Tagged: Boston Red Sox
Eight Wins In-A-Row For Bronx Bombers
The Yankees (86-50) continued on their path to another first place finish in the AL East by taking the first two games of their three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays, 7-3 and 7-5, in the Bronx, increasing their winning streak to eight games, and upping their lead to 2.5 games over the second place Rays (83-52). The third place Red Sox (76-60) lost a day-night double-header by an identical 3-1 score in both games to fall 10 games out of first, and 8 games behind the Rays in the wild card race.
The Bronx Bombers are on a late-season roll.
In the first game of this series, the Yanks were led to victory by another fine performance by Curtis Granderson, (2-for-3), with two walks, one run, and three RBI’s. Granderson continues his hot hitting ways since working on his swing with hitting coach Kevin Long. A great game by Brett Gardner, (1-for-3), with two walks, three runs, and one RBI, also contributed to the 7-3 win.
The Yankees bullpen also delivered a solid effort after starter Ivan Nova was replaced on the mound after throwing only four and two-thirds innings. Kerry Wood (W,3-4) was awarded the win by the official scorer for pitching the best of the Yankee relievers [in the opinion of the scorer]. The win could have easily been awarded to Mariano Rivera who closed out the victory by tossing a six-pitch scoreless ninth.
Berkman was (2-for-4); Pena was (2-for-4), with one RBI; and the rookie Nunez, who played short for Derek Jeter [who had a day off], raised his batting average to .308 with a (2-for-4), one run, day.
Derek Jeter was the major topic of discussion in the sports sections of the New York newspapers, and on Sports Talk radio, this past week. More on Jeter in another post.
In Game Two of this series, Manager Joe Girardi provided more controversy when he replaced starter Javier Vazquez in the fifth inning, with two outs, and runners on first and third, with the Yankees in the lead 5-3.
Over-managing by Girardi? Maybe, as this was the third time over the last couple of weeks that the Yankee manager has replaced his starting pitcher with only four and two-thirds innings of work on the mound. Nova in the first game of this series, and Dustin Moseley in his last start, were the other two starters to fall victim to Girardi’s quick hook.
Ironically, Moseley, who was called into this game to replace Vazquez, was taken out of the rotation and sent to the bullpen after his last start. And Vazquez, after two good bullpen appearances, was placed back into the rotation in Moseley’s spot to make this start against the Blue Jays. Sounds very confusing and over-calculating by the Yankees braintrust, doesn’t it?
At any rate Moseley replaced Vazquez in this game. And just as quick as one of Girardi’s hooks of late, he allowed a two-run double to Lyle Overbay that tied the score 5-5.
Vazquez could have been just as ineffective, or maybe he could have gotten out of the jam. At least he should have been given the opportunity to get the final out, and complete five innings that would have given him a possible chance to earn the win as the starting pitcher. Probably Vazquez should have just remained in the bullpen at this time since he has been effective in that role in his previous two appearances.
Well, the game remained tied until the seventh inning when Marcus Thames blasted a two-out, two-run homer (#11), that drove home Robinson Cano who kept the inning going with a two-out single, moving the Bombers into a 7-5 lead.
Thames has been just as hot at the plate as Granderson in recent weeks, hitting .314 with seven home runs and 13 RBI’s over his last ten games in the lineup.
Other than Moseley the bullpen was very solid the rest of the way in this game, as Logan, Chamberlain (W,2-4), Wood, and Rivera all pitched a scoreless inning each from the sixth inning on.
The Great Mariano closed out this 7-5 victory by recording his 29th save.
Anyway, when all was said and done, the Yankees ended up winning their eight straight game to stay atop the AL East by 2.5 games.
Even with the best record in baseball there is always room for some controversy.
– Jimmy Curran “BY&L” – Baseball, The Yankees, and Life …
Straight A’s For CC; Yanks 5-0 Win Sweeps A’s
CC Sabathia was brilliant today, on a hot, humid, afternoon in the Bronx, allowing the A’s only one hit over eight shutout innings, leading the Yankees to a 5-0 victory that completed a four-game sweep against the visiting Oakland team.
Sabathia improved his record to (19-5), and, also, improved his chances of winning this year’s American League Cy Young Award, as he increased the gap ahead of the other contending pitchers including 16-game winner David Price of the Tampa Bay Rays.
CC is now (11-0) in games he started this year at Yankee Stadium. And (16-0) with a 2.05 ERA in his last 21 starts in the Bronx, going all the way back to the All-Star break in 2009.
