning game. Wade, Phelps and Robertson all were unavailable.

Logan went 1 2/3, 0 R, 0 h, 0 walks and a K.

The 8th inning drove you crazy. Remember, I complain on this blog a LOT how much you would kill for a simple SF. A-Rod led off with a single, and… to show you that A-Rod is aging… Nunez PR for a guy with over 300 career SB. Now, after Teix made out,  Nunez did get a SB … and went to third on an e-2.  Swish struck out and Ibanez was walked intentionally. Martin struck out to end the threat. Oh, for a SF there.

A funny stat, courtesy of my friend Josh (The Yankee Truth):
Ibanez now has 2 SB. Alex has 0 RBI.

Swish can be a free agent after the year, and at that point, I really was wondering if it might be better to let him go at the end of this year. Don’t get me wrong. I like Swish. Who wouldn’t? Great personality. Usually you can count on him for .265-27-80 or so. But his record in the clutch and postseason hasn’t been good, and there were times so far this early in the season where it seemed he was pressing—especially with this being his contract year, so to speak.

Soriano came in. It was unknown whether he could be available or not due to the nail issue of yesterday.

After the first two outs in the ninth, Sori got into trouble. A double and a walk. Then an intentional walk to load the bases. No margin for error. But Sori got a K to get out of it.

Sori (W, 1-0) went 1 1/3 and got the win. 0 R, 1 h, 2 walks, 2 K.

In the top of the 10th, with one out, Nunez singled. He was then picked off. Ouch. It looked worse when Teix then doubled. Potential go-ahead run picked off.  Curses.

But then Swish finally stepped up and hit his 2-run HR.

In the bottom of the 10th, a good move by Girardi. He replaced Nunez (who replaced Alex) with Chavez for defense.

… then, for the 3rd night in a row, in comes a certain 42 year old reliever to close it out. The first night, not a save situation. Last night, yes.

… and tonight, #605 was there for the taking.

Four batters later, Mo did his job and #605 for the greatest of all time was in the books. A 6-4, 10-inning Yankees win.

Mo 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 walks and 1 K.

Update: reports are that Damon will sign with Cleve.