The Great Escape

Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling locked in a great pitching duel. The game is close until a Yankees home run gives them the lead. Then it's up to the Yankees sure thing, Mariano Rivera, to close things out. But Mo is shaky. No this wasn't the 7th game of the 2001 World Series again. It was last night's white knuckler with the Boston Red Sox that the Yankees pulled out 4-3. The victory moved them back to within 4.5 of the AL East lead, and more importantly, kept them 2.5 games ahead of the Tigers for the Wild Card.

Clemens, with the aid of 2 cortisone shots, had a good fastball and a nasty slider to go with Mr. Splittee. Schilling, a mile or two slower than Clemens with his fastball, threw a low 70s curve ball to keep hitters off balance. Clemens departed after 6 in a 1-1 tie and it was still that score when the Yankees came to bat in the 8th.

Schilling (8-8) struck out Melky Cabrera to start the inning, but Doug Mientkiewicz stroked his 2nd single of the game and pinch-hitter Jason Giambi peppered the green monster with a shot that nearly cleared the top of the wall. Mientkiewicz raced to 3rd and Giambi moved into 2nd on the throw. With the infield in Johnny Damon hit a broken bat bouncer to 2nd that froze Mientkiewicz and was the 2nd out of the inning. That left it up to the Captain. Derek Jeter came into the game hitting better than .400 with runners in scoring position and 2 out, and he added to it. He ripped a hanging 2-2 slider from Schilling into the seats atop the green monster for a 3-run HR and a 4-1 Yankees lead. But the game was far from over.

Mike Lowell cut the lead in half with a solo home run off of Joba Chamberlain. It was the first home run and earned run allowed by Chamberlain (2-0), who was in his 2nd inning of work. Then came the 9th, which was not for the feint of heart.

Rivera walked Jason Varitek to start the inning, but retired Eric Hinske and Coco Crisp on ground outs, with Varitek moving around to 3rd. All seemed right. But then Julio Lugo hit a high fastball to the monster for a run scoring double. Rivera hit Jacoby Ellsbury with a pitch and then lost a long battle with Dustin Pedroia, walking the rookie to load the bases. For David Ortiz. With both Yankees and Red Sox fans holding their breath, Ortiz popped up to an awaiting Jeter to end the game. And we could all breath again.

...

Roger Clemens allowed just 2 hits in his 6 innings of work, and 1 unearned run that reached when Johnny Damon dropped a fly ball.

The Yankees won the season series with the Red Sox, 10-8. They won 10 of the last 15 played.

photos courtesy of AP

The Great Escape

Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling locked in a great pitching duel. The game is close until a Yankees home run gives them the lead. Then it's up to the Yankees sure thing, Mariano Rivera, to close things out. But Mo is shaky. No this wasn't the 7th game of the 2001 World Series again. It was last night's white knuckler with the Boston Red Sox that the Yankees pulled out 4-3. The victory moved them back to within 4.5 of the AL East lead, and more importantly, kept them 2.5 games ahead of the Tigers for the Wild Card.

Clemens, with the aid of 2 cortisone shots, had a good fastball and a nasty slider to go with Mr. Splittee. Schilling, a mile or two slower than Clemens with his fastball, threw a low 70s curve ball to keep hitters off balance. Clemens departed after 6 in a 1-1 tie and it was still that score when the Yankees came to bat in the 8th.

Schilling (8-8) struck out Melky Cabrera to start the inning, but Doug Mientkiewicz stroked his 2nd single of the game and pinch-hitter Jason Giambi peppered the green monster with a shot that nearly cleared the top of the wall. Mientkiewicz raced to 3rd and Giambi moved into 2nd on the throw. With the infield in Johnny Damon hit a broken bat bouncer to 2nd that froze Mientkiewicz and was the 2nd out of the inning. That left it up to the Captain. Derek Jeter came into the game hitting better than .400 with runners in scoring position and 2 out, and he added to it. He ripped a hanging 2-2 slider from Schilling into the seats atop the green monster for a 3-run HR and a 4-1 Yankees lead. But the game was far from over.

Mike Lowell cut the lead in half with a solo home run off of Joba Chamberlain. It was the first home run and earned run allowed by Chamberlain (2-0), who was in his 2nd inning of work. Then came the 9th, which was not for the feint of heart.

