Saturday, June 26, 2010

CC Dominates, A-Rod Homers In Yanks 2-1 Win Over Dodgers

(REUTERS/Danny Moloshok)

Final123456789RHE
N.Y. Yankees «010001000270
L.A. Dodgers100000000141
WP: C. Sabathia (9-3) LP: V. Padilla (1-2)

A friend of mine asked me before yesterday's game if I though Alex Rodriguez was going to play with a chip on his shoulder as the Yankees faced former manager Joe Torre. We all know the history between these two; A-Rod was never one of Torre's guys, Torre made him bat eighth in the playoffs, which embarrassed him, then he said some things better left unsaid in his book about Alex. So based on that history we both agreed that this was a big series for Alex. Well, if he was he certainly much be happy about the way game one went.

With the Dodger winning 1-0 in the top of the second after Manny Ramirez's RBI single in the first, A-Rod started the inning with a double and later scored the tying run on a Jorge Posada single.

The score would stay tied at one as the innings rolled on. Both CC Sabathia and Dodgers starter Vicente Padilla pitched very well. Things got a little heated when after Vincente Padilla hit Robinson Cano to start the fourth, CC hit Padilla in his next at-bat. Padilla has a history of hitting opposing players and Yankees, so it was good to see the big fella pay him back. It was also hilarious when Padilla tried to stare down the 6'7", 300 pounder after being plunked. CC obviously didn't back down and stared right back until Padilla put his head down and got to first. That was the end of the drama, as both benches were warned.

A-Rod then gave CC the lead with his tenth homer of the year, a long solo shot to left in the sixth. That would be the last run of the game. It was his 593rd homer of his career.

CC would go on to pitch eight strong innings, allowing just a run on four hits and three walks, while striking out seven. He's also win his ninth game of the year.
Mariano Rivera then let Joe Torre know exactly what it feels like to have the greatest closer who ever lived come in against you to close the game. 13 pitches later, Manny Ramirez, Matt Kemp and James Loney had all struck out and the game was over. Loney, along with a frustrated Joe Torre and Don Mattingly, apparently had a problem with the final strike of the game and argued their way back to the clubhouse.

It was a fun game to watch and made even better by the Yankees win. Tampa was no-hit by former Ray Edwin Jackson (he threw 149 pitches so we may not see him again all year), and the Red Sox lost to the Giants so the Yankees lead in the division jumps to 3 games.

Game two is tonight at 7:10 pm on FOX. A.J. Burnett will look to fix his recent problems as he faces off against Hiroki Kuroda.

Derek Jeter, SS5020000.281
Curtis Granderson, CF4000012.240
Mark Teixeira, 1B3010100.230
Alex Rodriguez, 3B4221013.283
Robinson Cano, 2B3010001.361
Jorge Posada, C4011002.278
Nick Swisher, RF4000015.294
Brett Gardner, LF4000022.316
CC Sabathia, P3000020.200
a- Colin Curtis, PH1000000.500
Mariano Rivera, P0000000.000
Totals3527217

a-grounded out for Sabathia in the 9th
Batting
2B - Derek Jeter (16, Padilla), Alex Rodriguez (18, Padilla)
HR - Alex Rodriguez (10, Padilla)
RBI - Alex Rodriguez (51), Jorge Posada (27)
RISP: 1-6 (Curtis Granderson 0-1, Alex Rodriguez 0-1, Jorge Posada 1-2, Robinson Cano 0-1, Nick Swisher 0-1)
Team LOB - 8
Fielding
DP - Cano-Jeter-Teixeira, Sabathia-Jeter-Teixeira

CC Sabathia (W,9-3)84113703.49
Mariano Rivera (S,17)10000300.99
HBP - Padilla (by CC Sabathia)
Pitches-Strikes - CC Sabathia 115-75, Mariano Rivera 13-10
Ground Balls-Fly Balls - CC Sabathia 11-4
First-pitch strikes/Batters faced: CC Sabathia 14/30; Mariano Rivera 2/3

PLAYER OF THE GAME: CC Sabathia
HONORABLE MENTION: Alex Rodriguez


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