5/1 Yankees recap for Baseball Digest

Yankees Bedevil Halos Bullpen

Filed Under: Yankees

Tags: andy pettitte • Brian Fuentes • Casey Fossum • Gary Matthews Jr • hideki matsui • Jered Weaver • Jorge Posada • nick swisher • Robinson Cano • Yankees recap 5/2 • Yankees vs. Angels

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Most Yankees fans think of the Boston Red Sox when asked who is the team’s biggest nemesis, but in actuality the Los Angeles/Anaheim Angels have done more damage to the Yankees regular and post-season hopes. Last night the Yankees got a measure of revenge with a come from behind 10-9 victory in the Bronx.

Jorge Posada, who had earlier hit a 2-run home run, capped the rally with the game winning 2-run single in the ninth. The Yankees trailed 9-4 in the eighth inning and hadn’t scored since a four run first inning. Hideki Matsui started things off with a one out double in the eighth off of Rich Rodriguez and Robinson Cano followed with a walk. Mike Scioscia brought in flame thrower Jose Arredondo, but the right-hander’s fastball was in the strike zone and hittable.

Brett Gardner slashed a single to left to the load the bases and Melky Cabrera brought the inning’s first run across with a single to left as well. Rookie Ramiro Pena ripped a single to right to plate a pair of runs and suddenly the Yankees were only down 9-7. Derek Jeter cut the deficit to a run with a ground out, but with the tying run on second, Johnny Damon looked at a called third strike to end the inning.

Jonathan Albaladejo tossed a 1-2-3 top of the ninth and then the Yankees hitters went to work against closer Brian Fuentes. Mark Teixeira worked a lead off walk and Matsui lined a single to left to put two runners aboard. Red hot Cano ripped a single to center for this third hit of the game, but Teixeira, fearing the ball would be caught, held up and had to stop at third base. It didn’t matter though as Posada worked the count to 3-2 before he lined the game winning hit to left-center field.

Yankees starter Andy Pettitte worked in and out of trouble, but the Angels caught up to him in the sixth inning. A Jeff Mathis single drove in two runs to cut the Yankees four run lead in half and Pettitte’s night ended when he walked Chone Figgins to load the bases. Mark Melancon came on and became the latest Yankee reliever to fail in a big spot. Gary Matthews Jr. drilled a Melancon delivery to center to clear the bases for a 3-run triple and a 5-4 Angels lead. Matthews scored moments later when a Melancon pitch short hopped Posada for a wild pitch. The Angels added to their lead with three runs off of Jose Veras and Edwar Ramirez in the seventh inning.

The Yankees jumped on Angels starter Jered Weaver in the first inning, scoring a pair of runs on a Matsui sac fly and Cano’s first base hit of the game. Posada, batting from the left side, launched his fourth home run of the season into the right field seats for a 4-0 lead. Weaver settled down and followed with five scoreless innings.

Game Notes

Nick Swisher was hit on the elbow by Weaver in the first inning and had to leave the game in the third. X-Rays were negative, but Swisher is expected to sit out a game or two.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the first time the Yankees came back from at least a 5-run deficit since beating the Philadelphia Phillies 9-8 on July 16, 2000. Andy Pettitte started that game as well.

The game winning single was Jorge Posada seventh career walk off run producer.

The Yankees signed former Red Sox pitcher Casey Fossum to a minor league contract. Fossum, who was released by the Mets earlier this season, will start Saturday for Scranton.