Cabrera Cycle

Melky Cabrera because the first Yankee since Tony Fernandez in 1995 to hit for the cycle. New York’s accomplished outfielder drove in four of the team’s eight runs on his way finishing the feat with a triple in the ninth off Chicago reliever, Scott Linebrink. Melky barely made it safely sliding into third base ahead of the throw. Mariano Rivera closed out the game in the bottom half with a scoreless frame.
Cabrera began his milestone night with a second inning three run rocket into the deck at U.S. Cellular One. The homerun provided New York a three run lead. Melky legged out a double and added a single to help the Bombers avoid a four game sweep against the hometown Chicago Whitesox. The Whitesox scored four runs off Yankees starter, C.C. Sabathia, in the third. Three of the runs came off back to back blasts by Jermaine Dye and Jim Thome. The Bomber bats bested the perfect game hurler, Mark Buehrle, knocking out 15 hits Sunday. Buehrle was chased in the fifth after allowing Cabrera’s single and third hit of the evening. The switch hitter helped his team avert the sweep on a night when Sabathia pitched just well enough to deserve the win. Cabrera has carried this team throughout the season and with Brett Gardner out, has been pressed hard in centerfield. Hitting for the cycle is always fun and Melky’s is the 15th in franchise history. They say the triple is the hardest of the four. Melky’s slow slap skidded slightly over Dye’s head to give the stocky baserunner a chance at history. His aggressiveness paid off in more ways than one. The team won the game and Cabrera completed the challenging cycle.
Parting points: One of my favorite former Mets, Kevin Elster, is celebrating a birthday today.
I guess the Cardinals are thrilled they acquired Matt Holliday. He’s been on fire since joining the team.