The Yankees once again lived up to their great tradition as the Bronx Bombers, blasting three home runs in their sixth straight win. The Yanks defeated the Chicago White Sox 12-9 and 2-1, in the final two games of that three-game series. And swept the A’s by the scores of: 11-5; 9-3; 4-3; and 5-0.
Jorge Posada hit a solo homer (#17) in the second inning to give the Yanks an early 1-0 lead.
Then, Curtis Granderson, who was not in the original lineup but replaced Nick Swisher who injured his knee in the first inning, continued his late-season power surge by hitting a solo homer (#16) in the sixth, and a two-run homerun (#17) in the seventh inning, that increased the Yanks lead to 4-0.
The Yanks scored their final run in the eight on a RBI single by Austin Kearns that drove home Lance Berkman, capping the score at 5-0 in favor of the Bombers.
Dallas Braden (L,9-10), was the A’s starter, and also had a solid outing on this hot day. But with no outs in the sixth inning he had to leave the game because of cramps he experienced on the mound [due to the heat] after throwing his final pitch.
The only hit by the A’s in this game, was a “clean hit” stroked by Mark Ellis in the second inning.
Sabathia ended up tossing 95 pitches throughout his eight strong innings on the mound, walking three, and striking out five, along with the one hit he allowed. Another solid “Money” performance by CC.
Albaladejo pitched a scoreless ninth to close-out the Yanks 5-0 shutout, which was caught by Posada.
The Yankees (84-50) increased their lead in the AL East to 1.5 games over the second place Tampa Bay Rays (82-51); and 8 games ahead of the third place Boston Red Sox (75-58), who in my view, are still very much in this race, as there still are many important games yet to be played between these three rivals before this regular season ends.
So, as September begins, the pennant race in the AL East continues.
– Jimmy Curran “BY&L” – Baseball, The Yankees, and Life …
Yanks Bats Still Quiet … Lose 3-1 To Tigers
The last time the Yankees were shutout in back-to-back games was on May 12-13, 1999 against the Angels. Until the ninth inning of last night’s game against the Detroit Tigers at the Stadium, it looked like this rare event would happen again, as the Tigers held a 3-0 lead going into the bottom of the ninth. The Yanks did finally score a run, though; but, lost the game 3-1.
This loss coupled with the Tampa Bay Rays 6-4 victory over Cliff Lee and the Texas Rangers, dropped the Yankees into a first place tie with the Rays in the AL East, both with a record of (72-46). The Boston Red Sox (67-52) did not have a game scheduled yesteday. So they picked up a half game on the Yanks and are now 5.5 games behind in third place.
The Tigers took an early 2-0 lead in the second inning on a two-run homer (#7) by Ryan Raburn off Yankees starter Javier Vazquez.
Vazquez (L,9-9), lasted only four innings in this contest, throwing a way too high total of 106 pitches, while allowing two runs, on five hits, four walks, and six strikeouts.
Meanwhile, the Yankees were having trouble with [yet] another pitcher they were facing for the first time, Tigers starter Max Scherzer. The Yanks lost 1-0 to the Royals Bryan Bullington, in his first start against the Bombers on Sunday. And this game against the Tigers was trending in the same direction – another shutout loss.
Scherzer (W,8-9), delivered a soild six innings on the mound, throwing 115 pitches, while giving up no runs, on only two hits, two base-on-balls, and six strikeouts.
After Scherzer’s night was over after six innings, the Yankees did have some chances to score against the Tigers bullpen. But they left two runners on base in the seventh, and two runners on in the eight.
In the top of the eight, however, Miguel Cabrera hit a solo home run (#28) off Joba Chamberlain, to give the Tigers an insurance run that upped their lead to 3-0.
The game then entered the bottom of the ninth with closer Jose Valverde on the mound. And he did his best to help the Yankees end their scoring drought by basically self-imploding on the mound.
Robinson Cano walked, and was forced at second on a grounder by Joge Posada. Then, Curtis Granderson (3-for-3, with a walk), hit a hard line-drive single to right, which was followed by a walk to Francisco Cervelli that loaded the bases. Brett Gardner was up next, and was issued another walk by Valverde that forced home a run to break the shutout and cut the Tigers lead to 3-1.
