(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | ||
Toronto | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 1 | |
NY Yankees | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 1 |
WP: Mariano Rivera (3-2)
LP: Jason Frasor (6-3)
LP: Jason Frasor (6-3)
With nobody on and one out in the bottom of the eighth the Yankees trailed 4-2, and I could sense that the confidence in Yankees Universe was slowly starting to take a blow. Then Alex Rodriguez singled to bring Hideki Matsui up as the tying run and he would face the left-handed Scott Downs.
We all know how tough he can be against lefties, 11 homers this year off southpaws coming into the at-bat. And when Downs threw Matsui a 1-2 curveball he was ready, and golfed it into the seats in right for a game-tying two-run homer. I know they were 6.5 up at the time, and I know how good they've been all year, but for a team that looked like it needed a spark Matsui did just that. This was a very big hit for this team.
Mariano Rivera came in a pitched a scoreless ninth. He has now allowed just one earned run n his last 32nd innings. That set the stage for the Yanks in the ninth.
Brett Gardner led off the inning with a single. Then, on an 0-2 pitch to Derek Jeter he stole second. Jeter then grounded the ball to short to advance the speedy Gardner to third. That brought up Francisco Cervelli. An inning prior Joe Girardi had subbed in Cervelli for Hairston and Gardner for Johnny Damon. Both moves turned out to be big ones.
Cervelli fell behind Jays' reliever Jason Frason 1-2, but was able to hit a hard grounder past the diving Marco Scutaro and into left to drive in Gardner with the winning run. Cervelli made a mad dash into right field, but the Yanks caught him and mobbed him. It's always great to see a rookie pick up a big hit like this because everyone gets a little more excited for the kid.
It was the Yankees 14th walk-off win of the season, tops in the majors, and it was pie time for Cervelli. .... Speaking of that pie:
(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)Chad Gaudin started for the Yankees and pitched very well. In 5.2 innings pitched he allowed three runs on seven hits, walked just one and struck out two. Of his 100 pitches on the night 62 found the strike zone. Gaudin has been pretty impressive his last two times out and the Yankees are now 4-0 when he starts.
All relievers besides Brian Bruney pitched well tonight. Damaso Marte struck out the only batter he faced, the left-handed Travis Snider. That's how you use him Joe. Phil Coke pitched a scoreless inning without allowing a hit. Phil Hughes also added a hitless inning, and picked up a strike out. And Mariano was, well, Mariano, and picked up his third win of the year.
As for Bruney, he was awful, but luckily Girardi didn't give him the chance to ruin the game. He only faced two batters, Scutaro, who doubled, and Aaron Hill, who singled. It's getting pretty obvious that Girardi is as fed up with Bruney as the fans are.
Up in Beantown the Red Sox were literally handed a win by the umpires as they made two terrible calls in the bottom of the ninth to give the Sox the 9-8 win. With the Angels up 8-7 in the 9th the Sox loaded the bases with two out and sent up pinch-hitter Nick Green. On an 0-2 pitch Green tried, emphasis on tried, to check his swing, made a face as though he knew he didn't, but still Jeff Kellogg at first base said he didn't. Then, with the count now full at 3-2, Green took a pitch right down the middle for strike three, but home plate umpire Rick Reed called it ball four and the game was tied. I'll have a little more on this later, including screen shots.
Anyway, the Yankees magic number is now 11 and they lead the Angels by seven games for the best record in baseball. They have off tomorrow before starting a six game road trip against the Mariners and Angels.
| AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | LOB | AVG | |
| Jeter, SS | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | .330 |
| Hairston, J, LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .252 |
| Cervelli, C | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .268 |
| Teixeira, 1B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .286 |
| Rodriguez, A, 3B | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .287 |
| Matsui, H, DH | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .280 |
| Swisher, RF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .257 |
| Cano, 2B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .320 |
| Cabrera, Me, CF-LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .277 |
| Molina, J, C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .239 |
| a-Damon, PH | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .282 |
| Gardner, CF | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .280 |
| Totals | 35 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 15 | |
a-Struck out for Molina, J in the 7th. | ||||||||
BATTING 2B: Teixeira (40, Tallet), Cano (42, Janssen). HR: Matsui, H (25, 8th inning off Downs, S, 1 on, 1 out). TB: Cervelli; Teixeira 2; Rodriguez, A 2; Matsui, H 5; Swisher; Cano 2; Gardner. RBI: Teixeira (112), Matsui, H 3 (85), Cervelli (10). 2-out RBI: Matsui, H. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Swisher; Cabrera, Me; Hairston, J 2. Team RISP: 2-for-10. Team LOB: 8. BASERUNNING SB: Gardner (22, 2nd base off Frasor/Barajas). FIELDING E: Jeter (8, fielding). | ||||||||
| IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | |
| Gaudin | 5.2 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4.81 |
| Marte, D | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10.97 |
| Bruney | 0.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.36 |
| Coke | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.82 |
| Hughes, P | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3.14 |
| Rivera, Ma (W, 3-2) | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.66 |
Pitches-strikes: Gaudin 100-62, Marte, D 6-5, Bruney 6-4, Coke 8-6, Hughes, P 15-9, Rivera, Ma 14-8.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Francisco Cervelli (1-for-1, GW RBI single in 9th)
HONORABLE MENTION: Hideki Matsui (2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI, R)
Tomorrow's Game
Off-day
Off-day
24 Comments:
I hope Girardi realized that putting Hairston in the 2 hole isn't a good idea. He made a horrible decision to not even attempt a throw to home in the 7th.
