Late Lightning Sweeps Sox
The Yankees‘ magic spell was snapped Sunday night in the 8th inning when Victor Martinez turned on a Phil Coke fastball and sent it into the left field seats for a 2-run home run and a 2-1 Boston Red Sox lead. It was the first time Boston had scored in over 31 innings. But the Yankees bat still had some mojo in them. Johnny Damon and Mark Teixeira hit back to back home runs off fireballer Daniel Bard in the bottom of the 8th and the Yankees went on to a 5-2 win. It was the Bombers 7th straight win and completed a 4-game home sweep of the Red Sox, the first such domination in the Bronx in 24 years.
Boston had to wonder if they would ever score again after Andy Pettitte matched Red Sox starter Jon Lester zero for zero for the first 7 innings. The Yankees struck first when Alex Rodriguez took Lester deep for his second home run in the last the three games. It gave the Yankees a 1-0 lead and enabled A-Rod to surpass Harmon Killebrew for sole possession of 9th place on the all-time list with 574 dingers.
Pettitte threw 112 pitches in keeping the Sox off the board. He allowed just 5 hits, walked 2 and struck out 4. One of those strikeout victims was Jason Varitek who went down swinging with the bases loaded to end a 2nd inning threat. Varitek also left the bases loaded in the 4th when Damon snared his line drive to left. Pettitte also benefited from a pair of double play balls and left to a standing ovation after the 7th.
Coke struck out Jacoby Ellsbury to start the 8th, but gave up a single to Dustin Pedroia before leaving a hanger to V-Mart, who hit it well back into the left field stands. The Red Sox dugout, dormant for most of the night, whooped it up and hollered for the first time in days. It wouldn’t last long.
Bard retired the first two batters in the 8th, but Damon belted his 21st home run of the year to right-center field to tie the game at two apiece. Teixeira then turned on an inside pitch and hit high into the night. He carried his bat aloft as he trotted to first, willing the ball to stay fair. It had no chance of going foul and the Yankees had the lead back for good. But they weren’t done yet.
Bard walked A-Rod and Jorge Posada doubled into the left field corner. A-Rod might have scored if not for his bad hip, but it wouldn’t matter as Nick Swisher came through with a huge 2-out hit. At first it didn’t appear Swisher would get the chance. He felt Bard’s first pitch clipped his jersey, but home plate umpire Bill Miller would have none of it. It was a good thing. Swisher lined a one-hopper back through the middle to score both runners and gave the Yankees a commanding 5-2 lead.
The Red Sox put two aboard with two out in the 9th against Mariano Rivera, but the Yankees closer picked up his major league leading 32nd save when Ellsbury grounded out to Teixeira to end the game.
And just like that, no one talks about the Red Sox having beaten the Yankees eight times any more.
Game Notes
As expected, Josh Towers was designated for assignment prior to the game to make room for Chad Gaudin. Sergio Mitre gets the start tonight against Toronto, while Gaudin will work out of the pen.
Jerry Hairston Jr. started at 3rd base so A-Rod could get a night at DH. Hideki Matsui was out of the starting lineup, but did pinch-hit.
Boston has been swept in two straight series and have lost six in a row. They are now tied with Texas for the wild card lead.
The Blue Jays are in town for 3 games, including an afternoon contest on Wednesday, before the Yankees head out to Seattle for 4 games.
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Josh Bard reminds me a lot of Kyle Farnsworth. I hope he sticks around in Boston for a long time.
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