(Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| N.Y. Yankees « | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | x | 7 | 12 | 1 |
As much as this was a great victory for the Yankees today, it could easily been a very embarrassing loss too. Although yesterday's 13-11 loss was painful enough, this could have been even more devastating. But, luckily, it wasn't, as A.J. Burnett was great for 8 innings and the Yankees beat the Tribe 7-3 in convincing late inning fashion.
25-year old Justin Masterson got the start for the Indians, and, getting back to the embarrassing part, completely shut down the Yankees lineup for the first 6 innings. He only got into one jam in the 4th, when Mark Teixeira singled and Cano doubled, to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. But Swish then struck out, and Juan Miranda followed suit to once again leave runners on base.
It was really sad that the Yankees couldn't score a run for A.J. Burnett, who was pitching so good as well. Only an RBI single in the 3rd was his only blemish so far in the game.
The game was moving quickly, and going into the 7th, Cleveland still held a 1-0 lead. But that would change - and for the worst.
After getting 2 quick outs in the top of the 7th, A.J. hit Luis Valbuena, which then led to Lou Marson grounding to Derek Jeter. But, he made a bad throw and Marson reached, putting runners on 1st and 2nd. I don't think it was a horrible throw, in fact, I think Teix could have got it, but it was an E6. What are you gonna do.
This probably rattled Burnett, as the very next batter tripled, to bring in two more runs and make it a 3-0 Indian lead. Marson's run didn't count because of Jeter's error, but nonetheless the Yankees were now down 3-0.
So in the bottom of the inning, the 2009 comeback Yankees made a rare-apperance. And boy, was it great!
Nick Swisher led off with a single, and after Miranda struck out again, Gardner got up and singled as well, to move Swish over to 3rd with one out. Brett then stole, but Francisco Cervelli, struck out, and left it up to Derek Jeter to redeem himself for the error, and get the Yankees back in the game. And he did.
Jeet lined a two-run single back up the middle, to score both Swish and Gardy to make it 3-2. Masterson finally was out of the game, and Tony Sipp, the guy who gave up the grand slam to Cano on Friday, came in to try to get the final out of the inning. Let's just say he didn't get the last out in a way he had planned.
Curtis Granderson then came up and smacked a long double to right-center, moving the Captain to 3rd. And Mark Teixeira, as bad a slump as he was in, was on the mark today, crushing a long 3-run bomb into the left-field bleachers to give the Yankees a 5-3 lead. It was so exciting, and such a confidence booster for the slugging first baseman. All it takes is one homer to get him back on track.
A-Rod then popped out, and the inning was over. But not before Teix left his mark. God, I love saying that.
Anyway, A.J. finished up his amazing outing in the 8th, and ended up allowing just 1 earned run on 5 hits, striking out 8 and not walking a batter. He had nasty stuff too, and befuddled the Indians lineup with it.
After tacking on two more runs in the bottom of 8th to make it 7-3, Mariano River came in and got a 1-2-3 9th inning, to seal a very exciting, and very nerve-breaking, victory for the Yankees.
Well, now the Yankees are at least guaranteed a split, and they'll try to WIN the series tomorrow, as Andy Pettitte will face Mitch Tallbot in the Memorial Day game of this 4-game set. Game time 1:05pm, and only on YES! Enjoy the night everybody. I know the Yankees will.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: A.J. Burnett (8 IP, 1 ER, 8 SO, 0 BB)
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | LOB | AVG |
| Derek Jeter, SS | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .297 |
| Curtis Granderson, CF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .230 |
| Mark Teixeira, 1B | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .221 |
| Alex Rodriguez, 3B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .284 |
| Robinson Cano, 2B | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .362 |
| Nick Swisher, RF | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .315 |
| Juan Miranda, DH | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .231 |
| Brett Gardner, LF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .289 |
| Chad Moeller, C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .167 |
| a- Francisco Cervelli, PH-C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .320 |
| Totals | 35 | 7 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 8 | | |
| a-struck out for Moeller in the 7th | ||||||||
| Batting | ||||||||
| 2B - Curtis Granderson (4, Sipp), Robinson Cano (16, Masterson), Juan Miranda (2, Lewis) | ||||||||
| HR - Mark Teixeira (8, Sipp) | ||||||||
| SF - Francisco Cervelli (2) | ||||||||
| RBI - Derek Jeter 2 (31), Mark Teixeira 3 (34), Juan Miranda (7), Francisco Cervelli (22) | ||||||||
| RISP: 4-9 (D Jeter 1-2, M Teixeira 1-1, F Cervelli 0-1, Gardner 1-2, J Miranda 1-2, N Swisher 0-1) 2-OUT RBI - Derek Jeter 2 (14), Mark Teixeira 3 (14) | ||||||||
| SB - Brett Gardner (18, 2nd base off Masterson/Marson) | ||||||||
| Team LOB - 6 | ||||||||
| Fielding | ||||||||
| E - Derek Jeter (3, Throwing) | ||||||||
| Pitchers | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA |
| A.J. Burnett (W,6-2) | 8 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 3.28 |
| Mariano Rivera | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1.65 |
| HBP - Kearns (by A.J. Burnett), Valbuena (by A.J. Burnett) | ||||||||
| Pitches-Strikes - A.J. Burnett 115-71, Mariano Rivera 14-9 | ||||||||
| Ground Balls-Fly Balls - A.J. Burnett 9-7, Mariano Rivera 1-0 | ||||||||
| Batters Faced - A.J. Burnett 31, Mariano Rivera 3 | ||||||||
PLAYER OF THE GAME: A.J. Burnett (8 IP, 1 ER, 8 SO, 0 BB)
HONORABLE MENTION: Mark Teixeira (2-4, HR, 3 RBI)