Gardner should of started tonight for Damon instead of Hairston. Gardner has a 439 obp against Tallett. Why just wait till the 9th inning to play that kind of baseball. Why not try that during the whole game because the team looked real flat from the 2nd inning - to the 8th. Thats 2 games in the last 3 days that Gardner has won.
I'd like to see AJ pitch a good game for a change so he could get a pie in the face.
I don't get the Hairston thing, either.
Mike
Burnett shouldn't be pieing people when hes been pitching like a crack addict.
While I agree that I would like to see Gardner get more ABs, I think the later the season gets and playoffs Gardner is more valuable being inserted to a specific scenario to effect the game. Man that guy can run and he truly adds excitement. Go Yanks and Ralph Terry - where ever you are.
Gardner's hit in the 9th was the key to winning the game. He stole second and went to third on Jeter's out. Cervelli (deservedly) gets the glory for driving in the run but Gardner and Jeter set the table!
Yanks got the big bats but it's always nice to see them win with small ball too.
crossfire said...
Gardner's hit in the 9th was the key to winning the game. He stole second and went to third on Jeter's out. Cervelli (deservedly) gets the glory for driving in the run but Gardner and Jeter set the table!
Yanks got the big bats but it's always nice to see them win with small ball too.
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I agree Cervelli gets the glory good for him he is a nice young player but Gardner and Jeter are the ones who made that inning happen.
All Cervelli needed to do was to make contact and put the ball in play and he did that so I give him credit.
Jeter had a great at bat and that really gets ignored though the next day in the papers. I saw Jeter clapping once he got called out at first because he got Gardner over to third. I never seen him do that that before.
It wasa nicea to hit the baseaballa so good
Anon, there is no reason why the pies should stop because Burnett is struggling. I guess he should also stop hanging out with teammates, smiling, and laughing as well, right?
Greg, I didn't say that he should stop hanging with the team and all that junk. You get so god damn defensive when someone states an opinion or disagrees with you its comical.
All I'm saying his when he's been pitching like he has, his focus should be on pitching, not pieing someone in the face because they have contributed more then he has.
I'm waiting to be called a Sox fan...seriously thats next on the list bc of what I said, aint it?
Well, when you post under anonymous I'm going to assume you are that kid Jack. If you don't want to be confused with him, simply type in a name, any name. It literally takes five seconds.
As for the pie thing, I think it's ridiculous to suggest that he stops doing that because he's not pitching well. The pies are a team thing and they seem to enjoy it. He's just the one who does it.
Also, you can't possible think he's more focused on pieing someone than pitching, can you?
Greg I happen to agree with this anon. When Burnett is struggling and I see him pieing someone it does make me go "yeah, why dont you do something that matters" in my head. But I havn't been a big fan of the pie thing since it started, I think its a little ridiculous for a professional team.
THANK YOU! someone that gets it.
Greg I'm not saying he's focusing more on pieing someone then pitching. Maybe if he had the location of the strikezone down as well as he has the location of the towel and cream he'd be doing better.
I guess thats one way of putting it.
I disagree. There is no reason why teams can't have fun and win too.
I think it's great that this team finally looks like they're enjoying themselves out there. I also think it's this false idea of the "Yankee way" that is getting people upset with pies and celebrations. A Yankee way that never truly existed except in the minds of those who chose to buy into it.
Babe Ruth was drunk and hungover for many a home run. Mantle too. David Wells pitched a perfect game and was still drunk from the night before. Billy Martin would punch anyone who looked at him funny. Players swapped wives. The late 70's Yankees were crazy and did nothing the "Yankee way" besides winning.
Winning is, has, and always will be the Yankee Way. That's it. Just winning.
Sure, there are guys like Jeter who personify what people believe to be the Yankee way, but besides the few like, the rest are just regular human beings that want to have a good time playing a kids game. If you take the fun out of sports, then there's no point in playing in the first place. This isn't the military.
in no way did I say they should stop having fun, you need to learn to read in-between the lines, i said Burnett should stop, that leaves the door open for other players to do it.
I was responding to Durden when he said "But I havn't been a big fan of the pie thing since it started, I think its a little ridiculous for a professional team." Not you.
As for Burnett, there is no reason why he should stop throwing pies. No reason at all.
Greg don't get me wrong, I love the team, I love when they come back or walk off and I love when they're having fun because it normally means I'm having fun somewhere. We just disagree with how the team celebrates it that's all. I think meeting your team at the base, or at home is celebratory enough. Unless you clinched, or advanced I don't see the point in doing the pies...I guess for a 22 year old you can call me old fashioned.
That's fair.
Greg being fair? Who thought is was fucking possible..
If I disagree I disagree, what's the big deal? I didn't call you names or a Sox fan. The only person I do that to is Jack, or Anonymous posters I confuse with Jack because I can't tell who's who.
Im just f----n with ya
- Not Jack.
Perfect... If you're not Jack just put a sig under your post. And yes, "Not Jack" will suffice.
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