(AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | ||
| TB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | |
| NYY | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | X | 4 | 10 | 0 |
WP - Jonathan Albaladejo (5-1)
LP - Lance Cormier (2-3)
SV - Phil Coke (2)
First, let's start with the Captain. Derek Jeter came into tonight's game needing three hits to tie Lou Gehrig for first all-time on the Yankees hits list at 2721. He led off the bottom of the first with a bunt single. It was a very smart move by Jeet to steal a hit and relax a little.
After grounding out in the third he led off the fifth with a ground-rule double over B.J. Upton's head in center field to put him just one behind the Iron Horse.
With each hit the fans got louder and louder, and they were ready to explode when Jeter came up for the fourth time in the bottom of the seventh. He didn't make the fans wait long because he lined the first pitcher he saw from Rays starter Jeff Niemann into right field to tie the record. The crowd went nuts and gave Jeter an extended standing ovation, with his teammates as well as the Rays joining in.
He had one chance to break the record when he came up with two out in the eighth, but to the crowds dismay he drew a walk. Passing Gehrig will have to wait until Friday. It also wasn't his only milestone of the night, Jeter stole the 300th base of his career in the first.
On to the game.... The Yankees trailed for much of the night thanks to two first-inning runs for the Rays off Joba Chamberlain. Jason Bartlett led off the game with a solo homer. Later in the inning the Rays had runners on the corners with one out when Pat Burrell drove in the Rays' second run with a single.
After the single, Jeter went to the mound to talk to Joba. I have no idea what he said or if it effected the way he pitched, but after the meeting Joba didn't allow a base runner. He struck out the next two batters of the inning and would go on to retire the next eight batters in a row. Due to his rough first inning he would only last three tonight, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk, while striking out three. Not great, but he definitely showed some signs of improvement after that rough start.
After Joba was done the Yankees went to Alfredo Aceves, who was great. He threw three no-hit innings, allowing just one walk and striking out three. Jonathan Albaladejo picked up where Ace left off, and retired all six batters he faced. His effort would eventually earn him his fifth win of the year.
Jeff Niemann had a very good night, holding the Yankees to just one run on eight hits, while walking one and striking out eight over seven+ innings. He allowed a leadoff single to Alex Rodriguez to start the eighth and was removed from the game still holding a 2-0 lead. This is about the time that Rays' manager Joe Maddon tried to be creative and likely cost his team the game.
His first move to leave you scratching your head was calling on the right-handed Lance Cormier to face Hideki Matsui instead of the left-handed Brian Shouse. Both pitchers were warming up, Shouse is a lefty, and his head-to-head numbers vs. Matsui were far better than Cormier's were - going into that at-bat Matsui was 2-for-14 against Shouse, and 2-for-4 against Cormier. There was no reason bring in Cormier, but I'm glad he did it because Matsui lined a 1-0 pitch into right field to put runners on the corners with nobody out.
Nick Swisher then grounded a ball to Rays first baseman Chris Richard, for what should probably have been a double play allowing the run to score. But Richard couldn't figure out where he wanted to throw the ball, double-clutched, and eventually threw the ball over Bartlett's head and into left field. The Yanks still had runners on 1st and 3rd, still with nobody out, but now were down by just one.
Now Maddon would bring in Shouse to face the left-handed Robinson Cano and he struck him out for the first out of the inning. Then, instead of leaving Shouse in the game to face Jorge Posada - who was about to pinch-hit for Brett Gardner - and turn the switch-hitter around to the bigger side of the ballpark, he brings in Grant Balfour. Balfour is also a fastball pitcher and that only helped Posada. Heading into the at-bat Posada was 3-for-3 with a walk against Balfour, and 2-for-6 with a walk against Shouse. It's not as stupid as the Cormier to face Mastui move, but it was another move that I didn't really understand. Once again, I'm glad he did it. Posada worked the count to 3-2, and then, knowing the fastball was on it's way, turned on the 94-mph heater and sent it deep into the seat in right to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead. It was Posada's 21st homer of the year.