Rivera walked Jason Varitek to start the inning, but retired Eric Hinske and Coco Crisp on ground outs, with Varitek moving around to 3rd. All seemed right. But then Julio Lugo hit a high fastball to the monster for a run scoring double. Rivera hit Jacoby Ellsbury with a pitch and then lost a long battle with Dustin Pedroia, walking the rookie to load the bases. For David Ortiz. With both Yankees and Red Sox fans holding their breath, Ortiz popped up to an awaiting Jeter to end the game. And we could all breath again.

...

Roger Clemens allowed just 2 hits in his 6 innings of work, and 1 unearned run that reached when Johnny Damon dropped a fly ball.

The Yankees won the season series with the Red Sox, 10-8. They won 10 of the last 15 played.

photos courtesy of AP

Congrats to Jim Thome

Always a class act, the White Sox slugger hit his 500th home run today in style. A walk-off 2-run shot to beat the Angels. He joins A-Rod and Frank Thomas in joining the 500 club this season.

Congrats to Jim Thome

Always a class act, the White Sox slugger hit his 500th home run today in style. A walk-off 2-run shot to beat the Angels. He joins A-Rod and Frank Thomas in joining the 500 club this season.

Roger Clemens vs. Curt Schilling

Thanks to Peter Abraham for the lineups

YANKEES

Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Posada DH
Cano 2B
Cabrera CF
Mientkiewicz 1B
Molina C

RED SOX

Ellsbury LF
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Lowell 3B
Drew RF
Varitek C
Hinske 1B
Crisp CF
Lugo SS

Roger Clemens vs. Curt Schilling

Thanks to Peter Abraham for the lineups

YANKEES

Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Posada DH
Cano 2B
Cabrera CF
Mientkiewicz 1B
Molina C

RED SOX

Ellsbury LF
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Lowell 3B
Drew RF
Varitek C
Hinske 1B
Crisp CF
Lugo SS

A Definition of Ugly

We've seen the scenario against the Red Sox before. Josh Beckett or Curt Schilling or some other tough thrower on the mound and the game turns into a blow out. That was the case yesterday as the Red Sox bounced back from Friday night's bad loss to whip the Yankees 10-1.

Even when things went bad yesterday for the Sox it turned out good. Kevin Youkillis had to leave the game after being hit on the left wrist by a Chien-Ming Wang (ironically it happened moments after FOX showed Joba Chamberlain throwing 2 pitches over Youkillis' head back on August 30) pitch, but his replacement Jacoby Ellsbury drove in 3 runs.

Wang and Beckett, both entered the game with 18 wins and Cy Young aspirations, but only Beckett rose to the occasion. The Red Sox lead 2-1 entering the 6th, having taken the lead an inning earlier. Wang quickly got into trouble as Eric Hinske doubled and Coco Crisp singled to put runners on the corners with no one out. Wang got Julio Lugo on a shallow fly to center, but Crisp stole 2nd to force the Yankees to move the infield in. Dustin Pedroia complied by hitting a grounder to Robinson Cano, who came home with it. Hinske, who's built more like a linebacker than a baseball player, ran over Jorge Posada, but Posada held onto the ball for the 2nd out. (After the game he would go to a nearby hospital to be checked for a concussion - all tests came back negative.)

Wang was 1 out from escaping the inning, but after Pedroia stole 2nd, Ellsbury singled to left for 1 run and David Ortiz doubled in the gap in right-center for a 5-1 Red Sox lead. It also marked the end of the day for Wang, who saw his ERA rise to 3.82. The Yankees bullpen was then torched for 4 runs in the 7th and 1 more in the 8th, and Beckett had his 19th win.

...

Russ Ohlendorf gave up his first runs as a major leaguer, including Hinske's 1st home run since August 2nd.

It took a while, but FOX finally spoke about Kevin Youkillis' habit of diving into the plate, ala Derek Jeter. Youkillis may think the Yankees are throwing at him, but he's been hit by 15 pitches this season. X-Rays were negative on his wrist, leaving him with a bruise and questionable for tonight's game.

Mike Lowell drove in his career high 106th RBI. And the Yankees had Ed Yarnall.

Derek Jeter's 10th home run of the season was his 193rd career HR, moving him ahead of good friend Tino Martinez on the all-time list.

Chien-Ming Wang was up in the zone all day and recorded on 6 of 17 outs by ground out.

