The Bronx. July 11th, 2013. Yankee Stadium stands in silence on a humid summer morning. She mourns for the days when all of her seats were filled, when the crowd’s roars shook her foundation, when the crack of the bat brought her children to their feet and they grew louder and louder as the ball climbed higher and higher towards her right porch. She sighs for her fourth place children, will she ever see number 28? Then, out in the distance, through the smoke the dark outline of a man comes towards her. He has a bat thrown over his shoulder with a glove hanging off and he wears a 2 on his chest. Her prince has returned.
Andy Pettitte (6-6, 4.37 ERA) tries to split the series against Ervin Santana (5-5, 2.90 ERA) and the Royals in game three this afternoon in the Bronx. Pettitte’s three game skid came to an end on Saturday, but he’s still struggling. The veteran has given up four or more runs in his last five starts. Back on May 11th, he pitched 7 innings giving up just 2 runs in a winning effort.
On Saturday against the A’s, Santana didn’t get the win but pitched seven strong innings, the 17th time he’s gone six or more innings. He hasn’t won in his last four times out but the Royals have twice. His 2.90 ERA is a career best through 17 games.
Since Sept. 4, 2000, Pettitte is undefeated in 14 starts against the Royals, going 10-0 with a 3.43 ERA. In 25 career games (23 starts) against Kansas City, the veteran left-hander is 15-3 with a 3.40 ERA. He will face Ervin Santana, who is 5-7 in 15 regular-season starts against the Yankees and lost to the Bronx Bombers earlier this season in Kansas City.
Lyle Overbay hit a grand slam off Wade Davis in the sixth inning of Wednesday’s win. It was his second homer of the series and just the second slam for the team this season. He went 1-4 with a strikeout and two groundouts. He is batting .244 for the season with 10 home runs and 36 RBIs through 81 games.
Notes on the game.
DEREK JETER MAKES HIS RETURN TO THE YANKEES TODAY!
Jeter is 11 hits away from Eddie Collins (3315) for 10th all time in hits
The Yankees are now 29-1 this season when scoring at least five runs.
Game kicks off at 1:05 PM (EST) on Yes
