(REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine)| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | ||
| BAL | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 1 | |
| NYY | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
WP - Brian Matusz (5-2)
LP - A.J. Burnett (11-9)
After dropping ten straight to the Yanks, the Orioles made it two in a row in the Bronx with today's 7-3 win over the Bombers.
A.J. Burnett gave the Yankees no chance - especially with that joke lineup they had today - allowing six runs in the second inning. It was typical Burnett, a few hits leads to a few more, then the whole inning spiraled out of control. Brian Roberts came through with the big blow, a grand slam into the seats in right. Burnett eventually found himself and did last seven innings, but like Michael Kay said during the broadcast, one bad inning in October can cost you your season, and as we know Burnett is prone to the big inning.
Unlike Mr. Burnett, Baltimore starter Brian Matusz was very good today. He held the short-handed Yankees lineup to just a run on four hits over seven strong innings. He mixed all of his pitches very well and for the most part consistently pounded the zone. The only run coming on a Mark Teixeira sac-fly in the bottom of the first, briefly giving the Yankees a 1-0 lead.
After Baltimore added a run off Yankees reliever Josh Towers in the ninth, the Yankees put two meaningless runs on the board in the bottom of the innings. Melky Cabrera drove in one with an RBI double, and then scored himself on Jorge Posada's RBI single.
Looking at today's lineups; Jerry Hairston Jr. batting second, Shelley Duncan as the DH, as well as yesterday's relief decisions, it would appear that Joe Girardi thinks this whole thing is wrapped up already. Hopefully the team isn't buying it because if a manager instills a sense of accomplishment in a team that hasn't accomplished jack, teams can blow a big lead. That's why the Mets choked two years in a row - they felt they already had won. This team needs to keep the peddle to the floor and put this thing away. Then they can start giving two or three guys off a game. Until then play the regulars.
Remember, we're not just looking at the division here. The Yankees need homefield agaisnt the Angels, and that lead can drop to just four games if the Angels win today, with three games left in Anaheim. We all saw what homefield did for them in '05 and that happened because Joe Torre didn't think that final game in Boston mattered and started Jarret Wright.
If Johnny Damon is ready to go tomorrow, I would like to see the normal lineup in there. That means Jeter-Damon-Tex-ARod-Matsui-Posada-Swisher-Cano-Melky/Gardner. Manage to win, this thing isn't over yet.
| AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | LOB | AVG | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jeter, SS | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | .330 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hairston, J, LF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .255 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Teixeira, 1B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .281 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rodriguez, A, 3B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .286 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swisher, RF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .251 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cano, 2B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .315 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Duncan, S, DH | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .200 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| b-Gardner, PH-DH | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .269 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cabrera, Me, CF | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .278 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Molina, J, C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .243 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| a-Posada, PH-C | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .284 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Totals | 33 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
a-Struck out for Molina, J in the 7th. b-Grounded into a forceout for Duncan, S in the 9th. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
BATTING 2B: Rodriguez, A (14, Matusz), Cabrera, Me (26, Johnson, Ji). TB: Jeter; Teixeira; Rodriguez, A 2; Cano; Duncan, S; Cabrera, Me 2; Posada. RBI: Teixeira (107), Cabrera, Me (59), Posada (76). 2-out RBI: Cabrera, Me; Posada. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Swisher; Jeter. S: Hairston, J. SF: Teixeira. Team RISP: 1-for-4. Team LOB: 7.
BASERUNNING SB: Jeter (26, 2nd base off Matusz/Wieters). FIELDING DP: (Cano-Jeter). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pitches-strikes: Burnett, A 108-72, Towers 31-18.
ORIOLES STATS
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Brian Matusz (W, 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K)
HONORABLE MENTION: Brian Roberts (3-for-4, HR, 2B, 4 RBI, BB, R, SB)
GOAT OF THE GAME: A.J. Burnett
Tomorrow's Game
Yankees vs. Orioles
Game Time: 1:05 p.m. TV/Radio: YES, WCBS
Game Time: 1:05 p.m. TV/Radio: YES, WCBS
LHP CC Sabathia (16-7, 3.40) vs. RHP Jeremy Guthrie (10-13, 4.96)
4 Comments:
Burnett has a career 3.86 era that is very good. His problem has always been injuries.
He is probably having his worst statistical year. His strikeouts are down his walks are up and his whip is higher than his career averages.
Even though he is struggling I still think he will be fine in the playoffs. I dont put much stock in the fact that he is struggling in a meaningless game in september againt baltimore. For some reason I just think he will rise to occasion in the postseason.
Note to Joe Girardi: The Phillies have a six-game lead in the NL East, yet they're still fielding their strongest lineup against the Mets today. Perhaps that's why they've been able to come from 4-0 down in the first. If I ever see Jerry Hairston batting second in the lineup again, I'm turning off my TV before the game has started.
P U.
i have a feeling the yankees are not trying their best to win games now because they have a large lead. And tommorows a differnt day. GO CC and yankees. And a note to joe "Put your best lineup out there, plz". I want a win.
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