(REUTERS/Danny Moloshok)| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | ||
| NYY | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 2 | |
| LAA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 1 |
WP - Phil Hughes (8-3)
LP - Matt Palmer (10-2)
SV - Mariano Rivera (41)
It was a big night for the Yanks over in Anaheim, as they not only became the first team to lock up a playoff spot, but they finally beat the Angels in their home yard. Besides that, they also shrunk their magic number to clinch to AL East to 6 games thanks to Zack Greinke who defeated the Red Sox in KC.
I'll be honest, as the game progressed I really didn't think they'd hold on. Luckily I was dead wrong and they did. Like I've said many times, I'm always happy to be wrong if it means a Yankees win.
Alex Rodriguez stole the show for the Yanks. He hit a two-run homer in second to give them and early 2-0 lead. Then he made a fantastic diving play on a Vladimir Guerrero grounder and threw him out with the bases loaded and two out in the sixth with the Yanks leading by just one run. He capped off his great night by hitting a sac fly in the top of the ninth scoring Brett Gardner with the Yankees winning run. Look, I may not have always defended the guy, but right now I think he's playing some of the best baseball of his career and he deserves a ton of credit.
Another guy who deserves credit is Joe Girardi. Lately he's been doing things that have left me shaking my head, but tonight he managed like this was a playoff game. Every move didn't pay off, but he made the right moves, and that's what matters.
The Yankees got on the board early with four runs in the top of the 3rd off Angels' starter Ervin Santana. A-Rod's two-run bomb got the Yanks started. Jorge Posada would add a two-run shot of his own to make it 4-0 Yanks. Hideki Matsui made it 5-0 Yankees with a solo shot in the top of the 5th.
Chad Gaudin started for the Yanks and pitched brilliantly through the first 4.2 innings, but then things fell apart for Chad. After holding the Angles scoreless, Chone Figgins hit a solo homer to cut the Yanks lead to 5-1. Then Maicer Izturis doubled, Bobby Abreu walked, and Guerrero hit an RBI single to cut the lead to three. That would be it for Gaudin.
Girardi then went to Alfredo Aceves who was able to get out of the jam in the 5th, but then got into some trouble in the 6th. Kendry Morales singled to leadoff the inning, and that was followed by a Juan Rivera single to put two men on with nobody out. Gary Matthews then drove in a run with an RBI single to cut the Yanks lead to 5-3. Two batters later Aceves walked Bobby Abreu to force in a run and cut the Yanks lead to just one. He eventually got out of it, but the damage was done.
Aceves started the 7th and got Torii Hunter to ground out before leaving the game. Damaso Marte came in to face the swith-hitting Kendry Morales, but Morales doubled. If Marte wants a spot on the playoff roster these are the batters he's going to have to get out, and tonight he failed.
Phil Hughes then came on to get the final two outs of the 7th on two groundballs. He stayed in for the 8th, but his defense abandoned him. Robinson Cano made an error on a hard grounder by Howie Kendrick for an E4. Then Kendrick stole second and moved to third on a bad throw by Posada, and the Angels were setup. Izturis would later tie the game with an RBI single, but that's all the Angels would get because Hughes struck out Guerrero and Torii Hunter to end the inning.
Brett Gardner led off the ninth with a single and stole second. Then Derek Jeter walked and Johnny Damon laid down a two-strike sac bunt to put runners on second and third with one out. After the Angels walked Mark Teixeira, who had two hits on the night, A-Rod drove in the winning run with his sac fly.
Mariano Rivera came in for the ninth and picked up his 42nd save of the season, though homeplate ump C.B. Buckner didn't make it easy for him. On a 3-2 pitch to Morales, Rivera clearly hit the outside corner, but Buckner called it a ball and the Angels had the leadoff man on. But then, Mo struck out Juan Rivera, and thanks to a great throw by Posada, was able to get a strike 'em out, throw 'em out double play. To me this was the play of the game. Erick Aybar then grounded out weakly to end the game.
