Tagged: Chien-Ming Wang
Yanks Celebrate Holiday Weekend With Three Wins
The New York Yankees gave George Steinbrenner an extra special birthday gift this holiday weekend — three straight victories over the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium, that moved the Bronx Bombers only one game behind the Boston Red Sox in the AL East.
Mr. Steinbrenner’s birthday was on the “Fourth of July”, and his Yankees delivered the first of their three wins on Friday July 3rd — a 4-2 win in the first game of four straight day games vs. the Blue Jays. When was the last time the Yankees, or any team other than the Cubs in Chicago, played four straight day games?
A.J. Burnett (7-4) pitched a solid game on Friday to earn the win; as Robinson Cano and Alex Rodriguez hit home runs that led the Yankees hitting attack, setting the stage for Mariano Rivera to close out this 4-2 victory with his 21st save of the year.
On the “Fourth of July”, the Yankees won a very dramatic, extra-innings, 6-5 victory, on a walk-off, RBI single by Jorge Posada off Shawn Camp (0-4), in the bottom of the 12th inning.
The Yankees tagged Blue Jays starter, Roy Halladay, maybe the best pitcher in the America League, for three home runs: Hideki Matsui (12th), leading off the 2nd inning; Jorge Posada (11th), leading off the 4th inning; and, Johnny Damon (16th), a two-run shot into the short right field porch in the 7th inning, that tied the score 5-5 at the time.
After the Damon homer, Halladay had a look of disbelief on his face, maybe thinking “that” home run was not going to reach the seats, and was the product of the increased jet stream of air flow at the new Yankee Stadium.
The bad news for the Yankees in this game was another ineffective pitching performance by Chien-Ming Wang, who had to leave the game in the sixth inning after he felt tightness in his right shoulder on a pitch to Adam Lind, who blasted a two-run homer on the Wang delivery that tied the score 4-4.
On the next pitch to Scott Rolen, it was catcher Jorge Posada who noticed that Wang didn’t follow-through all the way on the pitch, and just kind of pushed it up to the plate. Posada called Joe Girardi and trainer Steve Donohue from the dugout, and Wang was removed from the game.
Wang had a MRI after the game, and was placed on the disabled list after it was determined that he had a right shoulder strain and bursitis, which calls for total rest without any throwing for Wang until some time after the All-Star break. The Yankees have not yet decided who will replace Wang in the rotation.
Chien-Ming Wang allowed four runs, on six hits, in his 5.1 innings on the mound, and was replaced by David Robertson who gave up the final Blue Jays run, a well as, recording the final two out of the sixth inning.
The Yankees bullpen was lights out the rest of the way, with five relievers: Bruney (7th); Hughes (8th); Mariano Rivera (9th); Coke (10th and 11th); and, finally, Brett Tomko (W, 1-2), in the 12th inning, all delivering solid performances.
A final note of interest occurred after the game when Jorge Posada was being inteviewed by Kim Jones of the Yes Network.
Joba Chamberlain and A.J. Burnett charged out of the Yankees dugout and teamed-up to toss a “shaving-cream” pie in Jorge’s face in celebration of Posada’s game winning hit.
Jorge did not exactly look too happy to be the latest “victim” of this new ongoing form of celebration for the heroes of late-inning Yankee victories.
In my view, I have to say, the first couple of times the pie-tossing was kind of humorous; but, I think this “parlor-trick” has run its course, and this “long-time” Yankees fan wouldn’t mind if these antics are not seen any more after games. This is just not what Yankees “tradition” is all about.
In the third game of this four-game series, the Yankees staked starter Joba Chamberlain to an early 4-0 lead, scoring two runs in each of the first two innings.
Then, in the top of the third, Raul Chavez doubled, and scored on a RBI single by Aaron Hill to cut the Yankees lead to 4-1. Aaron Hill followed with a two-run homer off Chamberlain, cutting the Yankees lead even more to 4-3.
In the top of the 4th, Joba Chamberlain had an even tougher inning that began with a single by Lyle Overbay. Vernon Wells was up next, and hit a fly ball to left for out number one. Then, Alex Rois hit a hard shot to Cody Ransom, who was filling-in for Alex Rodriguez at third base. The ball took a wicked hop that bounced high off Ransom’s glove for an error.
In fairness to Ransom, the ball was hit very hard, and took a high bounce at the last second; but, it was a ball that Ransom probably should have fielded, and thus the play was called an error.
It was now first and second with one out when David Dellucci hit an easy fly ball to right for the second out of the inning. If not for the error, this may have been the final out, but the inning continued.
Raul Chavez was up next, and promptly hit a RBI double that plated Overbay to tie the score 4-4.
Marco Scutaro then stroked a two-RBI single that increased the Blue Jays lead to 6-4.
The damage was not done yet, as next batter, Aaron Hill, blasted a two-run homer off Joba, over the auxiliary scoreboard in right centerfield to up the Jays lead to 8-4.
As Yes Network announcer David Cone said, “Joba put a snowman up on the scoreboard with the eight runs that he allowed; and, no pitcher wants to do that.”
After Joba gave up a single to Adam Lind, Joe Girardi replaced Chamberlain with Jonathan Albaladejo. As Joba walked to the dugout he was booed by the Yankee Stadium crowd.
The error hurt Joba Chamberlain’s final numbers; but, after two outs in the 4th inning, Joba did get hit hard, and did not get out of the jam. He lasted 3.2 innings, while allowing eight runs, (three earned), on nine hits, one walk, and only one strikeout.
In the bottom of the 4th, the Yankees came right back in this game when after one out, Mark Teixeira walked; Jorge Posada singled; and, both runners scored on Hideki Matsui’s three-run homer off Brett Cecil that cut the Blue Jays lead to 8-7.
The Yanks were now on the road to another comeback as the game entered the bottom of the fifth.
Melky Cabrera led off the 5th inning with a walk, and after Ransom grounded out, scored on Derek Jeter’s 10th homer of the year, an opposite field shot off B.J. Ryan, that gave the Bronx Bombers a 9-8 lead.
Johnny Damon then walked and scored all the way from first on a RBI double by Jorge Posada that increased the Yanks lead to 10-8, and completed the scoring in this game.
There were still four innings to play, though, and Girardi brought Alfredo Aceves into pitch.
Aceves turned in one of the best relief performances by a Yankees middle-inning reliever in awhile, throwing 43 pitches over “four” brilliant innings, allowing no runs, while giving up only one hit, no walks, and striking out five.
Very simply, “brilliant”, and very “old school” !!!
Alfredo Aceves brought back images of Sparky Lyle and Goose Gossage who would routinely pitch two, three, or four innings when closing out Yankee victories.
