Jane Heller

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author

Not Dead Yet

hand zombie

The Yankees looked dead for most of tonight’s Game 2 against the Blue Jays, much the same way they looked dead the night before. But – lo and behold – the combo of Hughes and Huff (the “H” boys) held the Jays to only three runs, so the deficit wasn’t insurmountable….barely. The Yanks fought back with four runs of their own, and Mo, despite a shaky ninth that nearly ruined my dinner, got the save after Robertson was given a quick hook in the eighth.

All I want at this point is for them to put up a good fight, and they did.

What’s sad is that yet another team is about to host their farewell ceremony for Mo, with various reporters speculating about what Toronto will give him for a going away gift tomorrow. The whole thing is a little weird and as much as he seems to be enjoying it, it has to be exhausting. In any case, he’s saying goodbye and I’m trying not to notice.

 

Nunie Gets The Gatorade Shower

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There’s nothing like a comeback win. What a great game it turned out to be. I was all mopey before the Yankees scored their five big runs in the eighth. Chris Sale is a really good pitcher (Can we please get him, Cashman?), and things were looking bleak for the boys. I was taking a walk during the first couple of innings, listening on my iPhone, and a black cat ran across my path right before Jeter got hit on the ankle. I thought, Pleeeease no. So glad he was fine. At least he seemed fine.

When Cano knocked Sale out of the game, my mood brightened and I knew there was a chance for us. And then it was single, single single, single, single, single. (OK, I don’t know how many singles there were, but they were all huge.) I love homers – who doesn’t – but seeing the offense hit the ball up the middle and use the whole field was a lot of fun and something this team hasn’t always been able to do.

Yes, the White Sox are terrible defenders. I’ve never seen such sloppiness. But beating Sale and some hard throwers in their pen was an accomplishment. Every game is so crucial right now – every at bat, every chance in the field, every pitch. I think I was holding my breath for the past three hours. But I’m exhaling now. If the Rays lose again to the Angels over on this coast, I’ll be even happier.

I’m not unhappy that Huff will start in Hughes’ place on Saturday against the Red Sox. I just hope he doesn’t fold under the pressure.

The Yanks Were In A Huff Today – In A Good Way

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That’s David Huff in a Cleveland uniform – the Yankees have had so many players cycle on and off the roster that they don’t even bother to take team photos of the new guys anymore – and he gets my nod for the star of today’s almost Janer (a 9-1 score is close enough).

Huff hasn’t pitched long or often this season, but he’s been very good in his limited number of appearances and he was very good today in the rain-delayed game. I’d say something like, “Well, the White Sox are the worst team in baseball, so no big deal,” but they swept the Yankees the last time the teams played so anything could have happened. This time it was a combination of Huff’s pitching, Jeter’s emergence from Slumpville and a little help from the White Sox, who aren’t exactly slick defenders.

Everybody contributed, which is always fun. The only bad part was Hughes not getting a chance to win a ballgame. Girardi specifically adjusted the rotation so Pettitte would go yesterday against the O’s and Hughes would take on the Sox. Mother Nature had other ideas. Would Hughes have pitched really well? Maybe. We’ll never know, but I’m glad the game turned out the way it did. Now maybe some of the other Wild Card contenders will lose today?

Did I Jinxy Nixy?

imagesI couldn’t believe that after writing in last night’s post about how valuable Jayson Nix has been to the Yankees this year, Dickey throws a pitch that breaks Nix’s hand. Could. Not. Believe. It. So sorry he’ll be gone now. What a strange, strange season.

On the happy side, I cheered when Ichiro got hit #4,000 in his first at bat and the game came to a halt so everybody could give him a rousing ovation. Nice, nice moment for him, and he seemed genuinely touched by the outpouring.

The rest of the game was a nail biter. Adam Warren pitched well, but David Huff pitched even better. Wow, who knew? He held the Blue Jays scoreless and kept the score at 2-2 – until Soriano’s late blast had me pumping my fist. That homer felt so good because we really do need to win every game and things were getting hairy. Mo’s save was priceless. He struck out the first guy, allowed a single to Davis and picked Davis off at second. He just might be the best infielder we have right now, not to mention the best closer ever. How will we survive without him?

Never mind. No point in thinking about that now. The Yankees pulled off another win and that’s what counts. Some divine intervention wouldn’t hurt as we go down the stretch. The clock is ticking and the schedule is shrinking.

 

 

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About Jane Heller

Jane Heller is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Her fourteen breezy, witty novels of romantic comedy and suspense are now entertaining millions of readers around the world, along with her two books of nonfiction.