(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | R | H | E | ||
Minnesota | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 0 | |
NY Yankees | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 0 |
Winning Pitcher: Alfredo Aceves (W, 2-0)
Losing Pitcher: Jesse Crain (L, 2-2)
With the score tied 2-2 in the bottom of the tenth Johnny Damon launched 3-2 pitch into the second deck in right to give the Yankees a third straight walk-off win in a row. It's been three fun and exciting games at the new stadium as the Yankees continue to show that they're not going to be a team that just rolls over and dies.
This team is playing with a new confidence since Alex Rodriguez came back. They've won seven of nine and five in a row. They're also starting to get good starting pitching almost every day. A.J. Burnett took the mound today and matched zeros with Twins' starter Kevin Slowey through the first six innings. Burnett ran out of gas in the seventh. He struck out Brian Buscher to start the inning, but then allowed a single to Carlos Gomez and walked Nick Punto to put runners on first and second with one out. He struck out Denard Span for the second out, but then Matt Tolbert lined a single to center scoring Gomez and giving the Twins a 1-0 lead. With Joe Mauer at the plate, Burnett uncorked two wild pitches allowing Punto to score the Twins second run. He eventually walked Mauer and Justin Morneau before being removed from the game. In 6.2 innings Burnett allowed two runs on six hits, walked six, and struck out seven. Six walks is way too much and that led to a very high pitch count - 123 pitches/74 strikes - and an early exit. Even with the walks it was a solid start for Burnett.
Jonthan Albaladejo came in with two outs and the bases loaded, and was able to get out of the jam when he struck out Jason Kubel looking at a fastball on the outside corner.
As they have been doing lately, the Yankees came right back with two runs of their own in the bottom half to tie the game. Alex Rodriguez led off the inning with a solo homer to cut the lead to one. It was his third of the year and second in as many day. Hideki Matsui then doubled and was moved to third on a Nick Swisher sac bunt. Matsui then scored on a Melky Cabrera sac fly to shallow left. It was a very aggressive send by third base coach Rob Thompson, but he made the other team make the play and they failed when Denard Span's throw sailed up the first base line. It's amazing how quickly things can change in this game. Two weeks ago it was the opposing team that would always come right back against the Yankees every time they scored a run and now the roles have reversed. Hopefully it stays like this for a while.
This team is playing with a new confidence since Alex Rodriguez came back. They've won seven of nine and five in a row. They're also starting to get good starting pitching almost every day. A.J. Burnett took the mound today and matched zeros with Twins' starter Kevin Slowey through the first six innings. Burnett ran out of gas in the seventh. He struck out Brian Buscher to start the inning, but then allowed a single to Carlos Gomez and walked Nick Punto to put runners on first and second with one out. He struck out Denard Span for the second out, but then Matt Tolbert lined a single to center scoring Gomez and giving the Twins a 1-0 lead. With Joe Mauer at the plate, Burnett uncorked two wild pitches allowing Punto to score the Twins second run. He eventually walked Mauer and Justin Morneau before being removed from the game. In 6.2 innings Burnett allowed two runs on six hits, walked six, and struck out seven. Six walks is way too much and that led to a very high pitch count - 123 pitches/74 strikes - and an early exit. Even with the walks it was a solid start for Burnett.
Jonthan Albaladejo came in with two outs and the bases loaded, and was able to get out of the jam when he struck out Jason Kubel looking at a fastball on the outside corner.
As they have been doing lately, the Yankees came right back with two runs of their own in the bottom half to tie the game. Alex Rodriguez led off the inning with a solo homer to cut the lead to one. It was his third of the year and second in as many day. Hideki Matsui then doubled and was moved to third on a Nick Swisher sac bunt. Matsui then scored on a Melky Cabrera sac fly to shallow left. It was a very aggressive send by third base coach Rob Thompson, but he made the other team make the play and they failed when Denard Span's throw sailed up the first base line. It's amazing how quickly things can change in this game. Two weeks ago it was the opposing team that would always come right back against the Yankees every time they scored a run and now the roles have reversed. Hopefully it stays like this for a while.