The winning pitcher in this game could have been either Albaladejo or Aceves, based on whom the official scorer felt had pitched better in relief.
Albaladejo (3-1) did pitch well enough to earn the victory [1.1 innings pitched; no runs; two hits; no walks; two strikeouts], and he was the pitcher of record when the Yankees took the lead in the 5th inning. So, the decision to award him the win cannot really be disputed. And, it was nice to see Alfred Aceves credited with his first career save.
The hitting stars for the Yankees in this game were:
* Derek Jeter (4-for-5); including his 10th HR; three runs; two RBI’s
* Jorge Posada (4-for-5); two runs; three RBI’s
* Hideki Matsui (2-for-4); including his 13th HR; one run; four RBI’s
**** Happy Birthday, Mr. George M. Steinbrenner, III ****
**** Happy Birthday, to the United States of America ****
— Jimmy Curran, “BY&L” — “Baseball, The Yankees, and Life”
_______________________
Update: July 6, 2009 …
The Yankees lost the final game of their four-game series vs. the Blue Jays, 7-6.
But, the Boston Red Sox also lost their game this day, on a 6-0 shutout by the Oakland A’s.
So, at the end of baseball action on this beautiful day, the battle for first place in the AL East is really starting to heat up as the 2009 season moves into the summer months.
This “race for first place” will go right down to the wire between the Yankees and Red Sox, with the Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays also still very much in the race. It will be fun to watch.
AL EAST STANDINGS … (at the end of action on July 6th) …
Boston Red Sox 49-33 .598 — Last 10 Games: (5-5)
New York Yankees 48-34 .585 1.0 Last 10 Games: (8-2)
Tampa Bay Rays 44-39 .530 5.5 Last 10 Games: (6-4)
Toronto Blue Jays 43-41 .512 7.0 Last 10 Games: (3-7)
Baltimore Orioles 36-47 .434 13.5 Last 10 Games: (3-7)
The Yankees now head on the road, traveling to Minnesota to start a three-game series against the Twins on July 7-8-9th … Then, go to the West Coast to play the L.A. Angels in a three-game weekend series, July 10-11-12th, which leads to the All-Star break.
The Red Sox continue their schedule at Fenway Park with two more games vs. the Oakland A’s on July 7-8th. Then, the Sox host the K.C. Royals in a four-game weekend series in Boston, July 9-10-11-12th, leading up to the All-Star break.
The All-Star Game will be played on Tuesady, July 14, 2009.
The Red Sox have an advantage on the schedule over the next six games. But, hopefully, by the All-Star break the Yankees will be standing on top of the AL East as we approach the long summer days ahead in July and August.
“Go Yankees” !!!
— Jimmy 27NYY, “BY&L”
Homeruns Continue To Fly In Yankee Stadium
Well, the Yankees winning streak had to end sometime, and it ended last night as the Philadelphia Phillies soundly defeated the Yanks 7-3 in a game of “Homerun Derby” in the Bronx.
There were seven homers hit in the game with the Phillies winning that battle over the Bronx Bombers, four homeruns to three. But, more importantly, the Phillies out-scored the Yanks 7-3 in runs, and in the process, ended the Yankees winning streak at nine games.
After 21 games now played at the new Yankee Stadium, there have been a total of 82 homeruns hit, an average of four homers per game.
So, it is fair to say this pattern looks like it will continue to be the norm at the new Stadium, and we can all expect an even greater number of homers to fly into the seats as the weather gets warmer. If the homer average remains the same, this pace will lead to 316 homeruns being hit in the first year at Yankee Stadium.
Is it time to say, “enough, already, with the homeruns?”
I don’t know what the answer is, but, clearly, the new design of Yankee Stadium has created some interesting air-pockets that are helping baseballs sail into the stands, especially, in right and right centerfield.
New open air-vents in the upper decks surrounding the roof, and the areas in the bleachers that are now enclosed, which used to be “open”, where the old bullpens were located, certainly seem to be part of the reason for the new launching pad of homeruns in this new ballpark.
Jimmy Rollins of the Phillies hit Yankees starter, A.J. Burnett’s first pitch of the game into the seats for the early 1-0 Philadelphia lead.
Burnett hit the next batter, Chase Utley, in what looked like a message as the result of the lead-of homer. The next three batters were retired by Burnett, and the game headed into the bottom of the first.
The Phillies starting pitcher, Brett Myers, threw behind the Yankees lead-off hitter, Derek Jeter, protecting his player, Utley. The home plate umpire immediately warned both benches that the next batter thrown at would result in “that” pitcher and the team’s manager being kicked out of the game.
So, that ended any more possible fireworks from both mounds; but, there still was plently of fireworks yet to come — rockets blasted into the seats by many more batters from both teams.
Jeter did get a single after being thrown at by Myers, though, and was forced at second base on a grounder by Johnny Damon for out number one. Mark Teixeira then struck-out, bringing Alex Rodriguez up to the plate with two outs.
A-Rod stroked a solid double down the leftfield line, and Damon raced around third trying to tie the score. But, a beautiful relay throw from Raul Ibanez, to shortstop, Jimmy Rollins, to catcher, Carlos Ruiz, gunned down Damon at the plate, keeping the Phillies in the lead.
Ruiz then belted a one-out, two-run homer in the top of the second inning, scoring Matt Stairs, who hit a lead-off single, for the 3-0 Phillies lead.
The Phillies scored two more runs in the 5th, on a two-run homer by Jayson Werth, increasing their lead to 5-0.
A.J. Burnett, (L, 2-2), ended his work in this game with six inning pitched, in which he allowed five runs, on eight hits, two walks, and seven strikeouts. A very disappointing outing for Burnett.
The Yankees got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the 6th, on a solo homerun by Alex Rodriguez that cut the Phillies lead to 5-1.
Chien-Ming Wang, called up from his injury rehab because the Yankees needed help in the bullpen after their 8.1 innings of relief in the previous game in which Joba Chamberlain was injured by a line drive that hit his knee in the first inning of that game, now entered the game, and was greeted by a solo homerun off the bat of Raul Ibanez, the Phillies fourth homer of the game. Philadelphia now led 6-1.
The Phillies scored their final run in the top of the 8th increasing the score to 7-1.
In the bottom of the 8th, the Yankees attempted to comeback in this “Homerun Derby” when both Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira hit solo homeruns, but that was all the damage the Yankees could manage to put up on the board, as Brett Myers finished up the inning with the Phillies still leading 7-3.
Myers, (W, 4-2), delivered a solid pitching performance in this start, allowing three runs, on eight hits, no walks, and five strikeouts in his eight innings on the mound.
