Yankees’ Mark Teixeira on his way to Becoming and All-Star

Mark Teixeira

New York Yankees’ first baseman Mark Teixeira said this past off-season that he would like to be back to the player he always was, a player that hits 30 home runs and knocks in 100 runs a season.

On Friday night, Teixeira hit a 1-0 breaking ball into the upper deck in the eighth inning for a three-run game-tying home run off of Tampa Bay Rays’ reliever Keven Jepsen. The home run boosted the Yankees who were basically shut down by Rays starter Chris Archer for 6.2 innings. The Yankees would go onto win the game on a three-run homer in the 12th inning by catcher Brian McCann.

As for Teixeria, he added an RBI single in the 12th inning before McCann ended it with a home run.

Teixeira’s four RBI night brought his RBI total to 58 and his home run total now sits at 20. Teixeira is well on pace to over achieve his goal.

Teixeira has been great offensively all year for the Yankees, and is in the discussion for an All-Star spot. Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera is leading the vote as he is hitting .350, but Cabrera left the Tigers game against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday with an undisclosed injury. The Tiger slugger also has 15 home runs and 54 runs batted in, both lower than Teixeira.

Teixeira’s defense has also been superb for the Yankees only committing two errors on the season while Cabrera has committed only three. As for the All-Star game, Cabrera is having another fantastic year and is well deserving, while Teixeira is also having an All-Star caliber year.

Yankees fans sometimes forget how good and important Teixeira has been in Pinstripes as he has been plagued with injuries, but when healthy the first baseman is as good as an All-Star.