Gardners Bake Pies Too

Brett Gardner started the day as he did yesterday, sitting on the bench watching Andruw Jones play in left field against a left-handed pitcher. But in a case of "it's not who starts, but who finishes", Gardner got the last swing. His one out RBI in the 12th brought home Curtis Granderson for a 3-2 win over the Texas Rangers.

After the Boston Red Sox swept the Yankees in three games to start the homestand, the Bombers won six of the final seven games (the one loss was 1-0 to Cleveland). The Yankees also continued their solid play against the Rangers this season with their third series win and are 7-2 against the team that beat them in last year's ALCS.

The game started out with the unknown Brian Gordon making his first Major League start. The 32-yr old veteran of 15 minor league seasons was outstanding. He allowed two runs in 5.1 innings (7 H 3 BB 3 K) and threw 55 of 84 pitches for strikes. He managed the major jam he got into in the 5th inning and limited the Rangers to a pair of runs (on an Ian Kinsler double) despite having the bases loaded with one out.

Russell Martin had provided an RBI single in the 2nd inning (and threw out two would be base stealers) and Jorge Posada tied the game up in the 6th with an RBI double against starter C.J. Wilson. The Yankees bullpen provided 6.2 of scoreless relief with Corey Wade throwing the final two for first his win as a Yankee and his first victory in the majors since June 13, 2009. (The Yankees are now 18-3 (.857) in day games.)

The Yankees wasted a golden opportunity when they loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the 9th against Darren Oliver. After getting ahead in the count, 3-1, Granderson struck out for the second out of the inning and Mark Teixeira grounded out to end the inning. But Granderson started things in the 12th with his third hit of the day. Teixeira flew out, but lefty Michael Kirkman hit Robinson Cano with a controversial pitch. Texas manager Ron Washington came out to argue with home plate umpire Mike Everitt, feeling the ball hit the knob of the bat rather than Cano. (Replays were inconclusive, though Cano didn't show much reaction)

Gardner, who should be starting against left-handers rather than Jones, then singled through the right side to plate Granderson and sent the Yankees off to Wrigley Field with a victory.

Yankees Take Commanding 2-0 Lead

A-Rod, Tex Rock the Bronx

Written for Baseball Digest Online

The Minnesota Twins have been this road before. Take a lead at the new Yankee Stadium, blow the lead late, and then watch as the New York Yankees celebrate a victory with pie ala A.J.. Tonight, the script played out to perfection with the added “bonus” of a blown call by the men in blue.

Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the 9th, Mark Teixeira reached base with his first hit of the series. Alex Rodriguez then hit a deep drive off Twins’ closer Joe Nathan that landed well beyond the fence in center field for a game tying home run. Seconds after the ball left his bat, A-Rod looked over at his teammates and pumped his fist. It was a “jump on my back boys” moment for a player who won’t be hearing about post-season slumps any time soon. Oh, and A-Rod drove in the Yankees first run too.

Then after escaping a bases loaded, no out jam in the top of the 11th, the Yankees celebration began when Teixeira hit a bullet off left-hander Jose Mijares down towards the left field corner. The ball hit the top of the wall and ricocheted into the stands for a game winning homer. And yes, A.J. delivered hiscompensatory pie.

The victory ended a wild night at the new digs and put the Yankees up a commanding two games to none in the best of five series. Starters A.J. Burnett and Nick Blackburn got into a good ol’ fashioned pitcher’s duel before the Twins broke a scoreless tie in the 6th. Burnett, who walked five on the night, issued a one out free pass to Delmon Young, who stole 2nd base as Carlos Gomez struck out for the second out of the inning.

Ron Gardenhire sent light hitting Brendan Harris up to pinch-hit for Matt Tolbert, who had to leave the game with a strained oblique. Harris came through with a deep drive to left-center that eluded Johnny Damon and then caromed past Melky Cabrera for an RBI triple. Burnett got out of further trouble by getting Nick Punto to ground out to end the inning.

The Yankees, who didn’t have a hit until Robinson Cano’s single in the 5th, came right back in the home half of the 6th. Derek Jeter reached on a one out ground rule double and Damon followed with a walk. Blackburn retired Teixiera on a pop up for the second out, but A-Rod singled to left to even the game at a run apiece.

The bottom of the Twins order had a big night and they came through in the clutch against Phil Hughes in the top of the 8th. Gomez reached on a two out walk and moved to 3rd on Harris’ single to right. Punto’s single to center put the Twins up 2-1 and knocked Hughes from the game. Denard Span showed the top of the Twins order could be productive too when the lead off man singled off of Mariano Rivera for a 3-1 Minnesota lead. Rivera kept it a two run game with a strike out of Orlando Cabrera.