Now, with one out, and the bases loaded, Derek Jeter was up at the plate. Jeter battled in a long at-bat, but on a 3-2 pitch grounded into a game-ending 6-4-3 double play. Gardner slid hard into Carlos Guillen trying to breakup the DP. But Guillen stayed his ground to make the play, throwing to first to seal the Tigers 3-1 victory.
The Yankees not only lost this game; they also lost Alex Rodriguez to a left calf injury; and Nick Swisher to a right forearm injury during the game. And with Lance Berkman also out with a strained foot injury from the Royals series, the Yankees are very short in the lineup and on the bench for the next few games as all injured players are listed as day-to-day.
A nice touch occurred in the first inning of this game when Johnny Damon batted for the first time. The Yankee Stadium crowd gave him a very warm round of applause, as this was Damon’s first time back to the Bronx since his free-agent signing with the Tigers.
Game Two of this series on Tuesday, August 17th, features a match-up of “aces” …
Justin Verlander (13-7, 3.72) vs. CC Sabathia (15-5, 3.14).
In my view, this is a “must-win” game for the New York Yankees !!!
– Jimmy Curran “BY&L” – Baseball, The Yankees, and Life …
Power Surge By Yanks In KC; Blast 5 HRs; 3 By A-Rod
After the major rain storm and lightning display in the Kansas City sky during Game Two of this four-game series at Kauffman Stadium, the Bronx Bombers provided their own air show in Game Three, an arsenal of pyrotechnics of the baseball kind, by sending into orbit five home runs, including three by Alex Rodriguez, in route to an 8-3 victory over the Royals.
The Yankees power display began in the top of the sixth off Royals starter Sean O’Sullivan with the score tied 1-1.
A-Rod led off the inning by hitting a long homerun (#19) into the left-centerfield seats. Then after Cano hit a hard liner to left for the first out, Jorge Posada blasted a high and deep 421ft homer (#13) over the centerfield wall. Curtis Granderson followed by going back-to-back with Posada, belting another hard-hit long homer (#11) into the upper rightfield seats to increase the Bombers lead to 4-1, and knock O’Sullivan (L,1-4), out of the game.
The Royals scored two runs, including a lead-off home run by Wilson Betemit (3-for-5), in the bottom of the sixth to cut the lead to 4-3 off starter Phil Hughes (W,14-5). This would be Hughes’ last inning in this game, as he pitched okay, delivering 99 pitches, allowing three runs, on nine hits, one walk, while not striking out any Royal batters.
With one out in the top of the seventh, Mark Teixeira stroked an opposite field single through an open hole at short, the result of the shift the Royals were playing against Teix. Then Rodriguez continued the Yankees “power show”, blasting a two-run homer (#20), on a pitch that was down-and-in from pitcher Kanekoa Texeira, over the centerfield wall 419 feet from the plate, that upped the Yanks lead to 6-3.
And, as the game entered the top of the ninth, Alex Rodriguez saved the best for last. After another single by Teixeira (2-for-5), A-Rod put the final stamp of approval on this historic night by soaring his third homer (#21), high into the Kansas City sky off pitcher Greg Holland. This two-run blast was the longest of all, arcing 439 feet from Rodriguez’s bat into the left-centerfield “flowing water fountain”, capping the score at 8-3. A-Rod was (4-for-5) in this game with five RBI’s, giving him a league-leading 97 RBI’s.
For Rodriguez, this was the second time he hit three home runs in a game as a member of the New York Yankees. On April 26, 2005 against the Angels at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, A-Rod blasted three homers off starter Bartolo Colon, driving home ten runs.
Also of note in this game, every Yankee starter in the lineup got at least one hit. And, after Hughes left the game after six innings, the Yankees bullpen was once again very solid allowing no runs and only one hit over the final three innings to preserve the 8-3 victory.
So, a great win for the Yankees (72-44), who remain in first place in the AL East, two games ahead of the Rays (70-46) and six games in front of the Red Sox (67-51), as both division rivals also won their games yesterday.
Watching Alex Rodriguez hit the three homers in this game was not exactly as exciting as watching Reggie Jackson hit his three home runs in Game Six of the 1977 World Series against the L.A. Dodgers at Yankee Stadium, on three straight pitches, against three different pitchers. But this power display by A-Rod was certainly exciting and fun to watch.
Most importanly though, Rodriguez, and Posada, and Granderson, all helped the Yankees win a big ball game, in the middle of a pennant race, with their home runs. And, that is the most exciting ending to this night. A Yankees victory.
