The Bocker.com

Up until the beginning of the 7th inning, Dan Giese was pitching probably the best start by a Yankees pitcher all season.  He had not given up a run and was able to get through 6 innings on a thrifty 62 pitches (compared to 100 even for Joba Chamberlain in 5 and 2/3 on Thursday).

Then in the top 7th, Dan Giese showed his inexperience as a likely double play he botched and a terrible 0-2 pitch with 2 outs both combined to doom the Yankees in their 6-0 loss to the Reds.  Before I really begin to pick apart Giese’s 7th, let me first credit the Cincinnati Reds with a great combined pitching performance from 22-year old Daryl Thompson and the bullpen and also cast some blame on the Yankee offense for not being shutout.  

Back to the Reds half of the 7th.  After Giese allowed Ken Griffey Jr. to get on base with a leadoff single, Giese managed to get Brandon Phillips to hit a tailored made double play ball back to him.  The sure double play was quickly reduced into 1st and 2nd, after Giese’s bad throw to Robinson Cano off of 2nd base.  Everyone was safe.  

Next up, Joey Votto grounded out to Alex Rodriguez, but on this play, A-Rod should have been able to get Griffey Jr. out by making sure he actually tagged him as opposed to just waving his glove hand towards Griffey before throwing on to first base.  This play resulted in 2nd and 3rd with one out.

Giese got the second out by striking out Adam Dunn, but followed that at bat with a costly pitching error.  After jumping ahead of Edwin Encarnacion, 0-2, Giese through a pitch right over the plate that Encarnacion crushed for a two-run single.  Ahead in the count, Giese should not have thrown that pitch near the plate.  I hate when pitchers do this, because there is no reason to through a hittable pitch with such a great advantage in the count.  Try and see if the batter will get himself out rather than giving him a chance to hit a decent pitch.  

Dan Giese gave the Yankees 6 innings of brilliant baseball, even as the Bombers gave him no support offensively.  The worry though is that his breakdown in the 7th is what Giese takes away from this start and the successes he had through the first 6 innings were lost.