Chien-Ming Wang pitched a scoreless 9th inning, but still looks like he needs more work on his mechanics. Wang pitched three innings and gave up two runs, on six hits, one walk, and one strikeout.
Phillies reliever, Ryan Madson closed out the 7-3 Philadelphia victory, as the Yankees nine game winning streak came to an end.
Update: Saturday, May 23, 2009 …
Four more homeruns were hit in the second game of the three-game series between the Yankees and Phillies … two by the Yankees, and two by the Phillies.
The Phillies took a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the 9th inning, when the Yankees made a dramatic comeback, scoring three runs, to win the game 5-4.
Johnny Damon led off the 9th with a walk, and stole second base with Mark Teixeira up at the plate. Tex struck out for out number one. Alex Rodriguez was the next batter.
A-Rod was clutch in this at-bat, blasting an opposite field two-run homer into the lower rightfield porch that tied the score 4-4.
Robinson Cano kept the rally going by stroking a single up the middle; and, then, stole second to put the winning run in scoring position for the next hitter, Melky Cabrera.
The Melk-man delivered with a solid line drive, walk-off, game-winning, RBI single to right centerfield, that drove home Cano with the winning run in the Yankees 5-4 victory that was played in front of a national television audience on FOX Baseball Saturday Game Of The Week.
Derek Jeter had the Yankees other homerun in this game.
Later on this night, the Boston Red Sox lost a very tough 3-2 game to the New York Mets, at Fenway Park.
The Red Sox were leading 2-1 with two outs in the top of the 9th inning when Omir Santos hit a two-run homerun over the Green Monster that gave the Mets the 3-2 lead at the time.
In the bottom of the 9th, the Red Sox hit the ball hard, and had a few chances to tie or win the game; but, the Mets made a couple of dazzling defensive plays that sealed their 3-2 victory and set up an opportunity to sweep the Sox with a win on Sunday, May 24th.
The Yankees and Red Sox are now tied in the AL East with a record of 25-18.
I still do not like interleague play, though; and, would much rather have the Yankees playing the Red Sox, and the Mets playing the Phillies this weekend.
In my view, the only time the American and National League teams should meet is in October during the World Series.
Have a great weekend, everybody !!!
— Jimmy Curran, “BY&L”
The 1998 Yankees Started Season, 0-3 …
“In each new baseball season a team will win 54 games and lose 54 games …. It’s what a team does in the remaining 54 games that matters most.”
… Hall of Famer, Baltimore Orioles Manager, Earl Weaver
I am not comparing the 2009 Yankees to the great 1998 New York Yankees team that ran away with the American League Championship with a 114-48 regular season record, and then went on to win the World Series by sweeping the San Diego Padres.
I’m just trying to put this new season in perspective. There are still 160 games remaining, and a team losing its first two games is not the end of the world.
The above paraphrased quote by the great Orioles Manager Earl Weaver perfectly sums up the direction each new baseball season takes.
Each team will play brilliantly in one-third of their games, and win those contests.
In another third of their games, a team will be lose because they were totally dominated by the other team.
Then, there are those remaining 54 games — the most important part of each team’s schedule. In this “third” of each season are where Championships are made.
Reflecting on Mr. Weaver’s theory, a perfect season in baseball would be 108-54.
Of course, any team that wins 100 or more games in a season is certainly part of a very exclusive high-rent district of all-time baseball seasons. The foundation of these great seasons were solidified in the one-third of games in between the teams 54 wins and 54 losses.
As an example, the 1998 Yankees started their Championship season with an 0-3 record, and were 1-4 after five games. But, then, they won eight straight games before their next loss that brought their record to 9-5; won six more in a row before losing again, for a record of 15-6; went on another eight game winning streak moving their record to 23-6; and, finally won three of their next four games to bring their record to 26-7, in first place by only 4.5 games on May 13, 1998. The ’98 Yankees had many more similar winning streaks that season, and ended up with 114 victories.
So, the first few games of a new baseball season do not necessarily determine the final outcome of a team’s record or place in the standings; and, this must be taken into consideration when talking about the 2009 Yankees 0-2 start against the Orioles.
It was the starting pitching that once again doomed the Yankees in Game Two of the opening three-game series vs. the Orioles.
Chien-Ming Wang was awful in this start, pitching only 3.2 innings, allowing seven runs, on nine hits, including a homerun, and three walks. Wang did not record any strikeouts in his brief appearance, which made him part of an infamous historical record.
This was the first time in New York Yankees history that the starting pitchers in the first two games of a new season did not record a single strikeout in either game. Certainly, not the way CC Sabathia and Chien-Ming Wang expected to start the season.
The O’s jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on three straight doubles by Adam Jones, Nick Markakis, and Aubrey Huff, after lead-off hitter Brian Roberts made the first out.
Huff was caught trying to steal third after his double drove home Markakis, which was a good break for the Yanks as the next batter, Mora, singled after Huff was thrown out. This hit would have driven home the fourth run in the inning, and maybe would have knocked Wang out of this game earlier. Luke Scott then made the final out to end the first with the O’s leading 2-0.
The Yankees scored a run in the 4th on a single by Nady and a RBI double by Cody Ransom that cut the O’s lead to 2-1.
Everything fell apart for Wang in the bottom of the 4th inning when the Orioles exploded for five runs.
Scott led off the inning with a single, moved to second when Felix Pie walked, and scorerd on a RBI double by Gregg Zaun; the second run of the inning scored on a fielders choice RBI grounder by Cesar Izturis; then, a single by Roberts, and sac fly by Adam Jones plated run number three.
Now, with two outs, and a runner on first, Markakis, who already had two hits, was the next batter, and he delivered once again by blasting a two-run homer that increased Baltimore’s lead to 7-1, and ended Chien-Ming Wang’s night on the mound.
Not a great performance by Mr. Wang.
In the meantime, the Orioles starter, Koji Uehara threw a solid 87 pitches over five innings of work, allowing only one run, on five hits, five walks, and one strikeout.
The Yankees scored a run in the 6th on a RBI double by Robinson Cano (2-for-4); but, after a wild pitch advanced Cano to third with no outs, the bottom of the Yankees order, Nady, Ransom, and Gardner, could not drive that runner home. [getting runners home from third with less than two outs was a major problem for the Yankees last year; let’s hope it will not continue to be a problem this season].
After Wang was removed from the game, the Yankees bullpen was very effective, as relievers Edwar Ramirez, Jonathan Albaladadejo, and Jose Veras, shutdown the O’s the rest of the way, from the 6th through 8th innings.