– Jimmy Curran “BY&L” – Baseball, The Yankees, and Life …
The Butler Did It; HR Drowns Yanks 4-3
Billy Butler hit a solo home run off the opposite field foul pole down the rightfield line to give the Kansas City Royals a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning of a rain-soaked game at Kauffman Stadium in Game Two of their four-game series against the New York Yankees.
The homer, which turned out to be the game-winner, came just before the second rain-delay of two hours and ten minutes in this game [an earlier delay lasted thirty-one minutes], to make this an official game in favor of the Royals, as the rain and lightning continued to light-up the Kansas City sky throughout the night.
Kansas City took a 3-0 lead off Yankees starter Dustin Moseley (L,2-2), in the bottom of the second on a two-run double by Betancourt, and a sacrifice fly by Jason Kendall.
The Yankees battled right back to tie the score in the top of the third when they put together a rally powered by five hits off Royals starting pitcher Kyle Davies (W,6-7).
After Derek Jeter made the first out, Curtis Granderson blooped a hit to centerfield; Mark Teixeira doubled down the rightfield line; Alex Rodriguez hit an infield RBI single to cut the score to 3-1; Robinson Cano stroked a run-scoring single to right to drive home Teixeira with the Yanks second run; Jorge Posada was [just] safe at first after grounding into a (3-4) force play at second base, setting-up a first and third situation for Lance Berkman, who hit a hard line drive RBI double into the rightfield corner to tie the score at 3-3. Davies ended the rally by striking out Austin Kearns for the final out of the inning.
After the long rain-delay in the fifth, both bullpens delivered excellent performances to hold the score at 4-3. The Yanks did have a chance to tie the score in the sixth, though, but stranded two runners; and, had a runner at second in the eight, but again could not score. So the game entered the top of the ninth with the Royals closer Joakim Soria now on the mound.
Jeter led off the ninth with a single. Then, after Granderson and Teixeira were retired by Soria, A-Rod hit a two-out single to create a first and third situation for Cano. But Cano grounded out to second for the final out that gave Soria his 32th save, as he preserved the Royals 4-3 victory.
This loss was a golden opportunity lost by the Bronx Bombers (71-44), as both the Rays and Red Sox also lost their games yesterday.
The Tampa Bay Rays (69-46), were shutout 5-0 by the Baltimore Orioles, who are now (9-2) since Buck Showalter took over leadership of the team as new manager. And the Boston Red Sox (66-51) blew an 8-2 lead, losing to the Texas Rangers 10-9 on a walk-off homer by Nelson Cruz in the 11th inning.
So, the pennant races continue with all games being very important during this part of the baseball season. And no team or game should be treated lightly, as every game must be played like a playoff game.
– Jimmy Curran “BY&L” – Baseball, The Yankees, and Life …
Yanks Keep Rolling; CC Wins 15th In K.C.
The first place in the AL East New York Yankees traveled to Kansas City to play a four-game series against the last place in the AL Cenral Royals, in a series that certainly will lack the playoff atmosphere of the last two series’ against the Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers. But all games are important. And the Yankees must continue to treat each series as if it were a playoff series; playing every game as if it was the last game of the World Series.
The Yankees built up an easy 3-0 lead through the first four innings.
A RBI single by Curtis Granderson in the second inning started the scoring in this game, putting the Yanks on the scoreboard first with a 1-0 lead. In the third, Mark Teixeira hit a sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead. And in the fourth, Austin Kearns belted his first homer as a Yankee [his ninth this season], that upped the lead to 3-0.
Teixeira was back in the lineup after remaining in New York to be with his wife Leigh for the birth of their third child, a son, named Will. Our prayers and best wishes go out to the Teixeira family on this happy occasion.
Mark did not want to miss the two games the Yankees played in Texas, but he said, “I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I missed my child’s birth or if anything happened. There was no question in my mind [being with Leigh for the birth].”
Mark Teixeira also had praise for the great series Marcus Thames had in Texas, batting third in the lineup in both games. Teixeira said, “That’s what a team is all about, twenty five guys. At some point in the season, everyone is going to chip in and step up in a big way.”
Kansas City scored a run in the bottom of the fourth to cut the Yanks lead to 3-1.
The Royals starter Bruce Chen (L,7-6), lasted five innings, in which he tossed 92 pitches, while allowing three runs, on eight hits, two walks, and two strikeouts.
CC Sabathia was pitching another solid game for the Yanks, who increased their lead to 4-1 on a RBI by Alex Rodriguez in the seventh inning.