With Mariano Rivera and Phil Hughes unavailable tonight Girardi had to go to Brian Bruney to start the 9th. He walked the lead off man on four pitches, but was then able to get Ben Zobrist and Pat Burrell to fly out for the first two outs of the inning. Phil Coke then came in to face Gabe Kapler and struck him out, ending the game and putting the Yankees 41 games over .500. It's the first time they've been 41 games over since September 30, 2004.
It was a great night for the Yankees bullpen tonight, as the four relievers combined to throw six no-hit innings, allowing just two walks and striking out four.
Boston won tonight so the lead remains at 9, but the magic number drops to 14. They have an off-day tomorrow before starting a weekend series with the Orioles on Friday in the Bronx.
| AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | LOB | AVG | |
| Jeter, SS | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .330 |
| Damon, LF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | .286 |
| Teixeira, 1B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | .280 |
| Rodriguez, A, 3B | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .283 |
| Matsui, H, DH | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .271 |
| 1-Hairston, J, PR-DH | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .255 |
| Swisher, RF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .254 |
| Cano, 2B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | .314 |
| Gardner, CF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .266 |
| b-Posada, PH-C | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .285 |
| Molina, J, C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .241 |
| a-Hinske, PH | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .244 |
| Cervelli, C | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .263 |
| c-Cabrera, Me, PH-CF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .279 |
| Totals | 36 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 19 | |
a-Flied out for Molina, J in the 7th. b-Homered for Gardner in the 8th. c-Flied out for Cervelli in the 8th. 1-Ran for Matsui, H in the 8th. | ||||||||
BATTING 2B: Jeter (26, Niemann). HR: Posada (21, 8th inning off Balfour, 2 on, 1 out). TB: Jeter 4; Damon; Rodriguez, A 2; Matsui, H 2; Swisher; Posada 4. RBI: Swisher (78), Posada 3 (75). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Rodriguez, A; Gardner 2; Teixeira 2; Damon. Team RISP: 1-for-12. Team LOB: 10. BASERUNNING SB: Jeter (25, 2nd base off Niemann/Navarro). | ||||||||
| IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | |
| Chamberlain | 3.0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4.45 |
| Aceves, A | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3.72 |
| Albaladejo (W, 5-1) | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.85 |
| Bruney (H, 13) | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4.18 |
| Coke (S, 2) | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4.97 |
Pitches-strikes: Chamberlain 55-36, Aceves, A 44-29, Albaladejo 20-12, Bruney 7-2, Coke 5-3.
RAYS STATS
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Derek Jeter (3-for-4, BB, ties Gehrig for Yanks all-time hits lead)
HONORABLE MENTION: Jorge Posada (1-for-1, HR, 3 RBI, R)
Off-day.
28 Comments:
It was a great night to be at the Stadium. I have to admit that I wasn't confident that Jeter would get 3 hits. But once he laid down that perfect bunt to lead off the first, I had a feeling it was going to happen.
The fans were going crazy and we were all constantly figuring how many at bats Jete would get.
After the ground rule double, everyone thought it was going to happen for sure. The Stadium just had the feel of history to it.
When he got the hit to tie the Iron Horse, the Stadium went crazy. A huge ovation.
I am very happy that I got to see this guys entire career. He's been a class act throughout and always a winner.
So congrats to Jeter. It's not every day that somebody because the hits leader on the greatest team in sports history.
And it's not every day you get to be compared to the great Lou Gehrig.
CF I am truly jealous that you got to be there for that, I am hoping to buy tickets for Friday nights game to see him break it, that is of course if my Professors don't slam me with mucho work.
Hey Durden, the tix on stubhub skyrocketed after the game. There are a few auctions that are reasonable still. Other than that, it looks like the cheapest tickets are about $100.
