The LoHud Yankees Blog

The Yankees have three special guests tossing out first pitches this week:

Tuesday: U.S. Open golf champion Lucas Glover, who’s actually a Yankees fan.

Thursday: Tennis star Andy Roddick.

Friday: Tennis star Serena Williams.

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Of more interest is that Francisco Cervelli played for the Gulf Coast League team today in Florida. He’s rehabbing an injury and the Yankees hope to get him ready for a September call-up. That will be welcome news to cougars in the metropolitan area.

Slade Heathcott (1 for 3) made his pro debut today. J.R. Murphy was 2 for 4 today and is 6 of 15 in four games. Clearly he’s the next Johnny Bench.

Hideki Matsui had his knee drained on Aug. 15. He is only 6 for 23 since, but four of those hits were home runs against the Red Sox over the weekend.

Even via transator Roger Kahlon, Matsui let his sense of humor come through.

“The home runs are good,” he said. “They make it much easier on the knees.”

I don’t believe the Yankees will retain Matsui after this season given his limitations and the need moving forward to give other aging players time as the DH. But Godzilla will be missed. His 162-game average is 25 homers, 95 runs scored and 105 RBI. The man produces runs.

Nick Swisher has agreed to a design a t-shirt that will be auctioned off to help raise funds for women’s cancer research. It’s part of a project organized by the Entertainment Industry Foundation.

Swish worked with this group before, once growing his hair long then donating to help make wigs for people dealing with hair loss from cancer treatments.

Actress Christina Applegate and country music star Alan Jackson are among those who will be designing t-shirts. We’ll pass on the information on the auction when it becomes available.

The Yankees were aggressive with Josh Becket and it paid off with an 8-4 victory at Fenway Park.

Mark Teixeira is looking for October success as he settles in with the Yankees. Don’t forget, he’ll be on Letterman tonight.

Alfredo Aceves is having some issues. This notebook also has an update on Johnny Damon and Joe Girardi’s defense of his battery from Saturday.

As I charted the pitches Josh Beckett threw tonight, one thing stood out as the game went on: The Yankees weren’t showing much patience.

Five at-bats were over in one pitch. Four lasted two pitches and seven were over in three pitches. In all, 16 of their 33 plate appearances against Beckett were over in three pitches or less. They drew no walks for only the fifth time this season.

This is most uncharacteristic of the Yankees, who are second in the AL in walks, first in pitches seen and third in pitches per plate appearance. They are usually a very methodical team.

Joe Girardi tried to pass it off as coincidence. But several players said it was the team’s strategy to attack Beckett early in the count, particularly his fastball. Beckett tries to get ahead with his heater then uses his excellent secondary pitches to put hitters away.

The Yankees had to try something different. Beckett had thrown 13 shutout innings against them in his last two starts.

Derek Jeter hit a first-pitch fastball for a home run to start the game. Hideki Matsui did the same thing in the second. Jeter’s single in the third inning that sparked a two-run rally came on the first pitch. Mark Teixeira’s RBI single in that inning was on the second pitch.

The five homers Beckett allowed were the most ever. “An ass-whipping,” he said several times afterward.

Hitting coach Kevin Long smiled when I asked him about the strategy and politely declined comment. They Yankees could face Beckett again next month and maybe again in October and he didn’t want to give too much away. The cat-and-mouse game between these teams never ends.

But the division race may be over. The Yankees lead by 7.5 games with 38 games left to play. They are Secretariat at this point. The only race left is with the Angels for home-field advantage.

A few other notes and/observations:

• CC Sabathia is 5-0, 2.65 in his last five starts. He has fanned 39 and walked five in his last 37.1 innings. If you have any further questions about his being an ace, keep them to yourself.

• The Yankees are 37-28 on the road and have won 10 of their last 13 away from the Bronx. That suggests a mental toughness that will serve them well in the playoffs.

• Jeter has 2,701 hits. He needs 21 to break the franchise record held by Lou Gehrig.

• You certainly know that the Yankees lead the majors in home runs. But as Joel Sherman of the Post pointed out on Twitter tonight, the Yankees lead the majors with 84 on the road. It isn’t all Yankee Stadium.

• The Yankees have won 15 of their last 17 series, 10 of 11 since the break.

• This seems impossible to be true. But before hitting four home runs this weekend, Matsui had only two in 41 previous regular-season games at Fenway Park.

