McCarthy Goes The Distance to Help Yankees Avoid Sweep

Brandon McCarthy tossed a four-hit shutout and Chase Headley drove home a pair with a double (followed shortly by an Ichiro Suzuki Sac Fly to make it 3-0) in the bottom of the second today as the Yankees avoided being swept by the Astros, 3-0, in the series finale at Yankee Stadium.

In his likable 8-K outing this afternoon, interestingly, McCarthy actually let men get to second and third twice, happenings that appeared at the time to indicate that him going the distance just wasn't possible. 

Fortunetaly, though, McCarthy would bare down and get out of both of those situations spotless, with the first one ending with Houston Right Fielder Marc Krauss grounding out sharply right back to him.

No, McCarthy didn't necessarily collect a web gem on that play, but yes, he did accidentally deflect the ball off his ankle, an act soon followed by him finding it on the grass to retire Krauss by a step.

Then in the seventh, with a duo in scoring position and one out, McCarthy also struck out Jon Singleton and induced a Carlos Corporon pop-up, essentially killing the Astros' offensive momentum, as they never again reached base in their last two at-bats.