IT WAS OVER WHEN …
The Yankees went to closer Mariano Rivera with two outs in the eighth inning. Rivera struck out Jay Payton on a borderline cutter before a scary ninth. Brian Roberts reached with two outs, stole second and advanced to third on an errant throw, before Nick Markakis watched strike three to end the game.
O’S FANS CHEERED …
When the club hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning. Melvin Mora hit his 22nd home run 362 feet to left, and Aubrey Huff followed by belting his 28th 400 feet to right-center. It was the fifth time the Orioles had gone deep in consecutive at-bats this season, and the fourth time they’d done so against the Yankees.
O’S FANS JEERED …
When starter Daniel Cabrera was pulled from the game. The fan base is obviously becoming increasingly-frustrated in the right-hander, and understandably so. Cabrera was shelled Sunday, and his ERA this month stands at 7.73.
FANTASY STUD …
Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano mashed everything the Orioles threw at home Sunday — except for his lone at bat against Dennis Sarfate. A fifth-inning strikeout was the lone blip on an otherwise impressive box score. Cano was 4-for-5 with a home run, two doubles, two runs and two RBIs.
GOOD CALL …
By Yankees manager Joe Girardi to call upon lefty Damaso Marte with one out in the seventh. With two runners on, Marte — acquired from Pittsburgh just before the July 31 non-waiver deadline — struck out Nick Markakis and Melvin Mora to end the threat.
BAD CALL …
Keeping Daniel Cabrera at the trading deadline. The Orioles right-hander was lit-up for seven earned runs on nine hits and three walks in just 3.2 innings. He didn’t strike out a batter for the first time since July 25, 2004.
IF ONLY …
Daniel Cabrera could fully explain his comments after the game. Cabrera was asked if he was fully healthy, to which he said he had “no answer” at the time. He also declined comment on his obvious slip in velocity. It’s possible Cabrera’s recent struggles have been because of a injury he has chosen not to reveal.
