Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Soriano's Struggles Continue, Yanks Drop Second Straight




Chi. White Sox (10-14) «0000100203100
N.Y. Yankees (12-8)010010000240
WP: G. Floyd (3-1) LP: R. Soriano (1-1) SV: S. Santos (2)
HR: CHW - P. Konerko (6)   NYY - R. Cano (5),B. Gardner (2)

Like the series opener on Monday, Tuesday's affair at the stadium was another pitchers' duel. Both starters--Ivan Nova for the Yanks and Gavin Floyd for the Sox--pitched very well. Nova allowed just one run on 5 hits, while walking 2 and striking out 3. Floyd allowed just two runs on two solo homers (4 hits total) over 8 innings, while walking 1 and fanning 10 Yankees.

I'm not going to get on the Yankees case for not hitting for a second straight game. Floyd is a solid pitchers, and the solo shots by Robinson Cano and Brett Gardner were enough to win this one, at least until Rafael Soriano came into the game.

After David Robertson cleaned up a minor jam for Nova in the 7th it was Soriano's turn in the 8th. After striking out Alexi Ramirez, Soriano hit Carlos Quentin with a pitch, and the next batter, Paul Kenerko, blasted a two-run homer to give the Sox their first lead of the game. Soriano would allow two more baserunners in the inning on a walk and a single before escaping the jam, but as they say, the damage had already been done.

The Yankees had their chance in the bottom of the 9th. Derek Jeter reached on his most common hit this year--the infield single. Then, after a successful Curtis Granderson sac bunt, Mark Teixeira walked and the Yanks had the winning run on base with Alex Rodriguez and Cano coming to the plate. That's when Brent Lillibridge, who came into the game as a pinch runner in the 8th, would make two fantastic defensive plays to save the game for Chicago.

The first came off the bat of A-Rod, who lined a pitch deep to the corner in right. Lillibridge got back to the wall to make a lunging play to save at least one run. Then, with two outs and the runners breaking on the crack of the bat, Robinson Cano lined a ball that looked destined for the right field corner, but this time Lillibridge made an even better play, racing to the ball and making a spectacular diving catch to rob the Yankees again. Just a crushing way to lose, but again, the Yankees wouldn't have even gotten to this point had Soriano done his job.

The Yanks and White Sox play game 3 of the series tonight in the Bronx. Bartolo Colon will face White Sox lefty Mark Buehrle. First pitch is set for 7:05 PM.

ittersABRHRBIBBSO#PAVGOBPSLG
D Jeter SS30201113.259.322.284
C Granderson CF30000112.282.338.662
M Teixeira 1B30001221.250.389.569
0000000.000.000.000
A Rodriguez DH40000118.321.452.696
R Cano 2B41110012.301.306.566
N Swisher RF30000316.217.329.246
E Chavez 3B3000017.364.440.455
B Gardner LF31110113.145.197.306
G Molina C2000002.000.000.000
a-R Martin PH-C
1000001.306.386.645
Totals29242210115
a-grounded to pitcher for G Molina in the 8th
BATTING
HR: R Cano (5, 2nd inning off G Floyd 0 on, 1 Out); B Gardner (2, 5th inning off G Floyd 0 on, 2 Out)
RBI: R Cano (15), B Gardner (5)
S: C Granderson
2-out RBI: B Gardner
GIDP: C Granderson
Yankees RISP: 0-2 (A Rodriguez 0-1, R Cano 0-1)
Team LOB: 3

PitchersIP H RERBBSOHRPC-STERA
I Nova6.151123092-545.82
D Robertson
(H, 5)
0.210001012-80.00
R Soriano
(L, 1-1; B, 1)
1.022211129-187.84
B Logan0.11000106-53.60
B Carlyle0.21001009-30.00
Totals9.01033461148-88
PITCHING
HBP: C Quentin (By R Soriano)
First-pitch strikes/Batters faced: I Nova 14/25; D Robertson 3/3; R Soriano 2/7; B Logan 2/2; B Carlyle 0/3 
Called strikes-Swinging strikes-Foul balls-In Play strikes: I Nova 21-5-8-20; D Robertson 3-2-1-2; R Soriano 5-2-7-4; B Logan 3-1-0-1; B Carlyle 1-0-0-2 
Ground Balls-Fly Balls: I Nova 9-6; D Robertson 1-0; R Soriano 0-2; B Logan 0-0; B Carlyle 1-0
Game Scores: I Nova 60
(White Sox Box)
 
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Gavin Floyd
HONORABLE MENTION: Ivan Nova
GOAT OF THE GAME: Rafael Soriano

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