The game entered the top of the 9th, with the Orioles leading, 7-2.
With one out, the Yankees tried to rally back in this game. After Nady made the first out, Nick Swisher, pinch-hitting for Ransom, walked; then, Swisher was forced at second on a grounder by Brett Gardner, for out number two.
This brought Derek Jeter up to the plate, and the “captain” delivered, crushing an opposite field, two-run homerun that cut the O’s lead to 7-4.
Johnny Damon then walked, bringing Mark Teixeira up to the batters box.
Tex had no hits in four at-bats up to this point in the game, which delighted the still booing Camdem Yards crowd. Actually, Teixeira was (0-for-8) so far, in these two games which was even more delightful to the Oriole fans.
The Orioles lefty closer, George Sherrill, was brought into the game to close out the O’s victory.
This move turned Teixeira around to the right side of the batters box, and proved to be the perfect cure for his lack of hits as Tex belted the first pitch into right-centerfield for a line-drive double that scored Damon all the way from first, and set-up a possible game-tying situation for the next batter, Hideki Matsui.
The Orioles now led the game, 7-5, with the Yankees clean-up hitter up at the plate.
Matsui was (0-for-4); but, one powerful swing of the bat could tie the score.
Geroge Sherrill won this battle, though, as he got Matsui to pop-out to third base, closing out the Orioles second victory of this very young season, and reducing the Yankees record to 0-2.
160 games to go.
“Go Yankees” !!!
To view boxscore, click on: Orioles 7, Yankees 5
Rare Moment In The Game …
With “no” strikeouts by CC Sabathia in Game Number One, and “no” strikeouts by Chien-Ming Wang in Game Number Two, of this opening series against the Balitmore Orioles, this was the first time in New York Yankees history that the starting pitchers of their first two games of a new season did not strike out a single batter in either game.
— Jimmy [27NYY], “BY&L”
Babe Ruth Would Be Proud As New Stadium Opens
As the “House That Ruth Built” sits so gracefully across the street from the “House That George Built”, the 2009 New York Yankees christened the new Yankee Stadium in very high fashion winning the first ball game played in this new “cathedral” 7-4 against Lou Piniella’s Chicago Cubs.
Even though it was only an exhibition game, it had the feel of a regular season matchup watching the grand opening on the YES Network.
The new Stadium has a very similar look to the old renovated Yankee Stadium, at least on the field, as the field dimensions are exactly the same distances from home plate. There is more foul territory on both the first and third base sides of the field, and home plate is 20 feet closer to the back stop, though. But, other than those changes the players said when they are on the field it reminds them a lot like the old Stadium.
The main differences are beyond the fences, in the stands, and within all surrounding areas.
And, the most dominate feature of the new ballpark is the huge 59′ high – 103′ wide centerfield scoreboard. From all reports this wide screen “true high-def” scoreboard projects the clearest pictures imagineable and is the main focal point of everyone’s sight as it ceates a brand new skyline towering over the centerfield area in the middle of the bleachers in between both foul poles.
The “frieze” or “facade” is the other dominate feature as it brings the new Stadium back to its original 1923 look, with the classic white hanging facade wrapping around the roof levels just above the upper deck seating.
This beautiful feature always brings to mind the famous homerun that Mickey Mantle almost hit out of Yankee Stadium, on May 22, 1963, against the Kanas City Athletics … a soaring, majestic, powerful shot that slammed high off the upper rightfield “facade”, just inches short of traveling into the Bronx streets surrounding the Stadium.
No player has ever hit a fair ball out of the old Yankee Stadium. Will a player ever hit one out of the new Stadium?
Another great new feature, which is really a retro look going back to 1923, are the two manual scoreboards, one in leftfield and one in right, that are part of the outfield walls. These additions will be part of many new memories this year and in future years, and we will see classic pictures like the famous Don Larsen Perfect Game photo from the 1956 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Those are some of my first impressions of the new Yankee Stadium. There is a full season ahead of us, and hopefully at some point I will get a chance to vist the new ballpark. But, based on everything I have seen so far, on television and in the many pictues that have been published, the new Yankee Stadium is very simply “beautiful” and an instant “classic”.
Oh, yes, there also was a ball game during the Friday April 3, 2009 grand opening at the new state-of-the-art Yankee Stadium.
It did not look like a game would be played because of all the rain we had in the New York area Friday morning into the late afternoon. The rain did stop around 4:00 p.m. ET, though, and the newly improved and advanced drainage system worked as advertised, delivering almost perfect field conditions for the start of the game.
The National Anthem was played; Reggie Jackson threw out the first pitch; and, it was time to play ball.
The first pitch by Yankees starter, Chien-Ming Wang was a strike. But, the lead-off batter for the Cubs, Aaron Miles, did end up getting a single in this at-bat, the first hit at the new Stadium. Kosuke Fukudome followed with another single moving Miles to third. Then, Derrek Lee hit a RBI, sac-fly to center, giving the Cubs the early 1-0 lead as Miles crossed the plate.
Derek Jeter, the new lead-off hitter for the Yanks, who got the final hit at the old Yankee Stadium, started things off for the Bronx Bombers by stroking a double, the first Yankee hit at the new Stadium. But, Cubs starter, Ted Lilly, easily retired the next three batters, Damon, Teixeira, and Matsui, moving the game into the top of the second inning.
The Cubs added two more runs off Wang, on a walk to Soto, single to Gathright, and a two-out double to Miles, increasing their lead to 3-0.
After Jorge Posada led off the bottom of the second with a single, Robinson Cano cut the Cubs lead to 3-2, blasting a line-drive two-run homerun into the rightfield bleachers.
Jose Molina hit the final homer at the old Yankee Stadium; Cano now has the honor of hitting the first homerun at the new Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees took a 4-3 lead in this game in the bottom of the third, when Derek Jeter led off the inning with a single, and scored on Hideki Matsui’s two-out, two-run homerun which christened the rightfield foul pole.
Wang allowed the Cubs to tie the score 4-4 in the top of the 4th inning on a triple by Reed Johnson, and an RBI grounder to Jeter at short by Ryan Theriot. The Yankees had the infield back at regular depth which helped Johnson to score without a throw to the plate.
The Bombers battled right back in this game in the bottom of the 4th, on back to back singles by Cano and Nady; then, Alex Rodriguez’s replacement, Cody Ransom, lofted a high shot down the third base line, that christened the leftfield foul pole for a three-run homer, and 7-4 Yankees lead.
Chien-Ming Wang pitched a scoreless 5th inning, but was not very effective in this start, allowing four runs, on six hits, two walks, and three strikeouts, while throwing 71 pitches.
