Byrd Rolls; Garko Strolls

Two guys might have busted out of their slumps tonight, good signs all around and the starters dominated.

Byrd Continues Starting Streak: The starting rotation is on some kind of role.

C.C. pitched two innings since his one run given up. Laffey 7, Lee and Carmona 9 and 7.1 for Byrd.

All scoreless. 34.1 straight scoreless by the starting rotation.

That is some kind of roll.

Byrd was awesome tonight and he got some more defensive help.

This time Grady Sizemore making a spectacular diving catch, and throwing a heavy footed Frank Thomas out at home.

Thomas tried sliding, but when I say tried, I mean tried because he stuck his foot right in front of home plate and just collapsed. Nice job Big Hurt.

Byrd went 7.1, struck out SEVEN a season high, and gave up only 5 hits. Great work Byrdie.

Garko Goes Deep: I kept saying Hafner needed to get Pissed.

Seriously.. He got one hit earlier to knock in a run, then he was up with two on and no out, and they had WALKED Victor to get to him.

At that point, if I'm Hafner. I'm getting pissed and I'm breaking out of this slump.

No dice, he did take a nice healthy cut at the first pitch though.

Later when Embree threw at his head, I said it again.

Sure enough, Hafner didn't let me down. Smoked one into the gap. Nice work Pronk.

Then came the other guy in a rut. Ryan Garko. Former Indian Andrew Brown goes away and Garko takes it that way. 3 Run Jack and it is now 4-0 and suddenly things look a lot better.

Masa got his first career save in America after he came in on the eighth and then just finished the ninth after the big homer.

Tomorrow it is another battle of aces.. C.C. Sabathia and Joe Blanton, should be another pitchers duel.

[BOXSCORE]