A Definition of Ugly

We've seen the scenario against the Red Sox before. Josh Beckett or Curt Schilling or some other tough thrower on the mound and the game turns into a blow out. That was the case yesterday as the Red Sox bounced back from Friday night's bad loss to whip the Yankees 10-1.

Even when things went bad yesterday for the Sox it turned out good. Kevin Youkillis had to leave the game after being hit on the left wrist by a Chien-Ming Wang (ironically it happened moments after FOX showed Joba Chamberlain throwing 2 pitches over Youkillis' head back on August 30) pitch, but his replacement Jacoby Ellsbury drove in 3 runs.

Wang and Beckett, both entered the game with 18 wins and Cy Young aspirations, but only Beckett rose to the occasion. The Red Sox lead 2-1 entering the 6th, having taken the lead an inning earlier. Wang quickly got into trouble as Eric Hinske doubled and Coco Crisp singled to put runners on the corners with no one out. Wang got Julio Lugo on a shallow fly to center, but Crisp stole 2nd to force the Yankees to move the infield in. Dustin Pedroia complied by hitting a grounder to Robinson Cano, who came home with it. Hinske, who's built more like a linebacker than a baseball player, ran over Jorge Posada, but Posada held onto the ball for the 2nd out. (After the game he would go to a nearby hospital to be checked for a concussion - all tests came back negative.)

Wang was 1 out from escaping the inning, but after Pedroia stole 2nd, Ellsbury singled to left for 1 run and David Ortiz doubled in the gap in right-center for a 5-1 Red Sox lead. It also marked the end of the day for Wang, who saw his ERA rise to 3.82. The Yankees bullpen was then torched for 4 runs in the 7th and 1 more in the 8th, and Beckett had his 19th win.

...

Russ Ohlendorf gave up his first runs as a major leaguer, including Hinske's 1st home run since August 2nd.

It took a while, but FOX finally spoke about Kevin Youkillis' habit of diving into the plate, ala Derek Jeter. Youkillis may think the Yankees are throwing at him, but he's been hit by 15 pitches this season. X-Rays were negative on his wrist, leaving him with a bruise and questionable for tonight's game.

Mike Lowell drove in his career high 106th RBI. And the Yankees had Ed Yarnall.

Derek Jeter's 10th home run of the season was his 193rd career HR, moving him ahead of good friend Tino Martinez on the all-time list.

Chien-Ming Wang was up in the zone all day and recorded on 6 of 17 outs by ground out.

Trenton Grabs 'AA' Title

From Trenton Thunder.com

(Akron, OH)- Matt Carson had four hits, including a home run, and three RBI to lead the Trenton Thunder to an 10-5 win on Saturday to win the Eastern League Title. Trenton wins clinches their first championship in the 14-year history of the franchise.

The Thunder, who finished the post-season with an 6-2 record, jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the 1st Inning off Akron's Bobby Brownlie. With two outs, DH Juan Miranda doubled home SS Reegie Corona from 1st Base for the lead. Carson followed with an RBI single for a 2-0 lead. 1B Cody Ehlers capped the inning with an RBI double. Akron came back with four runs off Dan McCutchen in the 3rd Inning to take the lead. McCutchen got the win allowing those four runs over five innings.

The Thunder came right back to re-take the lead with three runs in the 4th Inning. A sacrifice fly from Gabe Lopez along with a two-run double from Corona gave Trenton a 6-4 lead. Brownlie took the loss allowing six runs in 3 1/3 innings. Trenton added two more runs in the 5th Inning and one more in the 6th Inning for a 9-5 lead. Carson capped the night with a solo homer for a 10-5 lead.

Trenton finished the night with a scoreless 8th Inning from Scott Patterson and a scoreless 9th Inning from Justin Pope to clinch the title.

The Thunder finish the season with an overall record of 89-61, the second most wins in franchise history.

Trenton Grabs 'AA' Title

From Trenton Thunder.com

(Akron, OH)- Matt Carson had four hits, including a home run, and three RBI to lead the Trenton Thunder to an 10-5 win on Saturday to win the Eastern League Title. Trenton wins clinches their first championship in the 14-year history of the franchise.