Both teams blew big opportunities in the game due to base running mistakes. Burnett hit both Young and Gomez with two outs in the 4th and Tolbert singled to right field. But Gomez rounded 2nd base too far and Nick Swisher alertly threw behind him to an awaiting Jeter, who applied the tag before Young could score. A very “Timo Perez” moment in New York.

The Yankees had their own snafu as they appeared ready to win the game in the 10th. Jorge Posada reached on a one out single and was replaced on the bases by Brett Gardner. The Yankees top base stealing threat easily swiped 2nd base and then moved to 3rd when Nathan’s errant pick off throw sailed in center field. Gardenhire elected to walk Jeter to set up the double play and the Yankees unwittingly obliged.

Damon hit a line drive that ticked off Nathan’s glove towards Cabrera at short. Gardner misread the ball and took off for home. Cabrera snagged the line drive and easily doubled Gardner off the 3rd as the Twins finally got a break. But it was a break they couldn’t take advantage of, thanks in part to left field umpire Phil Cuzzi (pronounced Cuz-zee; and you know people in Minnesota will realize what that rhymes with).

Mauer sliced a fly ball down the left field line off of Damaso Marte and just out of the reach of Melky Cabrera, who had moved over from center field at the start of the inning. The ball clearly landed several inches in fair territory before bouncing into the stands for what should have been a ground rule double. But Cuzzi emphatically ruled it foul. Without a good angle to see it, no one from the Twins argued the call.

It seemed like it wouldn’t matter when Mauer and Jason Kubel stroked back to back singles, and David Robertson gave up another base hit to Michael Cuddyer to load the bases with no one out. But with the infield playing in, Teixiera gloved Young’s hot smash for the first out. Gomez then swung at the first pitch, as did Young, and grounded to Teixeira, who threw home for the force out. Robertson and the Yankees were then able to breath again when Harris flew out to Gardner in center field for the final out of the inning.

And then the players took their roles and Yankees Stadium witnessed its’ 16th walk-off victory of the season.

Cisco Gets His Pie

Mystique and Aura..and Exuberance

Written for Baseball Digest Online

A certain blowhard pitcher can make fun of mystique and aura all he wants, but it looks like they those two have been joined this season by exuberance in the new Yankee Stadium. There was plenty on display tonight as the Yankees came up with their 14th walk off win of the season, 5-4 over the Toronto Blue Jays. The victory was also the Yankees' 34th come from behind triumph, the most since the 1932 Yankees.

Despite a solid outing from spot starter Chad Gaudin, the Yankees slept their way through seven innings of dull baseball and trailed 4-2 in the 8th. Phil Hughes started things out with a dynamite top of the inning and then the bats came to life. Alex Rodriguez dunked n a 1-out single off lefty Scott Downs and then it was time for Godzilla to destroy another city. Hideki Matsui entered the game with nearly half his 24 home runs coming against southpaws. Number 25 landed in the right field stands and tied the game at four apiece.

"Pie Anticipation" set in after Mariano Rivera tossed a scoreless 9th and Brett Gardner kept the momentum going with a lead off single against Jays' closer Jason Frasor in the home half of the inning. The speedster swiped his 22nd base in 27 attempts and moved to third on Derek Jeter's ground out up the middle. With no third catcher available due to Jorge Posada's suspension, Joe Girardi had no choice but to let Francisco Cervelli bat for himself. The "Cisco Kid" didn't let his manager down, singling through the left side for yet another last at-bat win for the Pinstripes.

Cervelli also showed the exuberance that has affected both the youngsters and the veterans. He joyously rounded first and headed towards right field in an attempt to out run his teammates/mob scene. But a smiling Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera caught him, setting up another raucous Bronx celebration that culminated when A.J. Burnett gave the rookie catcher his first taste of victory pie.

The Yankees were in the game because Gaudin, starting in place of Andy Pettitte, was solid through five plus innings. He allowed a solo home run by Jose Bautista, but got out of other jams with run producing ground outs. The Blue Jays tacked one on against Brian Bruney in the 7th, but mystique, aura, and exuberance were waiting in the wings.

Game Notes

Mariano Rivera won his 3rd game of the season and the 71st of his career.

The Yankees have Thursday off and will travel to the west coast for games at Seattle and LA (Ana).