Mariano Rivera delivered another soild performance, easily retiring the side in order in the top of the 6th.
And, relievers, Veras (7th), Ramirez (8th), and Albaladejo (9th), closed out the rest of the game for the Yankees, each throwing a scoreless inning to help preserve the Yanks 7-4 victory. To view boxscore, click on: Game One
But, Ransom’s three-run homer completed the scoring in this game … and, I’m sure Babe Ruth had a big smile on his face, as the Yankees hit “three” homeruns in honor of “The Babe’s” #3, and rang the bell on both foul poles — a sound that surely carried throughout the universe, the “Yankees Universe”, as new memories were made and the great Yankees tradition continued at the “new” Yankee Stadium.
Rare Moment Of The Game …
Two of the Yankees three homeruns were shots that hit one of the “foul poles”, which is rare enough. But, when was the last time you seen homeruns hit off each foul pole by players on the same team, in the same game?
Well, I can’t remember the last time I seen this extraordinary event happen.
In the first game at the new Yankee Stadium this rare event did occur, when Hideki Matsui hit a two-run homerun off the the rightfield foul pole in the 3rd inning; and, Cody Ransom hit a three-run homer off the leftfield foul pole in the bottom of the 4th.
The New York Yankees christened the new Yankee Stadium in style, with a 7-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs; and, with two special homeruns that christened both foul poles.
Photo Credits …
* Mickey Mantle homerun — 4.bp.blogspot.com/…/s400/Mick%27s+moonshot.jpg
* Don Larsen / Billy Martin — BestSportsPhotos.com
* Babe Ruth — http://www.gallerym.com/work.cfm?ID=278
— Jimmy Curran, “Baseball, The Yankees, and Life”
Update: Sunday, April 5, 2009 …
In the second game of the two-game exhibition series against the Chicago Cubs, on Saturday, April 4th, at the new Yankee Stadium, the Yankees ended their 2009 Spring Training with a 10-1 victory over the Cubs.
The ball seems to be flying out of the new ballpark, as the Yankees hit seven homeruns in these two games …
Three homers in game one — Robinson Cano (two-run homer); Hideki Matsui (two-run homer); and Cody Ransom (three-run homer) — accounting for all of the Yankees seven runs in their 7-4 win …
Four homeruns in the second game — Derek Jeter (three-run homer in the 3rd inning); two homeruns by Mark Teixeira (solo shot in the 3rd; and, three-run homer in the 4th inning); and Shelley Duncan (solo homer in the 8th) — adding up to eight of the Yankees ten runs in their 10-1 victory.
In Game Two … Andy Pettitte started for the Yanks and pitched four solid innings, allowing the only Cub run, on six hits, one walk, and two strikeouts … A.J. Burnett replaced Pettitte in the 5th inning and also delivered a solid effort on the mound, pitching four innings, allowing zero runs, on two hits, one base-on-ball, and six strkeouts … Brian Bruney (two strikeouts), and Phil Coke (one strikeout), closed out the game and Yankees victory, pitching a scoreless 9th inning.
To view “box score”, click on: Game Two: Yanks 10, Cubs 1
The new 2009 Basball Season is finally here …
Enjoy “Opening Day”, everybody !!!
— Jimmy [27NYY], “BY&L”
Yankee Doodle “Andy” Returns Back Home
After about three months of negotiations, Andy Pettitte and the New York Yankees have finally reached an agreement that will bring Andy back to the “Beautiful Bronx” for at least the 2009 season.
Pettitte has stated all along that he wanted to pitch for the Yankees in the new Yankee Stadium, and as is the case most of the time in these days of baseball, “money” was the stumbling block in regards to Andy making a decision earlier in this whole process.
Yes, we all had to “follow the money” during the Yankees and Andy Pettitte discussions.
Pettitte made $16 Million last year, and was offered a one-year, $10 Million deal to pitch for the Bronx Bombers in 2009. Andy and his agents, Randy and Alan Hendricks, felt this offer by the Yankees was too big of a cut from the amount of money Andy made last year. More than anything else, Andy’s pride was hurt, as he didn’t feel the Yankees Organization was taking into consideration his past success in pinstripes, as a major part of the starting pitching rotation on “four” World Championship teams with the Yanks.
So, Andy Pettitte said “no” to the $10 Million offer, and the Yankees response was to take the offer off the table, creating a “stalemate”, or, “check” situation, depending on your point of view.
I always believed, from the beginning of these negotiations, that the Yankees really do need Pettitte in their rotation this upcoming season, because both Chien-Ming Wang and Joba Chamberlain, who are slated as two of the Yankees five starters, are returning his season from injuries in 2008.
Also, the Yankees two other top young starting pitchers, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, proved they are not ready for “prime time”, by recording “zero” wins between them in their brief time on the mound in 2008. And, both pitchers were injured a good part of last season, which limited their innings pitched, that will result in their innings being limited once again in 2009.
In my view, I still think Hughes has a future with the Yankees; but, would be very surprised if Kennedy ever pitches again for the Yankees on the Major League level. In Kennedy’s case, it goes beyond pitching. It has more to do with some statements he made after a losing performance in which he said, “he wasn’t disappointed by the loss”, and took a very causal attitude in his interview after the game, that didn’t sit very well with the Yankee players, manager, coaching staff, Yankees front office, and, most importantly, the fans.
Kennedy was sent down to the minors after that poor pitching effort and even poorer response to his loss. He didn’t pitch for the Yanks the rest of 2008, not even being called up at the end of the season. I can see Ian Kennedy being traded or released if he doesn’t get off to a solid start in 2009, most likely pitching for the Yankees AAA minor league team in Scranton-Wilkes/Barre.
As you can see, the Yankees bringing back Andy Pettitte, and Andy wanting to return, is a very wise move by both parties that will provide much value to the Yankees starting rotation in 2009.
In a conference call with the media on the day of his signing, Pettitte expressed much happiness regarding his decision to return to the Bronx.
Andy Pettite said, “… when you put all that aside [pride], I wanted to play for the New York Yankees, and, you know, that was the bottom line. I know I could have made a lot more money [somewhere else] than what I signed for. But, if you want to play for one team you’re going to have to make sacrifices. If it means me taking a pay cut, then it means me taking a pay cut.”
Well, in the end, Andy Pettitte did take a pay cut, and agreed to a one-year deal with the Yankees for a guaranteed $5.5 Million, with incentives based on innings pitched, that would add $4.5 Million to the deal, and, number of days on the active roster, that would add another $2 Million to Andy’s contract, in which, if Pettitte stays healthy throughout the season, would earn him a total of $12 Million.