• I’m joking, of course. But the Yankees should consider jaking it against the Rangers this week. Wouldn’t you rather face the wild-card Rangers in the first round of the playoffs than the Central Division champs? The Tigers and White Sox have much better starting pitching.

That’s it for now. The team has a day off tomorrow and I’m going to follow suit. There will be a few posts but nothing too involved is planned. Thanks for the turnout this weekend.

Here is the second game post.

UPDATE, 10:03 p.m.: We’re through five at an angry Fenway Park. Yankee 7-3 as they have belted four home runs off Josh Beckett.

UPDATE, 10:17 p.m.: Poor defense has cost CC two runs so far and assorted extra pitches. It’s only 7-4 and he’s at 104 pitches. The Yankees are going to have to get some big outs out of their bullpen. This one is far, far from over. Not at this park.

UPDATE, 10:21 p.m: Bad news: The grounds crew is poised near the tarp. There must be some bad weather coming. At least it’s a official game. No rain as of now.

UPDATE, 10:36 p.m.: It’s the well-rested Phil Hughes with two down in the seventh. CC’s line: 6.2 8 4 3 0 8. Not too bad given the poor defense behind him. It well could have been two runs. He threw 80 of his 118 pitches for strikes.

UPDATE, 11:13 p.m.: The force is strong in young Hughes. Last 35.1 innings: 5 ER, 22 H, 45 K.

Back later with clubhouse reaction.

YANKEES (77-46)
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Swisher RF
Cano 2B
Cabrera CF
Molina C

Pitching: LHP CC Sabathia (14-7, 3.58).

RED SOX (70-52)
Ellsbury CF
Pedroia 2B
Martinez 1B
Youkilis RF
Bay LF
Lowell DH
Baldelli RF
Varitek C
Gonzalez SS

Pitching: RHP Josh Beckett (14-4, 3.38).

TIME/TV: 8:05 p.m., ESPN.

STATE OF THE ‘STRIPES: The Yankees are seeking the series victory after winning 20-11 on Friday and losing 14-1 yesterday. They have won eight of 11 but are 3-3 in their last six games.

STATE OF THE RIVALRY: The Yankees are 5-9 against the Red Sox this season with four games left in the season series. Boston has outscored New York 118-114.

MILESTONE WATCH: Derek Jeter is one hit away from 2,700 for his career. He is 16 of his last 29. He is 19 of 38 on the road trip with eight RBI and eight runs scored.

CC WATCH: Sabathia is 4-0 with a 2.35 ERA in his last four starts. Over 30.2 innings, he has allowed 20 hits and five walks while striking out 31.

Sabathia is 1-1, 2.45 against the Red Sox this season.

MR. AUGUST: Sabathia is 32-9 with a 3.14 in August in his career.

BECKETT BLASTS: Josh Beckett is 2-0 with a 4.12 ERA in four starts against the Yankees this season.

RED SOX RAPS: Boston has 20 home runs in their last eight games.

PAPI POUNDING: David Ortiz has five home runs in his last eight games. Boston is 18-2 when he hits a home run. Must be the vitamins and supplements.

SWISHALICIOUS: Nick Swisher has 18 of his 21 home runs on the road. … Swisher has hit in eight straight games (12 of 36) with five runs scored, seven RBI and seven extra-base hits.

SLOPPY PENMANSHIP: Yankee relievers the last two games: 7 innings, 11 hits, 9 earned runs, 3 home runs.

ON THE iPOD RIGHT NOW: From A Whisper To A Scream by Elvis Costello and Glenn Tilbrook.

Back with more later.

UPDATE, 5:43 p.m: Raining here and tarp down. We’ll keep you posted.

UPDATE, 6:24 p.m.: Here’s what the always professional and classy Jonathan Papelbon told WEEI.com yesterday about the idea of the Red Sox obtaining Billy Wagner:

“What has he done? Has he pitched this year? Is he ready to pitch or is he not? … I think our bullpen is good where we’re at right now. Don’t get me wrong. But I guess you could always make it better. It’s kind of like the (Eric) Gagne thing, I guess.”

Gagne had a 6.75 ERA in 20 games for Boston in 2007.

Here is what Wagner said today: “I dont have anything to say about somebody like that.”

Let us pause here to fervently hope that the Red Sox trade for Wagner.

UPDATE, 6:31 p.m.: The tarp remains down but the skies are clearing over Fenway.