The Yankees will look to take the rubber game tomorrow afternoon at 3:35 p.m. with A.J. Burnett on the mound. Former Ray Scott Kazmir will take the mound for the Angels. It would be a huge lift if the Yanks could take a series in Anaheim, but you already knew that.
| AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | LOB | AVG | |
| Jeter, SS | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | .329 |
| Damon, LF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .285 |
| Teixeira, 1B | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .292 |
| Rodriguez, A, 3B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 | .284 |
| Matsui, H, DH | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .280 |
| Posada, C | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .283 |
| Cano, 2B | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .321 |
| Swisher, RF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | .251 |
| Cabrera, Me, RF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .271 |
| Gardner, CF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .280 |
| Totals | 34 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 15 | |
BATTING 2B: Cano (46, Santana, E). HR: Rodriguez, A (27, 3rd inning off Santana, E, 1 on, 1 out), Posada (22, 3rd inning off Santana, E, 1 on, 1 out), Matsui, H (28, 5th inning off Santana, E, 0 on, 0 out). TB: Jeter; Damon; Teixeira 2; Rodriguez, A 4; Matsui, H 4; Posada 4; Cano 3; Gardner. RBI: Rodriguez, A 3 (89), Posada 2 (79), Matsui, H (88). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Posada 2; Jeter; Rodriguez, A; Matsui, H. S: Damon. SF: Rodriguez, A. GIDP: Swisher. Team RISP: 1-for-10. Team LOB: 8. BASERUNNING SB: Jeter (27, 2nd base off Santana, E/Mathis, J), Gardner (23, 2nd base off Palmer/Budde). FIELDING E: Cano (11, fielding), Posada (7, throw). DP: (Posada-Cano). | ||||||||
| IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | |
| Gaudin | 4.2 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4.78 |
| Aceves, A | 1.2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3.87 |
| Marte, D | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10.97 |
| Hughes, P (BS, 3)(W, 8-3) | 1.2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3.04 |
| Rivera, Ma (S, 41) | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.91 |
Pitches-strikes: Gaudin 96-58, Aceves, A 34-24, Marte, D 3-1, Hughes, P 37-25, Rivera, Ma 15-9.
ANGELS STATS
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Alex Rodriguez (1-for-4, HR, 3 RBI, R, GW sac fly in 9th)
HONORABLE MENTION: Jorge Posada (1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, R)
Tomorrow's Game
Yankees @ Angels
Game Time: 3:35 p.m. TV/Radio: YES, WCBS
RHP A.J. Burnett (11-9, 4.22) vs. LHP Scott Kazmir (9-8, 5.08)
Yankees @ Angels
Game Time: 3:35 p.m. TV/Radio: YES, WCBS
RHP A.J. Burnett (11-9, 4.22) vs. LHP Scott Kazmir (9-8, 5.08)
17 Comments:
OK, we can beat kazmir, AJ just has to give us at least 6 good innings, nice to get 7 from him, about 8 k's 2 bb's, scatter 7 hits, 1 run,
Gardner making a strong case why he should be starting over Melky. He brings a different dimension to the lineup that no other yankee has.
2nd game in a week that he got a clutch single to lead off the 9th and stole 2nd and scored the winning run.
Loved that hard slide into home too. The kid is a gamer. Palmer worried so much about Gardner that he never threw a strike to Jeter.
Not taking anything away from Melky he is also having a very good season.
Greg, is it out of the question during the ALCS to have Joba and Gaudin each pitch 3-4 innings in Game 4?
Posada's throw to nail pinch-runner Reggie Willits in the "strike him out / throw him out" double play in the ninth inning was perfect and a complete game changer.
It certainly made up for his horrible throw into center that eventually allowed the Angels to tie the game in the bottom of the 8th.
Wow, that was exciting...but not exactly what I needed when I had to get up at 7am today! My thoughts, for what they are worth: A-Rod had one hell of a game, offensively and defensively; it was great to see him perform when it mattered. Gardner's speed is worth an extra run in tight finishes; everyone knows he's going to run but speed kills. It was great to see Mo bounce back from that blown save in Seattle. Gaudin was better than I could have hoped for but Girardi waited too long to yank him. Five inns is his max at the moment. Hughes buckled but refused to break; this kid has real heart (something Mr. Chamberlain could learn from). On the minus side, we should have been able to control the game better from 5-0 up and we seem to have lost that Yankee trait of nailing down the lid of the coffin by tacking on runs in the middle innings. If we can take the rubber match today, it could be a celebratory series against the Sox. Go Aj, go Yanks!