This game was moving right along. And it looked like Sabathia just might take the mound in the ninth inning with a chance to earn his third “complete game” of the season. He already had the Yankees only two complete games so far, back-to-back actually, against Texas on April 16th, a rain-shortened victory; and, in Oakland on April 22th, an eight-inning pitched loss to the A’s.
Through eight innings in this contest CC had thrown only 100 pitches. So, yes, Joe Girardi decided to send Sabathia to the mound in the bottom of the ninth to complete the game, and close out the victory.
Sabathia retired the first batter Betancourt on a grounder to third. Gordon then singled to center. And Mike Aviles followed with a bloop hit to right that created a first and second situation with one out. Mitch Maier was up next and grounded into a force play (3-4) at second base. There were now two outs with runners at first and third.
At this point, with right-haned batter Willie Bloomquist up next, Girardi decided to call David Robertson into the game for the save. It seemed Mariano Rivera had this night off.
Sabathia ended up throwing 110 pitches over eight and two-third innings, allowing one run, on ten hits, two walks, and only three strikeouts. Both runners on base were CC’s responsibility, though. And it was Robertson’s job to keep them from scoring.
Bloomquist worked the count to (2-0), then hit a line drive two-run double to rightfield cutting the score to 4-3. This is not what is expected from the bullpen.
Wilson Betemit was the next batter, and dribbled a (1-2) pitch in front of the plate on the third base side that Robertson tried to field but could not get a grip on the ball, which resulted in an infield hit. It was now first and third with two outs with Jason Kendall coming up to the plate.
Robertson and the Yankees [now] had to really earn this victory.
The first pitch to Kendall was a ball. Then, a strike, to even the count at (1-1). The next pitch was in the dirt when Kendall swung and missed for strike two. Foul ball, still (1-2). High and inside, up by Kendall’s head (2-2). Foul ball, count remained (2-2).
Then, Robertson delivered a perfect breaking ball, “maybe the best pitch he has thrown this season”, said, Ken Singleton and John Flaherty on the YES television broadcast, that Kendall swung right through, missing the ball for strike three.
Yankees win !!!
This was Robertson’s first save this season.
CC Sabathia is now 15-5, with a 3.14 ERA.
The Yankees held on for a 4-3 win, in a game that looked like they would get an easy victory. But in the end, they really had to earn this win.
At this time of the year, all games are important, just like playoff games.
– Jimmy Curran “BY&L” – Baseball, The Yankees, and Life …
Bosox Win 2-1 To Split Four-Game Series With Yanks
Well, okay, give the the Boston Red Sox credit for doing what they had to do in this very important four-game series against the New York Yankees in the Bronx. The Sox did not get swept or lose three of four games to the first place Bombers. They held on to take the final game 2-1, to earn a split, powered by excellent pitching by their starter Jon Lester (W,12-7), and great bullpen work by Daniel Bard, and Jonathan Papelbon, who closed out this Boston victory with his 28th save.
Thus, the AL East race remains close, with the Yankees (69-42) in first place by 1.5 games over the second place Rays (68-44), who ended their five-game losing streak with a 6-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers. And six games ahead of the third place Red Sox (64-49). And ten games ahead of the surging fourth place Blue Jays (59-52). Even the last place Orioles (38-74) could be a spoiler down the stretch, as they are (6-1) under the new leadership of Manager Buck Showalter. The AL East is certainly the toughest division in baseball.
Both starters delivered great efforts in this game. But, Lester was the better pitcher in this battle against Phil Hughes (L,13-5), as he took a no-hitter into the fifth inning that was broken up by a one-out single by Austin Kearns.
The Sox scored all their runs in the second inning when they took an early 2-0 lead. With one out, Ryan Kalish hit a single, then stole second, and advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Jorge Posada, before scoring the first run on an infield hit by Bill Hall. J.D. Drew drove home the second run on a RBI groundout.
Hughes struggled early on, but made adjustments while throwing a total of 114 pitches over six strong innings, giving up the two runs on six hits and one walk. He ended his time on the mound by getting 14 outs on the last 15 hitters he faced in this game.
The Yankees had plenty of chances to make a comeback, starting in the seventh inning when they loaded the bases with no outs.
For sure, the Bombers had some bad luck while loading the bases in the seventh. After Jorge Posada led off with a single, a blast belted off the bat of Marcus Thames landed on top of the right-centerfield wall just inches from being a game-tying two-run homer [the ball bounced back on the field for a double]. There was also a play in the inning in which a fan distracted the Red Sox leftfielder Ryan Kalish from making a catch that could have been a sacrifice fly with Kearns batting.
