Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Yankees Win Game, Lose Pudge

It seemed like a month of Sundays rather just three days, but the Yankees "finally" won tonight, 5-3 over the Texas Rangers to snap a two game losing streak. The win was not without some cost, though. A few short hours after Joba Chamberlain was placed on the DL with rotator cuff tendinitis, Ivan Rodriguez was knocked from the game in a knee-to-knee collision with Rangers outfielder David Murphy. I-Rod is listed as day to day with a bruised knee, while Murphy may be headed to the DL with a strained PCL.

As for the game, Sidney Ponson gave the Yankees a second straight solid outing, allowing 3 earned runs in 6.1 innings pitched. Ponson spotted the Rangers a 2-0 lead on a second inning single by rookie Chris Davis. It could have been more, but on Ian Kinsler's single to right field, Bobby Abreu fired home a perfect two-hopper to Rodriguez at the plate. Murphy slid late and was upright as he collided with the Yankees catcher. Both players were immediately attended to by their respective trainers and I-Rod hobbled off the field. Murphy stayed in the game, but would leave an inning later.

For one game at least, the Yankees came up with some clutch hits against rookie pitcher Tommy Hunter. Robinson Cano and Jose Molina started the third with a pair of singles and the Yankees got on the board when Wilson Betemit, who started at third base to let A-Rod get some time at DH, doubled to left-center to score Cano. Johnny Damon's ground out to Kinsler scored Molina and moved Betemit to third. Derek Jeter then bounced one up the middle and through the drawn in infield for an RBI single and a 3-2 Yankees lead.

Jason Giambi took Hunter deep in the 4th for his 22nd home run of the season and a 4-2 lead. The Yankees tacked on another run an inning later when Damon stroked a one out single, stole second base, and scored on Jeter's double to right-center. Then it was up to Ponson and the pen.

Kinsler's one out single in the fifth snapped a short streak of five straight retired by Ponson, but Frank Catalanotto lined into an inning ending double play. Michael Young took Ponson deep for his 10th home run of the season to start the sixth, but Ponson retired the last four men he faced and departed with one out in the 7th.

A combination of Edwar Ramirez, Damaso Marte, and Jose Veras build the bridge to Mariano Rivera in the 9th. Pitching without back pain, Rivera struck out the first two batters of the 9th before a single by Davis gave the Rangers one more chance. But Rivera got Ramon Vazquez on a game-ending force out for his 27th save in as many chances.

News and Notes
Brian Cashman, Andy Pettitte, Derek Jeter, Joe Girardi, Ken Singleton, Michael Kay (who is not working the series in Texas), and David Cone were among the Yankees contingent that flew to Oklahoma City for Bobby Murcer's memorial. Ironically it came 29 years after the Thurman Munson funeral game in which Bobby was the hero.

Ian Kennedy
will take Joba Chamberlain's turn in the rotation versus the Angels this Friday.

Chad Moeller cleared waivers and was assigned to Scranton. He could be back already with the injury to Ivan Rodriguez.

Former Yankee Jeff Karstens came within 5 outs of a perfect game for the Pirates today. Diamondbacks outfielder Chris Young finally broke it up and Karstens settled for a 2-hit complete game. Karstens, who beat Randy Johnson today, has not been scored on in 15 National League innings.

August 6, 2008

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
NY Yankees
0 0 3 1 1 0 0 0 0
5 12 0
Texas
0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
3 9 2

NY YankeesABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Damon, CF-LF5121001.317
Jeter, SS4022120.281
Abreu, RF5020004.291
Rodriguez, A, DH4000014.315
Giambi, 1B4111021.256
Sexson, 1B0000000.226
Nady, LF4010011.334
Cabrera, CF0000000.242
Cano, 2B4110011.261
Rodriguez, I, C0000000.291
a-Molina, PH-C4120001.240
Betemit, 3B4111011.250
Totals3851251814

a-Singled for Rodriguez, I in the 3rd.

BATTING
2B: Betemit (8, Hunter), Jeter (24, Hunter), Nady (30, Madrigal).
HR: Giambi (22, 4th inning off Hunter, 0 on, 0 out).
TB: Damon 2; Jeter 3; Abreu 2; Giambi 4; Nady 2; Cano; Molina 2; Betemit 2.
RBI: Betemit (19), Damon (48), Jeter 2 (53), Giambi (65).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Rodriguez, A; Molina; Nady; Abreu 2.
GIDP: Rodriguez, A.
Team LOB: 7.

BASERUNNING
SB: Damon (17, 2nd base off Hunter/Laird).
CS: Jeter (3, 2nd base by Hunter/Laird).
PO: Jeter (1st base by Hunter).

FIELDING
Outfield assists: Abreu (Murphy at home).
DP: (Cano-Giambi).

NY YankeesIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Ponson (W, 7-2)6.16331414.23
Ramirez (H, 4)1.02000103.02
Marte (H, 17)0.10000004.18
Veras (H, 7)0.10000002.54
Rivera (S, 27)1.01000201.46


TexasABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Kinsler, 2B4020001.316
Catalanotto, DH4010001.287
Young, SS4111011.289
Hamilton, CF3110101.305
Byrd, RF3100002.260
Murphy, LF1010000.275
Boggs, LF3000010.244
Laird, C4000023.300
Davis, C, 1B4022010.295
Vazquez, 3B4010023.321
Totals343931712

BATTING
HR: Young (10, 6th inning off Ponson, 0 on, 0 out).
TB: Kinsler 2; Catalanotto; Young 4; Hamilton; Murphy; Davis, C 2; Vazquez.
RBI: Davis, C 2 (28), Young (64).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Byrd.
Team LOB: 6.

FIELDING
E: Young (9, missed catch), Byrd (4, fielding).
DP: (Davis, C-Young-Madrigal).
Pickoffs: Hunter (Jeter at 1st base).


TexasIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Hunter (L, 0-1)4.185504110.61
Madrigal 3.22000206.00
Benoit 1.02001205.45

WP: Benoit.
HBP: Byrd (by Ponson).
Pitches-strikes: Ponson 95-60, Ramirez 20-14,
Marte 4-3, Veras 6-4, Rivera 15-11, Hunter 77-53,
Madrigal 46-32, Benoit 21-14.
Ground outs-fly outs: Ponson 8-5, Ramirez 1-1,
Marte 1-0, Veras 0-1, Rivera 1-0, Hunter 2-7, Madrigal 5-4, Benoit 1-0.
Batters faced: Ponson 25, Ramirez 5, Marte 1,
Veras 1, Rivera 4, Hunter 21, Madrigal 12, Benoit 6.
Inherited runners-scored: Marte 1-0,
Veras 1-0, Madrigal 2-0.
Umpires: HP: Bob Davidson. 1B: Rob Drake. 2B: Andy Fletcher.
3B: Alfonso Marquez.
Weather: 92 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 9 mph, R to L.
T: 3:04.

1 comment:

  1. I really think MLB should ban baserunners from crashing into the catchers.
    After all, this is baseball, not Rugby.

    ReplyDelete