The Yankees needed a strong pitching performance on Saturday. I am sure they weren’t expecting it to come from Kei Igawa, who was demoted to the bullpen. Igawa gave the Yankees six strong innings and Hip Hip Jorge Posada hit the deciding two run homer as the Yankees beat the Red Sox by the final score of 3-1.
Saturday’s starter, Jeff Karstens, had to leave the game after being hit above the knee by a Julio Lugo liner. He did try to stay in the game but he gave up a Kevin Youkilis single before Joe Torre decided that a change was needed. Igawa came in and got Big Papi to ground into a double play. He then walked Manny but struck out J.D. Drew after that.
The Sox really couldn’t do anything against Igawa at all. Only Mike Lowell and Coco Crisp managed to get hits off of him. Lowell’s double extended his hitting streak to fourteen games. Igawa went six innings, allowed those two hits and no runs. He did walk four Sox hitters and struck out six. Wakefield, who had gotten fifteen runs in support so far this season, went 5 1/3 innings, gave up five hits, allowed three runs. He walked six Yankees and struck out three.
Mariano came on in the 9th inning to finish off the Sox. The only blemish he had was a broken bat single to Jason Varitek. This was his first save in three chances so far this season.
Notes: Former Gold Glove winner Lowell committed two more errors, bringing his season total to eight on the young season. Crisp got tossed from the game after throwing his bat and helmet on a questionable third strike call. The replays on FOX showed the ball was outside.
Update: Jeff Karstens ended up with a fractured right tibula from the liner that struck him. He will be placed on the 15 day DL. This is something the Yankees pitching staff didn’t need.