The Thunder, who finished the post-season with an 6-2 record, jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the 1st Inning off Akron's Bobby Brownlie. With two outs, DH Juan Miranda doubled home SS Reegie Corona from 1st Base for the lead. Carson followed with an RBI single for a 2-0 lead. 1B Cody Ehlers capped the inning with an RBI double. Akron came back with four runs off Dan McCutchen in the 3rd Inning to take the lead. McCutchen got the win allowing those four runs over five innings.

The Thunder came right back to re-take the lead with three runs in the 4th Inning. A sacrifice fly from Gabe Lopez along with a two-run double from Corona gave Trenton a 6-4 lead. Brownlie took the loss allowing six runs in 3 1/3 innings. Trenton added two more runs in the 5th Inning and one more in the 6th Inning for a 9-5 lead. Carson capped the night with a solo homer for a 10-5 lead.

Trenton finished the night with a scoreless 8th Inning from Scott Patterson and a scoreless 9th Inning from Justin Pope to clinch the title.

The Thunder finish the season with an overall record of 89-61, the second most wins in franchise history.

Today's Lineup (9/15)

Chien-Ming Wang vs. Josh Beckett


Yankees

J. Damon lf
D. Jeter ss
B. Abreu rf
A. Rodriguez 3b
J. Posada c
H. Matsui dh
J. Giambi 1b
R. Cano 2b
M. Cabrera cf

Red Sox
D. Pedroia 2b
K. Youkilis 1b
D. Ortiz dh
M. Lowell 3b
J.D. Drew rf
J. Varitek c
E. Hinske lf
C. Crisp cf
J. Lugo ss

Today's Lineup (9/15)

Chien-Ming Wang vs. Josh Beckett


Yankees

J. Damon lf
D. Jeter ss
B. Abreu rf
A. Rodriguez 3b
J. Posada c
H. Matsui dh
J. Giambi 1b
R. Cano 2b
M. Cabrera cf

Red Sox
D. Pedroia 2b
K. Youkilis 1b
D. Ortiz dh
M. Lowell 3b
J.D. Drew rf
J. Varitek c
E. Hinske lf
C. Crisp cf
J. Lugo ss

Friday Night Lights

That loud clicking sound you heard last night was not a mass chorus of flamenco dancers performing. Those were TV sets that were shut off when the Yankees fell behind Boston 5-1 and then 7-2. The Yankees were sloppy, non-clutch, and ugly. And then the 8th inning came and the Yankees had themselves an 8-7 lead that they would not relinquish. A stunned Fenway Park crowd watched as Mariano Rivera struck out rookie Jacoby Ellsbury to seal the Yankees improbable win.

With a pair of Jason Giambi errors and some shoddy pitching by Andy Pettitte and the bullpen having put them in the hole, the Yankees knew if they were going to come back it was against going to have to be against the Red Sox dynamite tandem of Hideki Okajima and Jon Papelbon. And apparently that's what the Bombers were waiting for.

Okajima had not allowed a home run to a left-handed hitter all season. Then Giambi and Robinson Cano hit back-to-back jacks to start the 8th. When Melky Cabrera walked and Johnny Damon, who had 4 hits, followed with a double, the Yankees suddenly had the timing run at the plate. Terry Francona immediately went to his closer for a 6-out save (can anyone understand while Michael Kay kept questioning Francona's urgency to win the game?).

But Derek Jeter, who had a shaky night in the field and at the plate, singled to right to cut the lead to 7-5, with Damon holding at 3rd. Bobby Abreu absolutely crushed a pitch off the wall in dead center for a game tying 2-run double. Suddenly the invinceable were very human. Alex Rodriguez capped the inning with his 135th RBI, a single to right to give the Yankees their first lead of the night. It was just the 3rd blown save by Papelbon (1-3) this season.

The Red Sox put base runners on 1st in both the 8th and 9th innings, but Jorge Posada gunned down pinch-runner Coco Crisp trying to steal 2nd to end the 8th and Mariano dominated his inning for his 27th save.

Leading 2-1 in the 4th, the Red Sox looked to add to it. With runners on the corner with one out, Pettitte picked Ellbsury off of 1st. But Giambi, who had already committed a run scoring error, hesitated on his throw to 2nd and Ellsbury had himself a stolen base. Dustin Pedroia made the Yankees pay with a lined single to center for a 4-1 lead. Back-to-back singles by David Ortiz and Mike Lowell produced a 5th run, before Pettitte finally got out further trouble. Having thrown 101 pitches his night was done after the 4th.