At any rate, after all these exciting events, Austin Kearns was then hit-by-a-pitch which did load the bases with no outs, giving the Yankees a golden opportunity to score some runs and take the lead in this game. This would have given the Yanks a great chance to win Game Four, and drop Boston eight games out of first place.
Lester stayed composed, and struck out Curtis Granderson who has been a big disappointment for the Yanks this season, for out number one.
Terry Francona then brought Daniel Bard into the game. And Bard promptly struck out both Derek Jeter and Nick Swisher to end the Yankees threat. The score remained Red Sox 2, Yanks 0.
The Yanks finally broke through in the bottom of the eight when Mark Teixeira led off the inning by blasting his 26th homer, to cut the score to 2-1. This was Teixeira’s fourth lifetime hit in eleven at bats against Bard, including three homeruns. Interesting stat, since no other batter has hit more than one homer against Bard.
Alex Rodriguez continued the rally with a single. And, then, Joe Girardi sent Brett Gardner to first to pinch-run for A-Rod with Robinson Cano up at the plate. For some reason, though, Gardner did not attempt a stolen base, but did advance to second on a groundout by Cano. Posada then walked to set-up a first and second situation with Lance Berkman [pinch-hitting for Thames] now the batter. Berkman did not deliver [once again] for the Yanks, hitting an easy pop-up to left-field on a (2-0) pitch for the second out.
Francona then called Papelbon into the game to face Kearns, hoping for a four-out save by his closer. Papelbon threw one pitch that resulted in a ground ball to second base for the third out of the eight, ending another Yankee rally, and keeping the score 2-1 in favor of the Sox.
Yankee relievers Wood, Logan, and Chamberlain delivered scoreless pitching performances from the seventh through the ninth innings, to bring this [classic] game into the bottom of the ninth with the Red Sox still holding a 2-1 lead.
With Papelbon on the mound, Granderson led off the ninth by striking out.
Jeter then walked, and stole second, to put the tying run in scoring position and the winning run at the plate.
Nick Swisher was the next batter, and was struck out for the second out of the inning.
The Yanks were now down to their final out with Mark Teixeira coming up to the plate.
Teixeira battled Papelbon.
Strike One.
Strike Two.
Ball. (1-2).
Another Ball. (2-2).
Foul Ball. Still (2-2).
And, the pitch.
Strike Three.
Ball Game Over.
Red Sox 2, Yankees 1
Well, not much more to say.
It was a great series. And the race in the AL East continues.
Now, onto Texas for the New York Yankees.
– Jimmy Curran “BY&L” – Baseball, The Yankees, and Life …
Moseley “Dust-in-Time”. Replaces A.J.; Beats Sox 7-2
A.J. Burnett was supposed to start Game Three of the four-game series against the Boston Red Sox; but, Burnett suffered some back stiffness in a throwing session before the game. So, Joe Girardi decided to scratch the struggling starter, and move up Dustin Moseley one day in the rotation to replace A.J. and start the ESPN Sunday Night Game vs. the Sox.
This move also affected Phil Hughes, who will also be moved up in the rotation to start the final game of this series on Monday afternoon. Burnett is expected to start Tuesday’s game against the Rangers when the Yanks begin a six-game road trip in Texas [two games vs. the Rangers; and, four games against the Kansas City Royals].
There were many story lines in this game, but the brillant pitching performance by Moseley was the lead story.
Dustin Moseley (2-1), delivered a solid six and a third innings on the mound, allowing two runs, on six hits and two walks, while striking out five. Boston scored their runs on a fifth inning solo homer by Bill Hall (#13), off Moseley; and, a pitch-hit RBI single by Mike Lowell in the seventh off reliever Joba Chamberlain.
Joba was not effective in his outing, as he also walked a batter before a not-too-happy manager Joe Girardi replaced him with Boone Logan who got out of the late-inning jam.
The Yankees took a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Lance Berkman doubled, and scored on an infield hit by Brett Gardner, that included an error by second-baseman Hall, which allowed the first run to score. And, then, Derek Jeter stroked a solid line drive RBI single to center that plated Gardner with the Yanks second run.
