Game 101: Going for the series win

The Yankees got some help from Mother Nature last night, holding off just long enough for the Yankees to take a 2-1 lead against Yu Darvish and the Rangers, then get through 4 1/2 innings to make the game official, which was called after nearly two hours of a rain delay, giving the Yankees a win in the third game of this four game set, concluding today in the Bronx.

The Yankees lost a game, the Sunday night match against the Baltimore Orioles, right before the All-Star break because rain cut that one short, so it's only fitting that they get a win in the same fashion.

Brett Gardner hit the game-winning homerun off of Darvish last night, putting the Yankees up before the rain. It was Gardner's 10th homerun of the season, which is tied with Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran for second most on the team.

Gardner, who will be paid $5.6 million this season under his previously existing contract, has been one of the Yankees' best offensive (maybe the best?) players this season, batting .279 with 41 RBIs and a 3.1 WAR.

Today's lineup against Texas:

CF Jacoby Ellsbury
LF Brett Gardner
DH Carlos Beltran
1B Brian McCann
3B Chase Headley
2B Brian Roberts
RF Ichiro Suzuki
C Francisco Cervelli
SS Brendan Ryan

Pitching matchup preview:

Brandon McCarthy will take the mound for the Yankees today, as the Bombers look to capture the series win and improve their record to 6-1 in the second half of the season.

McCarthy will be making just his third start for the Yankees since being acquired before the All-Star break, and his second start at Yankee Stadium -- fifth of his career here in the Bronx. McCarthy's last outing, against the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday, was a good one, in which he tossed six innings of one-run ball while striking out nine.

McCarthy said afterwards that he started throwing his cutter again, which he was told not to throw while with the Diamondbacks, and it worked out really well for him on Saturday.

The Rangers will counter with right-hander Colby Lewis, who has never pitched in the new Yankee Stadium before. Lewis faced the Toronto Blue Jays in his last start, giving up two runs on eight hits in five innings.

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