Yankees 8, Rangers 7
A thriller that should never have been. After seven innings, Mussina is cruising. He's leading 8-1, having pitched 7 innings, two hits, 85 pitches. 85.
Mussina gives up a single leading off the 8th. Panic Joe pulls him.
Small comes in. Single. Single. 8-2.
Fielder's choice. One out. 8-3.
Single.
Farnsworth comes in.
Single. Bases loaded.
Strikeout. Two outs.
Walk. 8-4. Tying run to the plate. Having managed the game into a save situation, Panic Joe now can use Maraino. Awesome. In a game that was 8-1 before you decided to pour sugar in the gas tank.
Single. 8-6.
Single. 8-7. 8 to freaking 7!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HBP. Bases loaded.
Fielder's choice. Inning over. Christ.
Mariano gets through the bottom of the 9th and the Yankees escape with the win.
Normally, I can at least understand a manager's thinking. But Torre's moves here are indefensible.
Mussina doesn't need the extra rest. You've got two more games this weekend against a good-hitting team in a bandbox. When you get a dominating performance out of a starter, ride it. At 85 pitches Mussina might easily have pitched 8 innings, or even (gasp!) a complete game. There's no thought that you might need some length out of your bullpen tonight, or Sunday, or both? Did the leadoff single in the eighth scare you that much? Small needed the work, you think? Trust Me, he'll get it, with two more games against Texas and then Boston coming to town for three starting Tuesday.
A lucky, lucky win.
Chacon and Wang need to provide some length today and Sunday, and the bats need to keep producing. Mariano shouldn't pitch tonight, neither should Farnsworth. Thank goodness Monday's an off day.
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