This was Jeter’s 2,874th career hit, which passed the great Babe Ruth on the all-time hit list, positioning the captain in 39th place on the historic list. The New York Giants Mel Ott is next on the list, as Jeter continues on his path to becoming the first Yankee player to reach 3,000 lifetime hits, and many more, depending on how long Jeter decides to play for the Bronx Bombers.
With the score 2-1 as the Yanks entered the bottom of the fifth, the Bombers exploded for five runs to break this game wide open.
Mark Teixeira led off the the inning with his 25th homer, making Teix only the fourth Major League player to hit at least 25 homeruns in each of their first eight seasons in the bigs. The other players to achieve this rare stat were Eddie Mathews, Darryl Strawberry, and Albert Pujols. Very cool, indeed !!!!
The Yankees then scored the rest of their runs in the fifth when Robinson Cano crossed the plate on an error by catcher Kevin Cash on an attempted pickoff throw; A RBI double by Berkman who was (3-for-4) in the game, finally breaking through with the production the Yankees expect from him; And, a two-RBI double by Jeter, that capped the five-run inning, giving the Yanks a 7-2 lead, which completed the scoring in this contest.
Red Sox starter Josh Beckett (L,3-2), was knocked out of the game in the bottom of the fifth, after a very poor showing in this game. The Yanks pounded out 11 hits, and walked twice, in route to scoring their seven runs off Beckett, which increased his ERA to 6.21.
The bullpen was effective the rest of the way for the Sox, as Delcarmen ended the fifth inning with a strikeout. And, Tim Wakefield delivered three scoreless innings in the 7th, 8th, and 9th. But, the Sox could not produce a comeback rally, and the score stayed at 7-2 in favor of the Yanks.
Alex Rodriguez returned to the lineup playing third base for the Yanks. And showed no ill effects from the batting practice ball that was hit off his left ankle before Saturday’s game. A-Rod was (1-for-3), with a walk and run scored, and, also, a stolen base, the 300th of his career.
David Robertson recorded the first two outs of the ninth, including walking a batter, which inspired Girardi to bring in Mariano Rivera to get the final out in this very important game, even though it was not a save situation.
The Great Mariano delivered once again by throwing one pitch which resulted in out number three, preserving another Yankees victory.
And, so it goes.
The Yankees (69-41) remain in first place in the AL East by 2.5 games over the Tampa Bay Rays (67-44), who lost 1-0 yesterday against the Toronto Blue Jays, in a game in which the Blue Jays starter Brandon Morrow had a no-hitter with two-outs in the ninth inning that was broken up by an infield single by Evan Longoria. Morrow stayed in the game after the hit to earn a 1-0 complete game shutout, which is just as rare as a no-hitter these days in baseball. The three-game sweep by Jays continued a five-game losing streak by the Rays.
With their loss in the Bronx, the Red Sox (63-49) stay in third place, seven games behind the Yankees, and five games behind the Rays.
The Yankees now look to win this series from the Red Sox with a victory in Game Four at the Stadium, Monday afternoon, in the Beautiful Bronx, New York.
– Jimmy Curran “BY&L” – Baseball, The Yankees, and Life …
CC Aces Red Sox 5-2, Recording 150th Career Win
It was a big week for CC Sabathia and his family, as he and his wife Amber were blessed with their fourth child on Thursday. Then, on Saturday, CC recorded his 150th career victory in Game Two of a four-game weekend series against the Boston Red Sox, leading the Yankees to a 5-2 win on the “Fox Game of the Week”.
The Sox scored first in the top of the second on a solo homer by Victor Martinez, and back-to-back doubles by Adrian Beltre and Mike Lowell to take an early 2-0 lead.
The Yanks struck right back to tie the score against Bosox starter John Lackey (L,10-7), in the bottom of the second on a RBI triple by Curtis Granderson, and a groundout RBI by Ramiro Pena … Pena was playing third in place of the injured Alex Rodriguez, who was hit on the left ankle by a line drive off the bat of Lance Berkman in batting practice.
In the fifth inning, the Yankees took the lead on four straight two-out singles by Nick Swisher, Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano, and Jorge Posada, moving ahead in the game by a score of 4-2.
Pena stroked a RBI single in the sixth inning to drive home the final run of the game, framing the score at Yankees 5, Red Sox 2.
Sabathia (14-5) had a very solid outing, throwing 101 pitches over eigth innings on the mound, allowing [only] the two runs in the second inning, on six hits, one walk, and four strikeouts, lowering his ERA to 3.14.