UPDATE, 6:45 p.m.: Here is the audio of Joe Girardi’s longest pre-game press conference ever. The skipper got a little fired up trying to defuse the Burnett-Posada thing, which probably means there actually is a thing.

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I’m not as enraptured by this story as others — although I do agree there is a story there. Burnett is erratic, excitable and relies on a ton of natural ability. Posada is a strong-willed guy who had a lot of success in career and probably figures he knows what he’s doing. There are bound to be conflicts and yesterday was pretty ugly.

Burnett has been better than most expected he would be given his history and he has pitched very well to Posada since the middle of June with yesterday being the exception.

Bottom line (to steal Derek Jeter’s line): It’s up to the pitcher to throw the pitch he wants.

UPDATE, 6:56 p.m.: The tarp is coming off. Should start on time. ESPN had their squadron of fighter jets shoot rain repellent into the clouds. It was quite a scene.

UPDATE, 8:10 p.m.: We’re underway and just like that, it’s 1-0 as Jeter drills one into the bullpen.

Nice night in Boston as it turns out. Enjoy the game.

UPDATE, 8:11 p.m.: Thats 2,700 hits for The Captain. Also his 21st leadoff homer.

UPDATE, 8:28 p.m.: Two innings, two home runs on the first pitch for the Yankees. That darn Jason Varitek, he must be screwing up Josh Beckett.

UPDATE, 8:38 p.m.: What the heck was Johnny Damon doing there, flinging himself against the wall on a ball that was high of it?

UPDATE, 8:40 p.m.: And Boston gets going as Baldelli singles in Lowell. 2-1 Yankees. The big duel of aces might not transpire at this pace.

UPDATE, 8:42 p.m.: No duel to see here. It’s 2-2 in the second and we’ve already had five hits, four for extra bases.

UPDATE, 8:48 p.m.: Jeter is 18 of his last 31 and 21 of 40 on the road trip.

UPDATE, 8:55 p.m.: The pitcher’s duel continues unabated. Yankees 3-2 as Beckett is getting hammered. Five hits in three innings, three extras.

UPDATE, 9:41 p.m.: Brutal play by Cano there and it costs CC a run. Credit to Bay for running it out. Shouldn’t that be Tex’s ball? But Cano called him off.

That’s two errors today for Cano. Just when you think he has started to get the whole idea of playing hard and smart all the time, he reminds you that he doesn’t.

UPDATE, 9:56 p.m.: A-Rod’s last three homers have been against Boston. … Beckett has allowed seven blasts in his last two starts. He has given up at least one run in 10 consecutive innings.

UPDATE, 10:02 p.m.: Starting another post now.

The Colorado Rockies have signed RHP Russ Ortiz and 1B Jason Giambi.

Ortiz was with Triple-A Scranton before opting out of his deal last week. The Big G was with Oakland and was released. He’ll play in Triple-A until Sept. 1. Hey, if he gets a few hits off the bench down the stretch it’s worth the price as gets only the prorated minimum from the Rockies.

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As for the media game, I think the final was 13-2 New York. We avenged our loss last season in fine fashion. I think all of us contributed in some way, which made it a lot of fun. Tyler and Bob Klapisch did fine work on the mound and we had the bats working. It was great to play hardball again, especially on a big-league field.

Our squad:

Record: Pete Caldera, Bob Klapisch. Ledger: Marc Carig. Newsday: Ken Davidoff, Erik Boland. Times: Jack Curry, Tyler Kepner. News: Mark Feinsand, Pete Botte, Anthony McCarron, John Harper. SI: Tom Verducci. MLB.com: Bryan Hoch.

Ken was the GM and helped organize the team. Anthony was the manager. Thanks to the Red Sox for getting the field ready and being such gracious hosts.

The New York media leads the Boston media 13-0 in our annual baseball game at Fenway Park. It’s the 4th inning.

Tyler Kepner is tossing a gem. Anthony McCarron had a three-run triple. I’ve been equal parts Robbie Cano and Nick Swisher. I grounded to second with runners on second and third. Then I walked and scored.

So excuse the lack of posts as we’re having a bit if fun. Back later.

A.J. Burnett, who once pitched well at Fenway Park, hasn’t this season. He and the Yankees were pummeled by the Red Sox yesterday.

Aces clash tonight as CC Sabathia faces Josh Beckett. This notebook also has an update on Johnny Damon.

As Derek Jeter approaches the final year of his contract, it’ll be a sticky situation for the Yankees.