Andy Pettitte’s extra special bonus would be his 5th World Series ring, if all the expectations from our winter signings of: Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia, and A.J. Burnett improve the team enough to lead the Yankees to their 27th World Championship in 2009.
The New York Yankees 2009 “Starting Pitching Rotation” has just added more class with the re-signing of Andy Pettitte.
CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Chien-Ming Wang, Joba Chamberlain, and Andy Pettitte, looks like a winning starting rotation to me, and I’m sure most, if not all, Yankee fans agree.
Andy, you made the right decison to return. Yankee fans enthusiastically welcome you home.
To view Andy Pettitte’s career stats, click on …
http://www.baseball-reference.com/p/pettian01.shtml
— Jimmy Curran, “Baseball, The Yankees, and Life”
First, CC … Now, A.J. … And, More On The Way
With the signings of CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, the New York Yankees are chipping away at the $88 Million, of expired contracts, that were removed from their payroll at the end of the 2008 season.
Sabathia signed a contract worth $161 Million over 7 years ($23 Million per year); and, Burnett’s deal of: 5 years for $82.5 Million ($16.5 Million per year), adds up to $39.5 Million. So, the Yankees still have about $48.5 Million of “Monopoly Money” to spend, that will keep the payroll the same as last year, to entice more free-agents to travel to the Bronx and become part of the great Yankees Tradition.
All Yankee fans should be very happy about these moves because we now have two of the best starting pitchers in baseball to complement our two “ace” starters, Joba Chamberlain and Chien-Ming Wang. At least, one more top starter will be added to this very formidable foursome from a list of secondary elite free-agent starting pitchers, that includes; Derek Lowe, Ben Sheets, and Andy Pettitte.
The Yankees have already made a final offer of $10 Million for “one” year to Pettitte. But, Andy is still hopeful of getting an offer that is closer to the $16 Million he made last year.
In my view, if the Yankees think Andy Pettitte is worth $10 Million, and are willing to bring him back for that amount; then, why not up that offer to somewhere in the range of $12M–$13 Million? Pettitte has stated he wants to pitch in the “new” Yankee Stadium. And, I would think, “four” World Series rings would be worth a little extra reward for all that Pettitte has given the Yankees Organization over the years.
One way the Yankees can “scrape-together” some extra cash, so that they can offer Pettitte a respectable deal, is by forgetting about the ridiculous trade they are considering with the Milwaukee Brewers, for Mike Cameron.
Cameron will be 36 years old in January, and a free-agent at the end of the 2009 season. His $10 Million contract is overpriced; he would not be an improvement in centerfield for the Yankees; and, really adds nothing to the team. Also, Cameron would be a far less productive hitter and player than Bobby Abreu, who “is” the player the Yankees should re-sign, and “is” the answer to our outfield situation.
Abreu in rightfield; Damon / Gardner / Swisher in center; Xavier Nady in left; and, Mark Teixeira at first base, is a much more powerful rotation of players in the Yankees lineup, than, a lineup that would include: Swisher at first; Damon in left; Cameron / Gardner in center; and, Nady in rightfield.
Another reason the possible Mike Cameron trade would be a mistake, is: I think, it is way too soon to give-up on Melky Cabrera. Melky is very young, and still has a lot of potential to be a very good player in the major leagues. To trade our 2008 “Opening Day” centerfielder away, for a 36 year old, low average, high strikeout, player, just does not make any sense.
I think, the wisest way the Yankees can spend the remaining $48.5 Million on their payroll, before all the teams will have to pass “Go” to start the 2009 baseball season, is to: offer Andy Pettitte a “one” year deal for $13 Million; offer, Bobby Abreu a “two” year deal for $27 Million ($13.5 Million per year); and, finally, offer, Mark Teixeira a “nine” year deal for $198 Million ($22 Million per year).
Just compare the lineups. The Yankees are a much more solid team with Mark Teixeira at first base; Bobby Abreu in rightfield; and, for one year, at least, Andy Pettitte as our 5th or 6th starter.
And, of course, adding, either, Derek Lowe or Ben Sheets, would also be a wise move, upping the payroll only slightly higher.
Hank, Hal, and Brian. The ball is now in your court.
Costly 13-0 Win For Yanks, As Wang Is Injured
“Requiring the AL pitchers to be part of the lineup [and hit] is one of the many reasons that I do not like interleague games. The pitchers are being put in situations that they are not familiar with, which can cause injuries; and, presents a major disadvantage to the American League in these games played at the home field of the National League teams. I would much rather see the Yankees play more games against the teams in the AL East, or, at the very least, more games against the other teams in the American League”. … Jimmy Curran, “Baseball, The Yankees, and Life”
The above quote is from my mlblog, on June 14, 2008, from the Post: “Joba and Jeter Lead Yankees In 2-1 Win” …
My concerns about the pitchers hitting and running in these interleague games at the home field of the National League teams, started in the first game of the weekend series against the Houston Astros. Joba Chamberlain was the Yankees starting pitcher, and he did have two at bats in this game. His first time up he struck out. But, in his second at-bat, Joba failed in a sacrifice bunt attempt, which resuled in a force play at second, and Chamberlain standing on first base. Thoughts quickly filled my mind about Joba running the bases: What if he gets injured while on the base paths?
Unfortunately, this is exactly what happened to Chien-Ming Wang in Sunday’s, 13-0, shutout win against the Houston Astros, which completed a three-game sweep of the Astros by the Yankees.
In the middle of the Yankees eight-run, sixth-inning rally, Wang reached first on a bunt that was turned into a fielders choice at second. Then, with Damon up, Wang was safe at second on a ball dropped by an Astros infieder on an attempted force play. “On this play” it looked like Wang injured himself, as he arrived at second base – standing up – and, he kind of stepped on the bag with a twisting motion. I think this play was more revealing regarding the lack of base running experience that Wang [and probably all American League pitchers] have. It was very clear, on a simple base running play from “first to second”, an injury can happen in a variety of ways because the pitchers are [maybe] called upon to engage in these activities once or twice throughout the whole baseball season; and, maybe, even throughout the pitchers whole careers, they will only be on the base paths a handful of times.
Like Mike Mussina said after the game, “We [the pitchers] don’t hit, or run the bases. We maybe get four or five at-bats at most, and if you happen to get on base once or twice you never know. We run in straight lines most of the time, but turning corners – we really don’t do that”.
And, to consider the danger of pitchers running around the bases, Joe Girardi summed it up best when he said, “It’s a manager’s worst nightmare when a pitcher is on the basepaths”.
Well, Wang didn’t injure himself on the play at second, but was injured as he rounded third base on a single by Derek Jeter. Somewhere between third and home Wang sprained his foot, and started to limp as he crossed the plate, scoring the run.