CC retired the final 20 of 24 batters he faced, before the “Great Mariano” closed out this victory by pitching a perfect ninth for his 23th save.
This victory, combined with the 17-11 Tampa Bay Rays loss to the Toronto Blue Jays [a game in which the Blue Jays hit eight homers], upped the Yanks (68-41) lead over the Rays (67-43) to 1.5 games in the AL East, and dropped the third place Red Sox (63-48), to six games behind the Bronx Bombers.
A very fine week and day for CC Sabathia. And, a great game by the New York Yankees.
– Jimmy Curran “BY&L” – Baseball, The Yankees, and Life …
Yanks Drop The Ball; Sox Win 6-3
In the first inning, in Game One of this very important four-game series between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, it looked like we were all going to treated to another classic battle between these two great rivals.
David Ortiz blasted a solo homer (#24) in the top of the inning to give the Sox an early 1-0 lead. Then, after Derek Jeter led off the bottom of the first with a single, his 2,873th career hit that tied the Captain with Babe Ruth on the all-time hit list, Mark Teixeira also belted his 24th homer, that moved the Bombers into a 2-1 lead.
At this point, it seemed both starting pitchers, Clay Buchholz for the Red Sox and Javier Vazquez for the Yankees, would not last past the fifth inning, as surely this game would probably take over four hours to complete with the bullpens battling it for the victory.
But, the game was really decided in the top of the second inning.
Beltre started off the inning with a double, before J.D. Drew made the first out on a pop up to second. Mike Lowell was the next batter, and hit what looked like a very easy pop up just in front of the plate on the first base side of the infield. Both Vazquez and cacher Francisco Cervelli converged around the spot were the ball was likely to descend from the beautiful Bronx sky. At the last second, Cervelli called for the ball with Vazquez standing almost nose to nose with his catcher. The ball approached Cervelli and he dropped it, as the ball deflected off his mit, falling to the ground.
After the game, Cervelli said, “I moved my glove late and dropped it [the ball]. It was my fault; I’m supposed to catch that ball.”
Vazquez had second thoughts after the game, saying, “I’m a pretty good fielder, and should have called him off. You never know how the game goes from there.”
Well, the game did not go very well for the Yankees after that play, as the Red Sox took full advantage of Cervelli’s error with some help from Vazquez.
Rookie Ryan Kalish struck out to record the second out of the inning. But, Vazquez then walked the ninth place hitter Jed Lowrie to load the bases. And also walked the next batter Jacoby Ellsbury to force in the tying run. Marco Scutaro completed the embarrassing Yankee inning by hitting a two-RBI double that scored Lowell and Lowrie, giving the Red Sox a 4-2 lead.
That was basically the ballgame.
The Yanks scored a run in the fifth to cut the Sox lead to 4-3. And the rookie left-fielder Kalish, playing in only his seventh game for the Sox, blasted his first career homer, a two-run shot in the sixth, to cap the scoring in this game. Red Sox 6, Yankees 3.
Clay Buchholz (12-5), pitched a solid game, tossing 97 pitches over 7 and a third innings, allowing three runs, on nine hits, four strikeouts, and no walks, to earn the win.
Javier Vazquez (L, 9-8), lasted five and a third innings, giving up all six runs (three unearned), on six hits (including two homers), four walks, and four strikeouts.
Both bullpens were solid, with Jonathan Papelbon earning his 27th save. And, Derek Jeter won a temendous battle against Papelbon in the ninth by working a 12-pitch walk with two outs in the inning.
Nick Swisher flied out to left for the final out of the game which lasted only three hours and seventeen minutes, a very short amount of time for a complete game by Yankee and Red Sox standards.
The Tampa Bay Rays (67-42), lost 2-1 against the Toronto Blue Jays yesterday. So, the Yankees (67-41) remain in first place in the AL East by half a game over the Rays.
But, as I keep telling my Yankee friends, do not count out the Boston Red Sox (63-47), who are in third place, five games behind the Yanks. There are still many games to play, and this will be a three-team race between the Yanks, Rays, and Sox, right down to the wire in the AL East.
In the Yankees final 19 games of the season, the Bombers play the Rays seven times, and play the Red Sox six times, including the final three games of the season at Fenway Park.
Right now, though, the Yankees need to focus on winning the next three games of “this” series, so the Red Sox do not get too close to first place at this point of the season.
– Jimmy Curran “BY&L” – Baseball, The Yankees, and Life …
Baseball, The Yankees, and Life... 