After getting out of a major jam in the seventh, Albaladejo got into a major jam in the eighth when he loaded the bases with one out. Brett Tomko came out of the pen and did a great job getting out of the jam, but it didn't come without a lot of defensive help from his first baseman. With the infield in Span hit a sharp grounder in the hole between first and second, but Mark Teixeira made a great diving stop and an even better throw to home to get the force for out number two. Tomko then got Matt Tolbert to pop out to the Kevin Cash for the final out of the inning. I think Tomko getting out of that jam was the turning point of the game.
The Yankees threatened to take the lead in the bottom half of the eighth when they loaded the bases themselves, this time with two out. Matsui worked the count to 3-1, but then swung at ball four and ball five to strike out ending the threat. Not a good at-bat for someone who is normally a very professional hitter.
After Mariano Rivera pitched a scoreless ninth the Yankees once again threatened to score in their half of the inning. Swisher walked and Brett Gardner pinch ran, and Melky bunted him over to second and the Yankees had the winning run in scoring position. The next batter was Francisco Cervelli and he lined a pitch up the middle that looked destined for center field. But Twins reliever Jose Mijares stopped and knocked the ball towards home plate with his glove. Joe Mauer fielded the ball and looked as if he was going to try and get Cervelli at first. Gardner saw this and tried to catch the Twins sleeping and score all the way from
second. At the last moment Mauer notice Gardner racing for the plate and started sprinting towards home himself. Mauer dove and tagged Gardner just before he could touch home for the second out of the inning. Gardner said after the game that he "thought he was going to throw it to first." and that if Mauer did he "would have been able to get home a little easier than what ended up happening.''
To me it Gardner was showing a little too much aggression there. With one out there was no reason to take that gamble, two outs fine, not one. But at the same time I can't really blame him if he really thought Mauer was going to throw to first. Had Mauer done that he would have scored. Robinson Cano was the next batter ended up flying out to left for the final out of the inning.
Alfredo Aceves pitched a scoreless tenth, needing just 11 pitches to get through the inning. He picked up the win, improving his record to 2-0.
Jeter led off the tenth and grounded out, setting things up for Damon and his walk-off blast. It marked the first time a Yankees team has won three straight games in walk-off fashion since August 27-29, 1972.
The Yankees send Andy Pettitte to the mound tomorrow night as they look for the four-game sweep of the Twins. Pettitte is coming off a decent start against the Jays in Toronto last Wednesday. Glenn Perkins will get the start for the Twins.
What has been your favorite of the three walk-off wins?
The Yankees threatened to take the lead in the bottom half of the eighth when they loaded the bases themselves, this time with two out. Matsui worked the count to 3-1, but then swung at ball four and ball five to strike out ending the threat. Not a good at-bat for someone who is normally a very professional hitter.
After Mariano Rivera pitched a scoreless ninth the Yankees once again threatened to score in their half of the inning. Swisher walked and Brett Gardner pinch ran, and Melky bunted him over to second and the Yankees had the winning run in scoring position. The next batter was Francisco Cervelli and he lined a pitch up the middle that looked destined for center field. But Twins reliever Jose Mijares stopped and knocked the ball towards home plate with his glove. Joe Mauer fielded the ball and looked as if he was going to try and get Cervelli at first. Gardner saw this and tried to catch the Twins sleeping and score all the way from
second. At the last moment Mauer notice Gardner racing for the plate and started sprinting towards home himself. Mauer dove and tagged Gardner just before he could touch home for the second out of the inning. Gardner said after the game that he "thought he was going to throw it to first." and that if Mauer did he "would have been able to get home a little easier than what ended up happening.''To me it Gardner was showing a little too much aggression there. With one out there was no reason to take that gamble, two outs fine, not one. But at the same time I can't really blame him if he really thought Mauer was going to throw to first. Had Mauer done that he would have scored. Robinson Cano was the next batter ended up flying out to left for the final out of the inning.
Alfredo Aceves pitched a scoreless tenth, needing just 11 pitches to get through the inning. He picked up the win, improving his record to 2-0.
Jeter led off the tenth and grounded out, setting things up for Damon and his walk-off blast. It marked the first time a Yankees team has won three straight games in walk-off fashion since August 27-29, 1972.
The Yankees send Andy Pettitte to the mound tomorrow night as they look for the four-game sweep of the Twins. Pettitte is coming off a decent start against the Jays in Toronto last Wednesday. Glenn Perkins will get the start for the Twins.