Chien-Ming Wang will be on crutches and wear a protective boot for at least 6-8 weeks, and is expected to be out of action until at least September. In my view, though, I would be very surprised if Wang pitches again this year. I hope for the best, and maybe he will be back to help the Yankees down the stretch, and in the playoffs.
Some changes need to take place regarding pitchers hitting in interleague games. One pitcher injured, is one pitcher too many.
This is the reason I totally agree with the statements made by Yankees owner, Hank Steinbrenner.
Mr. Steinbrenner expressed his concern when he said, “It is always a concern of American League teams when their pitchers have to run the bases, and they’re not used to doing it. And, it’s not just us, it’s everybody. It should be a concern for all teams from both the American and National Leagues”.
Hank Steinbrenner also said he will discuss the matter with Commissioner Bud Selig, and at least try to get the DH in all interleague games. Hopefully, this rule change takes place soon, before any more pitchers are injured.
Yankees Go For Sweep After Two Gems By Mussina and Wang
Jose Veras threw the final pitch of yesterday’s game for strike three, finishing off a 6-1 Yankees win against the Seattle Mariners. As the Yankees were leaving the field, Melky Cabrera was leaping up and down [off the ground] giving high-fives to every Yankee player he approached. Oh, how great it is to be young; to be a Yankee; and, celebrate a Yankees win.
That wonderful enthusiasm Melky brings to this Yankees team, mixed with the tremendous pitching performance by the veteran Mike Mussina, lead the Yanks to their second win in a row vs. the Mariners.
Chien-Ming Wang won the first game of this series, 5-1, also, pitching a gem. Darrell Rasner, called up from AAA-SWB, for the injured Phil Hughes, gets the start today, as the Yankees look to reverse the three game sweep the Detroit Tigers just completed against them in the beginning of the week.
Mike Mussina pitched a beautiful game, throwing 84 pitches over 6 innings, giving up only one earned run, on 7 hits and no walks, while striking out 5. Mussina ended his day by striking out the side in the top of the 6th. He probably would have pitched one more inning, but the Yankees scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 6th, to bring the Yankees lead to 6-1. Joe Girardi decided this was a big enough lead for the bullpen to hold; and, also, an opportunity to rest Mussina’s arm for the long season ahead.
Girardi’s move proved to be the right one, as the bullpen was perfect, with Andy Hawkins, Edwar Ramirez, and Jose Veras all pitching one scoreless inning each, to preserve Mike Mussina’s 4th win of the season. He is now 4-3, and has 254 career victories, which moved Mussina past Carl Hubbell, to tie Jack Morris and Red Faber for 39th place on the all-time wins list.
Mike Mussina’s performance was a mirror image of Chien-Ming Wang’s great effort in the first game of this series. Wang pitched brilliantly in that 5-1 Yankees win. In 6 innings of work, he allowed only one earned run, giving up only 3 hits and 2 walks, while striking out 5 batters. Wang threw 90 pitches to stretch his record to 6-0 this season.
The Yankee bats were on fire, providing Mussina with all the support he needed to win the game.
Johnny Damon was 3-5, including, [his 4th] HR of the season, 2 doubles, 3 runs, and 3 RBI’s, and a SB.
Derek Jeter was also 3-5, with one run, and one RBI. One of Jeter’s hits was a double, his 390th in his career, which moved Jeter past Joe DiMaggio to take over 5th place on the all-time Yankees doubles list.
Bobby Abreu had 2 hits in 4 at bats, with a walk, and one RBI.
Hideki Matsui went 2-5, with one run and one RBI.
Melky Cabrera was 2-4, with one RBI.
Jose Molina had a 1-3 day, scoring one run, and drawing a walk.
Overall, a very good day for the Yankees, as this win brings them back to .500 for the season, at 16-16. This is a perfect time for a “Yankees Sweep”.
Go Yankees !!!
Bronx Bombers Are Back
Jason Giambi hit a solo homerun in the 2nd inning [to left-center, no less]; Bobby Abreu hit a grand slam in the 7th inning [also, to left-centerfield]; and, Johnny Damon hit a 3-run homer in the 8th inning, to power the Yankees to a 9-5 win vs. the Chicago White Sox, in the first game of this three game series.
The Bronx Bombers have finally gotten their act together, in this first game in the “Second City” – Chicago. They are recharging their power surge, getting ready for their return to Broadway next Monday, against the Tigers of Detroit, at Yankee Stadium. But, first, two more games in Chicago, then four games in Cleveland, before the return to “The Bronx”.
Chien-Ming Wang pitched good enough to win, earning his fourth victory of the season. He is now 4-0. Wang threw 105 pitches, over 6 innings, allowing [a way too high] 10 hits; 3 earned runs; and, 2 walks; while striking-out 5.
This win was Chien-Ming Wang’s 50th of his short career. He accomplished the 50 wins in only 85 starts, which is the fastest any pitcher has reached this total, since Dwight Gooden won 50 games in his first “82” starts.
The Yankees were leading, 7-3, going into the bottom of the 7th, when Joe Girardi went to the bullpen. Billy Traber came into the game and gave up a walk. Then, Brian Bruney got the call, and gave up a hit and a walk to load the bases.
Brian Bruney received a “hold” [his third of the season] for his terrible performance. This stat needs to be modified. How can a relief pitcher, who pitches 1/3 of an inning, and gives up a hit and a walk – to load the bases – receive such a positive stat? Bruney didn’t “hold” anything. He only advanced the White Sox chances of scoring more runs.
A true “Hold” took place when Joba Chamberlain was brought into the game to put out the fire. With one out, and the bases still loaded [in the 7th], Joba got the final two outs, after giving up a hit to score the runner Traber put on base. Then, Joba pitched a scoreless 8th inning to get the Yankees into the top of the 9th with a 9-4 lead.
Joba built a fine bridge to the 9th inning, but the ball was handed to Kyle Farnsworth, not Mariano Rivera. And, once again, Farnsworth showed us all why this great “Joba debate” is still ongoing.
In Farnsworth’s one inning of work, he threw 24 pitches, and gave up a homerun, walked a batter, and hit a batter. He did manage to get the final three outs of the game, as the Yankees won, 9-5. But, it became clear one more time, as it has always been clear, the Yankees simply cannot depend on Kyle Farnsworth, period !!!
This was a big win for the Yankees as it pushed them above the .500 mark, for an 11-10 record on the season.
The Yankees need to continue the power surge they displayed tonight when they play the White Sox in game number two of this series. A look at the scoreboard reveals that the Boston Red Sox won their 6th straight game, and are now 15-7 in this early season, 3.5 games ahead of the Yankees.
