Sunday, July 27, 2008

Yankees Make Red Sox Knuckle Under

The Yankees had practically everything go their way on Saturday as they pounded the Red Sox bullpen to clinch the 3-game series with a 10-3 win. Andy Pettitte gave his teammates a big lift, allowing 1 earned run over 6 innings, shaking off a two run 1st inning for his 12th win of the season. Robinson Cano continued his post All-Star break tear with 3 hits including a home run. And there was retribution. While both teams downplayed it, Craig Hansen hit Alex Rodriguez with a 98-mph fastball into his upper right arm in retaliation for Joba Chamberlain's Friday night head hunt of Kevin Youkilis.

The Yankees trailed 2-1 in the 4th when Cano drilled a Tim Wakefield knuckleball to dead center field, the deepest part of the park, for his 8th home run of the season. Melky Cabrera, whose name has been mentioned in several trade rumors, laid down a bunt single, stole 2nd base, and scored on Johnny Damon's single to center for a 3-2 Yankees lead.

After allowing a pair of unearned runs in the 1st inning, after an Alex Rodriguez game opening error, Pettitte cruised through the 5th. The offense then started to break things open in the 6th.

The Yankees loaded the bases when newest Yankee Xavier Nady drew a lead off walk, Cabrera doubled, and Jose Molina was hit by a pitch. Damon bounced into a force out to plate one run and Derek Jeter greeted reliever Justin Masterson with an RBI single to right. Bobby Abreu followed with a line drive off the green monster for an RBI double, with Jeter stopping at 3rd base. A-Rod then ripped a single through the left side for a 7-2 lead. Javier Lopez came on to retire Jason Giambi on an inning ending double play.

Pettitte gave up a solo home run to J.D. Drew in his final inning of work, and it helped to set up some drama in the bottom of the 7th. Jose Veras issued a one out walk to Dustin Pedroia and surrendered a single to Youkilis. That brought up David Ortiz, which meant Yankees fans would get their first look at Damaso Marte. The newest Yankees pitcher didn't disappoint, striking out Big Papi on a 2-2 pitch for the 2nd out. Joe Girardi mixed and matched and called for Edwar Ramirez, who retired Manny Ramirez on a routine fly to center.

The Yankees put the game away with 3 runs in the 8th, but the big moment came when Hansen drilled A-Rod. The pitch was sailing up and took some good maneuvering from the game's best player to avoid getting hit in the neck or head area. The post-game chatter had the usual comments, "pitch slipped", "he was wild", "it's part of the game", but as the Star Ledger's Ed Price pointed out, the entire Red Sox bench was on the top step of the dugout when A-Rod came to bat. This should all be over for now, but then again there's another game tonight and you never know.


News and Notes

Xavier Nady was 0-3 with a walk and was hit in the knee in 5 plate appearances. He played left field in Fenway Park for the first time and was excited to be part of a pennant race.

Johnny Damon had to leave the game in the 8th inning after suffering from heat cramps.

Since June 12, Andy Pettitte is 7-2, 2.11 in 9 starts. 7 of those 9 starts have been quality (6 IP 3 ER) .

Red Sox GM Theo Epstein told Fox analyst Tim McCarver before the game that the Red Sox were willing to deal Manny Ramirez.

July 26, 2008

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
NY Yankees
0 0 1 2 0 4 0 3 0
10 13 1
Boston
2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
3 6 0

NY YankeesABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Damon, DH5112004.313
a-Christian, PH-DH1000001.273
Jeter, SS6121024.285
Abreu, RF4122101.279
Rodriguez, A, 3B3121101.324
Betemit, 3B0000000.250
Giambi, 1B4001125.252
1-Sexson, PR-1B0000000.216
Cano, 2B4133100.270
Nady, LF3100103.327
Cabrera, CF5220022.250
Molina, C2210201.220
Totals371013107622

a-Grounded out for Damon in the 9th.
1-Ran for Giambi in the 8th.

BATTING
2B: Jeter (22, Wakefield), Rodriguez, A (21, Wakefield), Cabrera (12, Wakefield), Abreu (25, Masterson), Cano (22, Hansen).
HR: Cano (9, 4th inning off Wakefield, 0 on, 0 out).
TB: Damon; Jeter 3; Abreu 3; Rodriguez, A 3; Cano 7; Cabrera 3; Molina.
RBI: Abreu 2 (66), Cano 3 (48), Damon 2 (40), Jeter (47), Rodriguez, A (62), Giambi (59).
2-out RBI: Abreu; Damon; Giambi; Cano 2.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Rodriguez, A; Cabrera; Giambi 2; Jeter 2; Nady 2.
Team LOB: 10.

BASERUNNING
SB: Cabrera (8, 2nd base off Wakefield/Cash), Damon (15, 2nd base off Wakefield/Cash).
CS: Cano (4, 2nd base by Wakefield/Cash), Nady (1, 2nd base by Lopez/Cash).

FIELDING
E: Rodriguez, A (8, fielding).
DP: (Rodriguez, A-Cano-Giambi)

NY YankeesIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Pettitte (W, 12-7)6.05313713.76
Veras 0.11001102.94
Marte (H, 16)0.10000103.45
Ramirez (H, 3)1.10001102.39
Robertson 1.00000001.46

BostonABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Pedroia, 2B4100112.317
Youkilis, 1B4120100.313
Ortiz, DH4021023.257
Ramirez, M, LF4001005.298
Lowell, 3B3000111.285
Drew, RF4111013.287
Lowrie, SS2000210.286
Crisp, CF4000022.248
Cash, C4010021.235
Totals3336351017

BATTING
HR: Drew (19, 6th inning off Pettitte, 0 on, 1 out).
TB: Youkilis 2; Ortiz 2; Drew 4; Cash.
RBI: Ortiz (44), Ramirez, M (63), Drew (58).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Drew; Ramirez, M.
GIDP: Ramirez, M.
Team LOB: 8.

FIELDING
DP: 2 (Youkilis-Lowell, Cash-Pedroia).

BostonIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Wakefield (L, 6-8)5.18664313.94
Masterson 0.03110003.65
Lopez 1.20000102.72
Hansen 0.21333105.90
Timlin 1.11000105.72

Masterson pitched to 3 batters in the 6th.

WP: Wakefield, Hansen.
HBP: Molina (by Wakefield), Nady (by Lopez), Rodriguez, A (by Hansen).
Pitches-strikes: Pettitte 110-67, Veras 14-6, Marte 4-4,
Ramirez 22-14, Robertson 13-7, Wakefield 100-59,
Masterson 14-8, Lopez 17-10, Hansen 32-13, Timlin 19-13.
Ground outs-fly outs: Pettitte 8-3, Veras 0-0, Marte 0-0,
Ramirez 2-1, Robertson 2-1, Wakefield 6-6, Masterson 0-0,
Lopez 2-0, Hansen 1-0, Timlin 3-0.
Batters faced: Pettitte 26, Veras 3, Marte 1, Ramirez 5,
Robertson 3, Wakefield 28, Masterson 3, Lopez 4, Hansen 7, Timlin 5.
Inherited runners-scored: Marte 2-0, Ramirez 2-0,
Masterson 2-2, Lopez 2-0, Timlin 2-0.
Umpires: HP: Derryl Cousins. 1B: Angel Hernandez.
2B: Eric Cooper. 3B: Marty Foster.
Weather: 81 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 9 mph, Out to LF.
T: 3:28.
Att: 37,225.

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