The Yankees had opportunities against Daisuke Matsuzaka all evening, but couldn't capitalize. Even when they scored they came out disappointed. Posade lead off the 4th with a double and scored when Hideki Matsui tripled off of his fellow country men. But Matsui was stranded at 3rd. Dice-K, working very deliberately, went 3-2 on a lot of Yankees, but only allowed only 4 hits. His 5 walks helped contribute to a long evening that fell 2 minutes shy of the longest 9-inning game in MLB history.

The Sox added 2 more runs in the 7th thanks in part to another error by Giambi. Ortiz should have been doubled off of 1st on Lowell's fly to right, but Giambi dropped Abreu's throw and did an embarrassing belly flop in the process.

....

It was Andy Pettitte's shortest outing since his 1 2-3 inning debacle against the A's in July. He remains at 199 wins.

Brian Bruney (3-1) picked up the win after throwing 1.1 scoreless innings when the Yankees desperately needed it. Joe Torre rewarded him with the scorecard and game ball.

Friday Night Lights

That loud clicking sound you heard last night was not a mass chorus of flamenco dancers performing. Those were TV sets that were shut off when the Yankees fell behind Boston 5-1 and then 7-2. The Yankees were sloppy, non-clutch, and ugly. And then the 8th inning came and the Yankees had themselves an 8-7 lead that they would not relinquish. A stunned Fenway Park crowd watched as Mariano Rivera struck out rookie Jacoby Ellsbury to seal the Yankees improbable win.

With a pair of Jason Giambi errors and some shoddy pitching by Andy Pettitte and the bullpen having put them in the hole, the Yankees knew if they were going to come back it was against going to have to be against the Red Sox dynamite tandem of Hideki Okajima and Jon Papelbon. And apparently that's what the Bombers were waiting for.

Okajima had not allowed a home run to a left-handed hitter all season. Then Giambi and Robinson Cano hit back-to-back jacks to start the 8th. When Melky Cabrera walked and Johnny Damon, who had 4 hits, followed with a double, the Yankees suddenly had the timing run at the plate. Terry Francona immediately went to his closer for a 6-out save (can anyone understand while Michael Kay kept questioning Francona's urgency to win the game?).

But Derek Jeter, who had a shaky night in the field and at the plate, singled to right to cut the lead to 7-5, with Damon holding at 3rd. Bobby Abreu absolutely crushed a pitch off the wall in dead center for a game tying 2-run double. Suddenly the invinceable were very human. Alex Rodriguez capped the inning with his 135th RBI, a single to right to give the Yankees their first lead of the night. It was just the 3rd blown save by Papelbon (1-3) this season.

The Red Sox put base runners on 1st in both the 8th and 9th innings, but Jorge Posada gunned down pinch-runner Coco Crisp trying to steal 2nd to end the 8th and Mariano dominated his inning for his 27th save.

Leading 2-1 in the 4th, the Red Sox looked to add to it. With runners on the corner with one out, Pettitte picked Ellbsury off of 1st. But Giambi, who had already committed a run scoring error, hesitated on his throw to 2nd and Ellsbury had himself a stolen base. Dustin Pedroia made the Yankees pay with a lined single to center for a 4-1 lead. Back-to-back singles by David Ortiz and Mike Lowell produced a 5th run, before Pettitte finally got out further trouble. Having thrown 101 pitches his night was done after the 4th.

The Yankees had opportunities against Daisuke Matsuzaka all evening, but couldn't capitalize. Even when they scored they came out disappointed. Posade lead off the 4th with a double and scored when Hideki Matsui tripled off of his fellow country men. But Matsui was stranded at 3rd. Dice-K, working very deliberately, went 3-2 on a lot of Yankees, but only allowed only 4 hits. His 5 walks helped contribute to a long evening that fell 2 minutes shy of the longest 9-inning game in MLB history.

The Sox added 2 more runs in the 7th thanks in part to another error by Giambi. Ortiz should have been doubled off of 1st on Lowell's fly to right, but Giambi dropped Abreu's throw and did an embarrassing belly flop in the process.

....

It was Andy Pettitte's shortest outing since his 1 2-3 inning debacle against the A's in July. He remains at 199 wins.

Brian Bruney (3-1) picked up the win after throwing 1.1 scoreless innings when the Yankees desperately needed it. Joe Torre rewarded him with the scorecard and game ball.