It’s still early, but the Yankees need to put together a long winning streak to stay on pace with the Red Sox. Last season Boston also got off to a good start, and those early season wins helped the Sox win the AL East by 2 games. Every game is important, and every win counts, whenever they are played in the season. The Yankees need wins, now !!!
The weather is heating up, and it looks like the Yankee bats are also getting hot. The time is now, to start our run to knock the Red Sox out of first place. Go Yankees !!!
Red Sox Lost In Space As Yanks Soar To Victory Yankees Win 15-9 After Shaky Start By Wang
It was appropriate that the ceremorial first pitch was thrown from the International Space Station by NASA astronaut, and life-long Yankees fan, Dr. Garrett Reisman, before last night’s Yankees – Red Sox game.
The “pitch from space” was shown on the outfield video screen, as the Stadium crowd cheered when Dr. Reisman said, [while releasing the ball], “There are many nations and there is only one universe, and it’s a Yankee Universe”.
The Space Station is over 200 miles above the Earth’s surface. I don’t know how long a ball would take to reach Earth if it was actually thrown from the Space Station…but, even if it floated around for awhile up there, the ball probably would have landed in Yankee Stadium sooner than the 4 hours and 8 minutes it took to complete yesterday’s “Slugfeast”.
The Yankees outlasted the Red Sox, 15-9, in a game that saw both starting pitchers, Chien-Ming Wang for the Yanks, and Clay Buchholz for the Sox, get knocked-out early in the game, each pitching nowhere near the great performances they both turned in last Friday at Fenway Park. On that night, Wang almost had a no-hitter, as he pitched a two-hit, 4-1, complete game victory against the Red Sox.
Last night, all Wang did was put runners on base, and give up hits. He only pitched 4 innings, allowing Boston 9 hits, 8 earned runs, 3 walks, while only striking out two. Wang did make a nice fielding play in the second inning, though. With the bases loaded, Ellsbury hit a soft grounder back to the mound which was fielded by Wang and he quickly flipped the ball to catcher Chad Moeller who ran Jason Varitek back to third, then tossed the ball to Alex Rodriguez who placed the tag on Varitek for the second out of the inning. Then with the bases still loaded, Wang got Pedroia to ground out to end the inning. So, he did pitch out of trouble in the second, giving up only one-run, which kept the Yankees lead at 3-2.
The Yankees scored those three runs in the first inning on back-to-back “moon-shots” by Bobby Abreu, who hit a 2-run homerun; and, A-Rod, who blasted a long homerun that sailed way up into the beautiful night sky before landing deep over the left-center field wall into the Red Sox bullpen. The historic homerun was Alex’s 522th of his career, moving him ahead of Ted Williams and Willie McCovey, placing him 15th on the all-time HR list.
In the 4th inning, the Yankees scored 4 runs to take a 7-3 lead, and in the process end Clay Buchholz’s night. The big hits were by Chad Moeller, 3-4 on the night, who had a RBI double that drove home Matsui; and, a two-out, two-run single by Derek Jeter. The Captain continues to show no ill effects from his quad injury, as he continues to hit the ball well, going 2-4, with two-runs, and two RBI’s on the night.
Buchholz pitched only 3 2/3 innings, giving up 8 hits, 7 earned runs, 1 walk, while striking out two.
But, Wang could not hold the lead. Boston batted around in the top of the 5th, sending 11 hitters to the plate, and, also, sending Chien-Ming Wang to the clubhouse. Ross Ohlendorf came into pitch in the middle of the inning, as the Red Sox scored 6 runs on 7 hits and a walk, to take a 9-7 lead.
The epic 5th inning [which lasted 55 minutes] was not over as the Yankees quickly battled back. The Bronx Bombers brought 4 runs home this inning [off Boston reliever Tavarez] to regain the lead again, 11-9. Jorge Posada, still the DH, had an RBI double in the inning; and, Cano and Cabrera also had RBI’s, Melky’s coming on a throwing error by shortstop Lugo.
On this night when the first pitch was thrown in “space’, and Alex Rodriguez hit a “moon-shot”, the Yankee bullpen would shine brightly, and become the “stars” of the night.
LaTroy Hawkins entered the game in the 6th, and pitched two scoreless innings, striking-out two, and allowing only one hit.
David Ortiz led off the top of the 8th inning, and Billy Traber was called into the game to complete only one task…to get Ortiz “out”. The lefty specialist, Traber, did just that. He got David Ortiz to pop out to catcher Chad Moeller for the big first out of the inning.
The Yankees still only had a two-run lead, 11-9, in the game, with cleanup hitter, Manny Ramirez now up. Getting Ortiz out, made the Manny at-bat a little less dangerous. Now it was time for Brian Bruney to shine. Manny greeted Bruney by hitting a single. Then with the tying run on first base, Bruney struck-out out Youkilis for the second out; and, got J.D. Drew to fly out to center for the final out of the inning.
The spotlight was now on Brian Bruney, not Manny Ramirez, as Bruney strided from the mound towards the Yankees dugout, as the crowd gave Brian Bruney and the Yankees a loud ovation of approval.
Bruney did his job, and Mariano Rivera was starting to warm up in the bullpen, getting ready to come into the 9th to save the two-run lead. But, the Yankee bats were not finished yet. A pair of two-run doubles by Jorge Posada and Jason Giambi put 4 more insurance runs up on the scoreboard bringing the Yankees lead to 15-9. This also resulted in Mariano putting is jacket back on, and sitting back down to cheer on Brian Bruney who went out to the mound in the top of the 9th to close out the game.
Joba Chamberlain would have been in this spot, but he is still at his father’s, Harlan, hospital bedside in Lincoln, Nebraska. It was good news to hear that Mr. Chamberlain is doing much better, and he is making progress towards recovery. There are still tests that have to be run, but he is much better than he was a couple of days ago. May we all keep Harlan, Joba, and the whole Chamberlain family in our thoughts and prayers.
Brian Bruney set the Red Sox down in the 9th, and the Yankees won the game 15-9. Bruney was credited with is first save since 2005; and, LaTroy Hawkins was the winning pitcher, his first win as a Yankee. And, the Yankees are now 2-2 vs. Boston in the 2008 “Season Within a Season” series.
This was a big win for the Yankees !!! Of course, all wins are big, but any win vs. Boston is much bigger and more special. The series continues Thursday night at the Stadium. It doesn’t get any better than this… Yankees vs. Red Sox !!! Championship Baseball at it’s best !!! Go Yankees !!!
Baseball, The Yankees, and Life... 