What has been your favorite of the three walk-off wins?
| AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | LOB | AVG | |
| Jeter, SS | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .270 |
| Damon, LF | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .324 |
| Teixeira, 1B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | .231 |
| Rodriguez, A, 3B | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .172 |
| Matsui, DH | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | .261 |
| Swisher, RF | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .244 |
| 1-Gardner, PR-CF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .244 |
| Cabrera, M, CF-RF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .310 |
| Pena, 2B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .264 |
| Cervelli, C | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .318 |
| Cash, C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .100 |
| a-Cano, PH-2B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .296 |
| Totals | 32 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 11 | |
a-Lined out for Cash in the 8th. 1-Ran for Swisher in the 9th. | ||||||||
BATTING 2B: Matsui (8, Slowey). HR: Rodriguez, A (3, 7th inning off Slowey, 0 on, 0 out), Damon (10, 10th inning off Crain, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Jeter 2; Damon 6; Rodriguez, A 4; Matsui 2; Swisher; Cervelli. RBI: Rodriguez, A (7), Cabrera, M (13), Damon (27). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Rodriguez, A; Matsui 2. S: Damon; Swisher; Cabrera, M. SF: Cabrera, M. Team RISP: 1-for-5. Team LOB: 7. BASERUNNING SB: Jeter (8, 2nd base off Slowey/Mauer). FIELDING DP: (Rodriguez, A-Pena-Teixeira). | ||||||||
| IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | |
| Burnett | 6.2 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 5.02 |
| Albaladejo | 0.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4.82 |
| Tomko | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.86 |
| Rivera | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2.76 |
| Aceves, A (W, 2-0) | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2.16 |
TWINS STATS
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Johnny Damon (3-for-4, Walk-off HR, RBI, R)
HONORABLE MENTION: Alex Rodrguez (1-for-3, HR, RBI, R)
Yankees vs. Twins
Game Time: 7:05 p.m. | TV/Radio: YES, ESPN, WCBS 880
Andy Pettitte LHP (3-1, 4.00 ERA) vs. Glenn Perkins LHP (1-2, 4.27 ERA)
Game Time: 7:05 p.m. | TV/Radio: YES, ESPN, WCBS 880
Andy Pettitte LHP (3-1, 4.00 ERA) vs. Glenn Perkins LHP (1-2, 4.27 ERA)
11 Comments:
Melky's has been hands down my favorite. The other two were nice and all, but Melky's came when we were down a run and down to the last out.
plus they walked Robbie to get to Melky
I was in section 203 for Melky's game winner, my first trip to the new park. And while I know I was sitting in the best part of the park (right field bleachers) and wasn't there for the next two games I can tell you that the place was electric for most of that game, especially the 9th. Such a great game, and from our perspective you couldn't tell if Gomez was going to make a diving catch (looked closer than what I saw on TV) or if it would fall. Best game I've been to.
Melky walkoff was the best. That game was great. Gardy had an inside the park homerun. I would hate that they would lose a game like that when so many things you dont see everyday happen.
gotta agree with everyone else - the melky walkoff was definitely the best
All three were great but Melky's was the best.
Great win, and a great weekend, but Gardner's baserunning mistake was more than just being too aggressive; it was dumb.
With one out, he has to be SURE he can score. The fact that it didn't cost them the game isn't really relevant, because it COULD have.
I agree man, 6 walks is absurd and unacceptable, here's how I look at AJ: you gotta give him credit for the way he battled thru 6. More so than looking at what he does wrong so far this season, I look at what he bring that we didn't have last yr. You've got to expect the offense to score some runs in the first 7 innings, i think his performance is under appreciated a little bit, since he faltered first.
His next start will be interesting, it's vs NL, but the Phillies will use a DH.
Miller,
Like I said, it was a solid start. And up until the seventh it was a great start. I just think he ran out of gas in the seventh. But he certainly did battle through the game, much like he did against the Angels when he also walked the ballpark.
Which was your favorite of the walk-offs?
NYSJ,
Yes that's true, it was pretty dumb.
I actually always enjoy walk off hits when runners have to motor around to score....its more exciting to me, so my answer would be friday's win.
Also I wasn't saying you were hating on AJ at all...I was just addressing something I think most yankee fans and analysts are missing when they only look at AJ, CC and Joba's numbers to judge their importance to the long term goals of this team.
Ahh I see what you're saying.
So when's the next guest post, Miller?
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