Jeter Makes History, But Bullpen Blows It

(REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine)

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
BAL	0	1	0	0	2	4	3	0	0		10	16	0
NYY	3	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0		4	12	1

WP - Chris Tillman (2-3)
LP - Damaso Marte (1-2)
SV - Mark Hendrickson (1)
I was at tonight's cold, damp, and delayed affair in the Bronx. Obviously the high point of the night was Derek Jeter's history making opposite-field single in the bottom of the 3rd. It was a Jetarian (hate that term) single past first and into right, pretty much the same exact hit as the one that tied Gehrig on Wednesday. The hit was no. 2722 of his hall of fame career and broke the tie between he and the Iron Horse for the Yankees all-time hits leader. The place went nuts, his teammates poured out of the dugout to congratulate him, and the standing ovation seemed to go on for several minutes. It was truly a great moment at the House That George Built. It's a shame they couldn't cap it off with a win.

Maybe The Boss said it best:

“For those who say today’s game can’t produce legendary players, I have two words: Derek Jeter. Game in and game out he just produces. As historic and significant as becoming the Yankees’ all time hit leader is, the accomplishment is all the more impressive because Derek is one of the finest young men playing the game today. That combination of character and athletic ability is something he shares with the previous record holder Lou Gehrig. It adds to the pride that the Yankees and our fans feel today. Every Yankees’ era has its giants. It’s thrilling to watch Derek as he becomes one of the greats of his generation, if not of all time.”

Besides Jeter's hit, and Alex Rodriguez's three-run homer in the bottom of the first, the game pretty much stunk. The weather didn't help either.

Although he wasn't terrible, Andy Pettitte had his worst start in three weeks, allowing three runs on five hits, walking three, and striking out five. He did pitch well enough to be in line for the win, but the one killer was that he didn't give the Yankees the length they needed and that seemed to force Joe Girardi into several bad relief decisions. (That I questioned before hand, just ask the 5 or 6 people that were sitting around me.)

We've seen, time and time again since coming over from the Pirates, that Damaso Marte is not an inning at a time guy, especially when having to face right-handed hitters. Sure, he can pitch complete innings with two out of three lefties, but he brought him in to face switch-hitter Matt Weiters, Felix Pie (lefty), and Chad Moeller, a righty. Then he leaves him in to face the switch-hitting Brian Roberts, and Cesar Izturis (switch) leading to three more runs. Then, finally Nick Markakis steps up, the lefty Marte should have been saved for, and grounds into a force.

Then, after Jonathan Albaladejo comes in to get the final two outs of the sixth, Girardi decides to forfeit the game completely and sends in Edwar Ramirez. This was the time I started to make my exit out of the new big ballpark in the Bronx. I knew he'd get hammered and waited around just long enough to see Markakis' two-run single. Girardi managed this game as if it didn't matter, and the final score was the result. I know you can't used the main guys every day, but there were better moves than Marte against a bunch of switch-hitters and righties, and bringing in Ramirez in a game when the Yankees still had a chance. By the time Edwar was done the Yankees trailed 10-4, the tarp was back on the field, and I was on the 4 train headed back to Manhattan.

What made these decisions even worse to me was that Girardi waited so long to give these guys the hook. The lead evaporated and turned into a 2-run deficit, and then he allowed Ramirez to pitch until the game was all but over. I don't understand why Girardi managed this game the way he did, especially coming off an off-day.

Losing this game isn't a big deal, they're still 8.5 up and barring a complete collapse should head into October with the best record in baseball. And tonight was really Derek Jeter's night anyway.

Tomorrow's game is less than 12 hours away with the 1:05 p.m. start. A.J. Burnett will take the mound for the Yankees, and he will face Baltimore's Brian Matusz.

	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Jeter, SS	4	0	2	1	0	1	2	.331
Pena, R, 2B	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.280
Swisher, RF	2	1	0	0	1	1	1	.253
Hairston, J, SS	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	.257
Teixeira, 1B	2	1	1	0	1	1	0	.281
Hinske, 3B	2	0	0	0	0	2	1	.242
Rodriguez, A, 3B	3	1	2	3	0	1	2	.286
Duncan, S, RF	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Matsui, H, DH	4	0	1	0	0	0	2	.271
Posada, C	3	0	0	0	0	3	2	.283
Molina, J, 1B	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	.248
Cano, 2B	3	1	2	0	0	0	0	.316
Cervelli, C	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.259
Cabrera, Me, LF	3	0	0	0	0	1	2	.277
Gardner, CF	4	0	2	0	0	1	2	.270
Totals	36	4	12	4	2	11	16
BATTING 2B: Hairston, J (23, Hendrickson). HR: Rodriguez, A (25, 1st inning off Tillman, 2 on, 1 out). TB: Jeter 2; Hairston, J 2; Teixeira; Rodriguez, A 5; Matsui, H; Molina, J; Cano 2; Gardner 2. RBI: Rodriguez, A 3 (83), Jeter (63). 2-out RBI: Jeter. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Matsui, H; Posada; Hinske. GIDP: Jeter; Pena, R. Team RISP: 2-for-8. Team LOB: 8. FIELDING E: Gardner (2, fielding). DP: (Pena, R-Hairston, J-Molina, J).

	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Pettitte	5.0	5	3	3	3	5	0	4.14
Marte, D (BS, 1)(L, 1-2)	0.1	4	4	4	1	0	0	11.32
Albaladejo	0.2	1	0	0	0	0	0	4.75
Ramirez, E	0.2	3	3	3	1	2	0	5.75
Melancon	1.1	2	0	0	0	0	0	3.60
Dunn, M	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	6.75

Pitches-strikes: Pettitte 103-59, Marte, D 21-12, Albaladejo 7-5, Ramirez, E 33-21, Melancon 23-15, Dunn, M 17-13.

ORIOLES STATS

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Derek Jeter - Congrats Derek!

HONORABLE MENTION: Brian Roberts (1-for-3, 3 RBI, BB, 2 R)

GOATS OF THE GAME: Damaso Marte and Edwar Ramirez (1 IP, 7 H, 7 ER, 2 BB, 2 K)

Tomorrow's Game

Yankees vs. Orioles
Game Time: 1:05 p.m. TV/Radio: YES, WCBS

RHP A.J. Burnett (11-8, 4.19) vs. LHP Brian Matusz (4-2. 5.26)