(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | ||
| BOS | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 0 | |
| NYY | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | X | 4 | 10 | 1 |
WP - Andy Pettitte (14-7)
LP - Paul Byrd (1-3)
SV - Mariano Rivera (44)
Step one: complete.
With their 100th victory of the season the Yankees not only wrapped up their first division title since 2006, but also homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. To make things even sweeter they did it against Boston at home.
Andy Pettitte started for the Yanks, and after once again struggling early he settled down and pitched very well. In 6 innings the veteran southpaw allowed two runs on seven hits, walked three, and struck out four.
The Yanks fell behind 2-0 after two and a half, but Melky Cabrera got the Yankees on the board with a solo homer in the third, his 13th of the season.
They would then took the lead for good with two runs in the sixth. After Boston starter Paul Byrd -- who pitched very well today -- got two quick outs, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez hit back-to-back singles to knock Byrd out of the game. Terry Francona called on Takashi Saito to face Hideki Matsui and the move didn't work out too well. After falling behind 0-2 Matsui worked the count to 2-2, and then lined a fastball just in front of J.D. Drew in right for a two-run single.
Brian Bruney then came in for Andy Pettitte and pitched 1.2 innings of shutout baseball. He retired all five batters he faced, and may have put himself back in contention for a postseason roster spot. Phil Coke relieved Bruney and got the final out of the 8th by striking out David Ortiz.
Mark Teixeira added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth with his 38th home run of the season. He's now just one behind Carlos Pena for the league lead. Pena is on the DL so there's a good chance he'll be passing him later this week.
That set things up for Mariano Rivera's 44th save of the year, which thanks to a brainfart by Robinson Cano was a little more difficult than it should have been, but he got the job done. The final out was a slow comebacker off the bat of Jacoby Ellsbury, the place went nuts and it was party time!
For more great photos from today's celebration check out this gallery on Yahoo! Sports. You can also watch some of the celebration here and here.
By the way, remember that 0-8 start against the Sox? Well, after taking 9 of the last 10 the season series ends in a 9-9 tie.
| AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | LOB | AVG | |
| Jeter, SS | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 |
| Gardner, CF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .276 |
| Teixeira, 1B | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .294 |
| Rodriguez, A, 3B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .285 |
| Matsui, H, DH | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .280 |
| Swisher, RF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .250 |
| Cano, 2B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .321 |
| Cabrera, Me, LF | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .273 |
| Molina, J, C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .211 |
| Totals | 31 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 7 | |
BATTING 2B: Swisher (34, Byrd). HR: Cabrera, Me (13, 3rd inning off Byrd, 0 on, 0 out), Teixeira (38, 8th inning off Bard, D, 0 on, 0 out). TB: Jeter 2; Teixeira 5; Rodriguez, A; Matsui, H; Swisher 2; Cano; Cabrera, Me 5. RBI: Cabrera, Me (67), Matsui, H 2 (90), Teixeira (120). 2-out RBI: Matsui, H 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Rodriguez, A; Cano. S: Gardner. Team RISP: 1-for-5. Team LOB: 5. BASERUNNING CS: Cano (7, 2nd base by Byrd/Varitek). FIELDING E: Cano (12, fielding). DP: 2 (Rodriguez, A-Cano-Teixeira, Jeter-Cano-Teixeira). | ||||||||
| IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | |
| Pettitte (W, 14-7) | 6.0 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 4.11 |
| Bruney (H, 14) | 1.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4.17 |
| Coke (H, 21) | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4.68 |
| Rivera, Ma (S, 44) | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.82 |
Pitches-strikes: Pettitte 97-63, Bruney 21-14, Coke 5-3, Rivera, Ma 9-7.
RED SOX STATS
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Andy Pettitte (W, 6 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K)
HONORABLE MENTION: Everybody.
Tomorrow's Game
Yankees vs. Royals
Game Time: 7:05 p.m. TV/Radio: YES, WCBS
RHP Chad Gaudin (5-10, 4.78) vs. RHP Luke Hochevar (7-11, 5.98)
Game Time: 7:05 p.m. TV/Radio: YES, WCBS
RHP Chad Gaudin (5-10, 4.78) vs. RHP Luke Hochevar (7-11, 5.98)
11 Comments:
Shyt I wish there was a way i can sneak in an celebrate
Me too yankeefan. Me too.
You dont know how bad I wanted to be there and celebrate with them when they were showing the celebration. :sigh:
But whatever, I celebrated a bit at home too.
Congrats to the yankees. Funny though to see guys like Guzman (who has only been here a week) and Edwar Ramriez who cost the team more loses than wins celebrate so hard.
Great job by Bruney he looked like he did in april before going on the dl. He is back in the postseason roster discussion. He went through the heart of the red sox order with only a 1 run lead. That was very impressive.
If the tigers are the yanks opponents, I think Damaso Marte will be left off the playoff roster. He is just a lefty specialist. The tigers dont have any really good lefty's other than Granderson. Girardi obviously trusts and likes Coke more. They are going to take the series with the extra off day. So Coke will be available everygame for Granderson. Also two of the your three starters are left handed. There will be no need for Marte until the alcs and world series.
Remember when you were complaining about Girardi being asleep, Greg? Remember like I said, no need to worry at all.
He was asleep. There was no reason he should have managed those 11 games that way, and by the looks of the lineups since then he realized it too. Now they have a full week to rest whomever they want and now he can manage as if it's over, because it is.
Meh, it was over then too. Not officially but yea pretty much. (98+%)
You're right. I didn't think they were going to blow it, I just didn't like the complacency I was seeing and fearing it could carry into October. But they turned it back on and took care of business.
just something i randomly thought about. if the tigers end up clinching the division, i wonder what porcello will do since he's not 21 yet
I think it's funny when I see the September call-ups and other assorted players who were sent down during the year and only brought back up because it's September partying and dumping champagne all over.... As if they had anything to do with it, lol.
But hey, as long as they are having fun...
I was there, it was one hell of a moment. I know Durden was there for some big wins and clinchers in the past but this was my 1st, and it was so much cooler in person.
Seeing all the individual celebrations as Ellsbury hit the dinker done the line was something i'll never forget.
Jeets pumped his fist like he always does, Arod threw and arm up and ran to the mob. Swisher turned toward the crowd and gave a fist pump to the creatures, Melky did the Damon pose toward the creatures too. And the excitement everyone shared was amazing.
Nice indeed!
Mike
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