I thought about going but I was at the Stadium twice this week and away for my fantasy football draft another night. So I'm going to watch tomorrow's game from home.
I hope I can be jealous of you being there!
Good luck. Hope you get there.
Better believe I will try, Ill do my work on the train ride in from LI if I have too.
Where on Long Island are you?
I live in the Great Neck area.
I've got to say that I'm so happy for Jeter, who will always be tied for first as my Favorite Yankee. Who's the other? Why Lou Gherig, of course. Full disclosure here: I'm way too young to have seen The Iron Horse play, but my dad still tells me stories about how Gehrig played the game, so no Yankee will ever pass him in my estimation. But Jeter will tie him, that's for sure.
I'm looking at the large photo of Gehrig I have in my office at the university right now....Man, was he some player or what?
And Jeter? Is he some player or what?
Keep goin' Derek! You've made me proud to be a Yankee fan.
And you guys going to the next few games: cheer him on will 'ya? Wow! I've actually been able to watch Jeter play the game since 1995. Now I've got some stories to tell the young kids in years to come....
Mike
Originally from Huntington but now living by NorthPort Bay.
li sucks, go to mass.
Masshole!
not this clown again.
That's not too bad of a train ride Durden. How do you go?
Do you take the LIRR to Penn and then head over to Grand Central and take the 4, or do you walk the one block from Penn and take the D?
LIRR to Penn, then walk to the Mall and get on the B or D, whatever happens to come thru 1st. Its about an hour and a half, 45 minutes on the LIRR and 45 in the Subway(if i dont get the express).
I've also driven there and made it there in less then an hour but that required some reckless driving to do so, the 1st and last time I'll do that.
I was at the game last night. One of the best ones i've been too. The crowd was really going. I'm going tomorrow too. Hopefully he breaks it.
What your guys' favorite section to sit in? I like the main level infield and outfield seating the best and I sat just about everywhere there is to sit in the new park, minus the mohegan sun in center, that has to wait til next season.
I have sat in 117b, 118 and 127 and the seats in 118 were the best.
My 11 game plan seats are in 333. I'd like to upgrade those next year but they aren't bad.
I sat in 418 on Monday and those weren't bad either.
I have been in the Mohegan Sun and it isn't bad to go in. It's actually kind of nice. But I don't go to games to stand in a bar. I go to be in the crowd.
Took this pic of the stadium last night. Hopefully you can see it.
https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=2e8844edf5&view=att&th=123a22cca0680884&attid=0.1&disp=inline&realattid=f_fzezm0kv0&zw
its a gmail login CF.
Joba looked very strong after the first inning which is a great sign. Its a shame he had to come out of the game. He was really getting into a great rhythm and attacking the hitters.
Great work by the bullpen.
I think the best thing the Yankees can do is let Aceves start Joba's games let him go 4 or 5 then bring in Chamberlain for 3 innings.
DSorry, I was attempting to be lazy. Here is the link of the pic from my pb account.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e329/crossfire1/Yankees/YankeeStadiumInauguralSeason9-9-9.jpg
Hey CF, glad to hear you were at such a great night at the new stadium.
Nice pic btw.
Thanks Greg.
I just got a call a few minutes ago from a friend and he offered me a ticket for section 118 for Saturday's game. Very cool!!!
Nice week for me. I went Monday, Wednesday and now I'm going on Saturday!
Holy crap look at A-Roids Average shootin up slowly but surely. He's doing great as of late
M.E., A-Rod has been really good lately. Pretty much since June 24th actually. But more recently he's been coming up with big hit after big hit. It's really great to see.
A-Rod has been great this year. I like his new approach with runners in scoring postion he is just trying to make contact up the middle and hit a single instead of doing too much and trying to swing for a homerun.
In his last 10 games, ARod is 17 for his last 40 with 12 rbi and 2 homers.
I think Jeter is worthy of a top ten spot on everyones list..
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