Amen, Bruce!
Mike
Gaudin was OK he didnt kill them unlike Joba on sunday. I'd take my chances with Gaudin as 4th starter in the playoffs. Nothin is ever easy ! GO Yanks !
Posada's costly error here blew a 5-0 game and then another boneheaded play by not stopping a ball in the dirt could have proved fatal by allowing runners to advance.
When Posada gets honorable mention you know for a fact that you are dealing with people that have an agenda. Posada is total cluster fuck and should be DH the rest of the way including the playoffs, that is, if the Yankees want to win.
Why is it every Posada post has "anonymous" on it? If you're going to call him out, at least have the balls to put your name on it. Posada may not be the greatest catcher in the world but I'll take him over most others in MLB.
P.S. If I could be bothered to stay up until 2am to watch the end of the game, why couldn't My9 be bothered to stay up and broadcast the game wrap-up and post-match press conferences?
Your first post was excellent Bruce. I had to be at work at 6 am. Kind of hurting today but the win was worth it.
As for Anon that constantly posts about, if you wrote as many idiotic things as him, you wouldn't put your name to it either.
ugh, been up for close to 32 hours straight now, and i still have a mountain of work. it was a hell of a game last night, gotta build off that.
Bryan, it's possible. It would be a strange way to go at a playoff game, but again, it's possible.
I'd rather see them go CC on short rest. We know he can do it from last year.
Anon, get your head out of your ass.
Hahaha Durden, are you going to even attempt at watching some of today's game?
Bruce, I also was up at 2am & I agree about the post-game & wrap up. That should be YES doing that, though, instead of flipping straight into a replay of the game.
I also agree about people who 'call out' ballplayers but sign themselves as 'anonymous'. That's cowardly on the part of the poster. Personally, I don't really think Posada is all that horrible, and his bat & leadership overcompensates for the skills he lacks behind the plate. On balance, Posada is a huge asset for the Yankees.
Ill make a few comments.
Start with Gardner. Kid is pure speed. Definitely pulls pitchers out of the game and off the strike zone. Not to mention the kid steals 2nd even on pitch outs. Thats value I think the Yankees need. Hitting long balls is good but small ball keeps the inning going.
Posada, bad throw to 2nd but it was also bad on Cano to give make the error. Posada nailed Willits in the 9th and hit a bomb. So I think it more than makes up for his shortcoming.
A-rod has been showing what he can do coming off of surgery. We know not every AB is going to resuly in a HR or RBI but hes getting it done. I think its a relaxed position at the plate. In years prior hes been the main RBI, HR guy. This year you have Tex leading the Yanks in HR and RBI and 8 Yankees are having 20+ HR seasons. This takes alot of pressure of A-rod and lets him be a more relaxed hitter at the plate knowing if he doesnt get it done, someone else will.
As for Gaudin, I can see him a 5 or maybe 4 spot pitcher in the rotation later on. Hes definitely got the stuff and has been consistent through his starts. Not so great starters seem to have 3 good starts before they go south. Gaudin has not done this... Yet. If he could just get into the 6 or later with the stuff hes been showing I think we have a solid 4-5 spot pitcher.
Id like to talk about the bullpen. Overall I thought it looked good. Ace gave up 2 runs, was alittle inconsistent but he didnt let things get out of hand. Marte... Well was Marte. But I think Hughes deserves alot of praise. Gave up one run, unearned and kept the Angels from taking the lead with 2 big strikeouts. Followed by Mo and Jorge shutting them down completely in the 9th.
Yankees brought the offense, a good defense (not looking at the 2 errors) and a solid pen. If they can play like this in post season I think its safe to say they have a legitimate shot at the long sought after number 27.
The most impressive thing about Hughes has been his ability to minimize damage - usually the main thing that makes a good reliever a great one.
Wow, sorry folks, didn't realize the entire summary wasn't showing up. It's fixed.
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