(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | ||
| Chi. White Sox | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 1 | |
| N.Y. Yankees | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 9 | 10 | 0 |
Mike Mussina threw six strong innings for the Yanks tonight, allowing just one run on five hits, while walking two and striking out four to pick up his 18th victory of the season. The win was Mussina's 268th of his spectacular career, tying him with Hall of Famer Jim Palmer for 33rd on the all-time wins list.
Tonight's offensive attack was led by Bobby Abreu. He gave the Yankees an early 2-1 lead with a two-run homer into the upper deck in the first. He added his second two innings later, this time a solo shot into the right field bleachers. But Abreu wasn't finished yet, he drove in another two runs with a single in the fourth, and capped off his night with an RBI groundout in the 5th. For the night Abreu went 3-for-5 with 2 HR, 6 RBI and 2 runs scored. Derek Jeter and Brett Gardner also had RBIs on the night.
Humberto Sanchez made his MLB debut tonight, and looked very good. He pitched one inning, retired the side in order, and picked up one strike out. His fastball was 93-94, and his curve looks nasty. Of the 11 pitches he threw 8 of them were strikes.
Juan Miranda and Francisco Cervelli also made their MLB debuts tonight. Miranda went 0-for-2 with two walks and a run scored, and Cervelli caught the final two innings but did not have a plate appearance.
But tonight the game was secondary to me because this was (most likely) my last game at The House That Ruth Built. Unless the Yankees make the postseason, or some kind person wants to give me a ticket for Sunday, I will probably never walk into that building ever again. And I can easily say that that building is my favorite place on earth, and it has been ever since I went to my first game back in 1987 when I was just five years old.
During the first eight innings the game felt very normal to me, but as the 9th inning was coming to an end it all hit me; my first game, the great wins, the painful and crushing losses, the championships, the stories my father tells me about the games he went to when he was a kid, all those great memories and came rushing into my head at once. And I have to be honest with you, it was very hard to stop myself from crying like a little baby.
Then, with "New York, New York" playing I noticed so many other fans just like me saying their goodbyes to this wonderful stadium. Some people were staring out onto the field, others were taking pictures of anything that could remind them of their last moments in The Stadium, and some were just standing, talking to each other, not wanting to leave. I pretty much did all of the above.
Later, when I was walking out of the gate - for the final time - I noticed several fans kiss their hand and touch the wall of the Stadium as they left. To me that was as good a way as any to say goodbye so I did the same.
I still can't believe they're actually leaving that place.
| AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | LOB | AVG | |
| Gardner, CF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | .188 |
| Jeter, SS | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .306 |
| Ransom, SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .333 |
| Abreu, RF | 5 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .299 |
| Rodriguez, A, 3B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .304 |
| Betemit, 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .262 |
| Giambi, DH | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | .248 |
| a-Moeller, PH-DH | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .220 |
| Nady, LF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .311 |
| Cabrera, LF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .243 |
| Cano, 2B | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .264 |
| Miranda, 1B | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | .000 |
| Molina, C | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | .213 |
| Cervelli, C | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| Totals | 34 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 15 | |
| a-Flied out for Giambi in the 8th. | ||||||||
| BATTING HR: Abreu 2 (19, 1st inning off Vazquez, 1 on, 1 out; 3rd inning off Vazquez, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Gardner; Jeter 2; Abreu 9; Rodriguez, A; Nady; Cano 2. RBI: Abreu 6 (95), Jeter (69), Gardner (11). 2-out RBI: Jeter; Abreu 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cano; Nady 2; Rodriguez, A 2. GIDP: Molina. Team LOB: 8. | ||||||||
WHITE SOX OFFENSE
| IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | |
| Mussina (W, 18-9) | 6.0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 3.57 |
| Veras | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3.58 |
| Sanchez, H | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Britton | 1.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4.09 |
WHITE SOX PITCHING
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Bobby Abreu (3-for-5, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 2 R)
HONORABLE MENTION: Mike Mussina (6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K)
The final series ever at Yankee Stadium begins tomorrow night against the Baltimore Orioles. Carl Pavano will start the opener for the Yanks, and he will face Radhames Liz. First Pitch: 7:05 p.m. - TV: MY9 - Radio: WCBS 880
5 Comments:
I can't believe Gardner’s flying bat missed Pavano twice in the 1st inning. Something really special must be coming!
wow that was a tearjerker
I've really got to tip my cap to Mussina. Before the season, I thought it would be accomplishment and a plus if he won more than ten games. And then after his first few starts, even ten looked out of reach.
To reach 18 wins at this stage in his career is incredible. All hail the Moose!
Hahahaha, sorry Godriguez.
Eric,
I couldn't agree more, and I never thought he could do it.
Nice summary, and thanks for sharing your feelings about the stadium. My last trip was a last month and I had a very similar experience like yours. I'm glad there are more people out there who feel the same way about that place.
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