Posted by: Patrick
It didn't look too pretty after 8 and 1/2, but the Yankees fought and clawed back, finding a way to snatch the game away from the Royals in the 9th.
The Yankees were able to strike first, putting 2 on the board in the 1st and another 1 in the 3rd, giving them a 3-0 lead. Wright was solid through 4, allowing 0 runs on 2 hits. But, the 5th would be the end of his day. He loaded the bases with 1 out before getting Danny Hocking to pop out to Cano at second. Unfortunately, he'd allow 3 straight hits and throw a wild pitch before getting out of the inning. Once the dust had cleared, the Yankees were down 5-3 and Wright was out of the game.
Aaron Small would relieve him in the 6th, having trouble of his own - allowing 2 runs over 2 and 2/3 innings of work. Meanwhile, the Yankees offense wouldn't score a run in the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th or 8th innings. Alan Embree relieved Small in the 8th with 1 out remaining and did the job, getting 4 outs and keeping the score at 7-3. He got the win - his first as a Yankee - with his ERA falling "down" to 7.14.
Heading to the bottom of the 9th, the Yankees 5 (Giambi), 6 (Bernie) and 7 (Posada) hitters were due up. But, no, it wasn't over. Jeremy Affeldt came in to face Giambi. Giambi would walk. This would be followed by a Bernie Williams strike out, making the first out of the inning. At this point, Posada hit a sure thing double play ball (speedster Giambi) back to the pitcher. Yet, fate smiled on the Yankees as Affeldt's throw was off and the short stop dropped the ball (Seamus' eyewitness account: "They gave [the error] to the pitcher? The SS dropped the ball. I guess the throw was off. Funny thing was the ball was dropped and Giambi was probably still halfway to second base.") This allowed both Giambi and Posada to reach safely. First and second, 1 out.
New Yankee Matt Lawton made his mark with a base hit to load the bases. This brought the slumping Cano to the plate. Torre put Tino up to pitch hit and Tino delivered with a base hit to right - only Giambi scored and the bases remained loaded with 1 out. 7-4 Royals. That would be the end of Affeldt's day as Shawn Camp came in for the Royals to face Captain Clutch. Tony Womack pinch ran for Tino and Jeter did not disappoint, coming through with a single to left that scored both Lawton and Posada. Womack was stuck at 2nd. But, we were now only down by one run with 1st and 2nd and 1 out for Godzilla, who would fly out to deep center. It was deep enough to allow Womack to advance to third.
Tying run on 3rd, 2 out, Gary Sheffield up. Sheff pounced with a double to right, scoring Womack and tying the game. Jeter to third for A-Rod. A-Rod came up big, singling to left to score Jeter and hand the Yankees an 8-7 victory.
Nice comeback fellas.
The Yankees were able to strike first, putting 2 on the board in the 1st and another 1 in the 3rd, giving them a 3-0 lead. Wright was solid through 4, allowing 0 runs on 2 hits. But, the 5th would be the end of his day. He loaded the bases with 1 out before getting Danny Hocking to pop out to Cano at second. Unfortunately, he'd allow 3 straight hits and throw a wild pitch before getting out of the inning. Once the dust had cleared, the Yankees were down 5-3 and Wright was out of the game.
Aaron Small would relieve him in the 6th, having trouble of his own - allowing 2 runs over 2 and 2/3 innings of work. Meanwhile, the Yankees offense wouldn't score a run in the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th or 8th innings. Alan Embree relieved Small in the 8th with 1 out remaining and did the job, getting 4 outs and keeping the score at 7-3. He got the win - his first as a Yankee - with his ERA falling "down" to 7.14.
Heading to the bottom of the 9th, the Yankees 5 (Giambi), 6 (Bernie) and 7 (Posada) hitters were due up. But, no, it wasn't over. Jeremy Affeldt came in to face Giambi. Giambi would walk. This would be followed by a Bernie Williams strike out, making the first out of the inning. At this point, Posada hit a sure thing double play ball (speedster Giambi) back to the pitcher. Yet, fate smiled on the Yankees as Affeldt's throw was off and the short stop dropped the ball (Seamus' eyewitness account: "They gave [the error] to the pitcher? The SS dropped the ball. I guess the throw was off. Funny thing was the ball was dropped and Giambi was probably still halfway to second base.") This allowed both Giambi and Posada to reach safely. First and second, 1 out.
New Yankee Matt Lawton made his mark with a base hit to load the bases. This brought the slumping Cano to the plate. Torre put Tino up to pitch hit and Tino delivered with a base hit to right - only Giambi scored and the bases remained loaded with 1 out. 7-4 Royals. That would be the end of Affeldt's day as Shawn Camp came in for the Royals to face Captain Clutch. Tony Womack pinch ran for Tino and Jeter did not disappoint, coming through with a single to left that scored both Lawton and Posada. Womack was stuck at 2nd. But, we were now only down by one run with 1st and 2nd and 1 out for Godzilla, who would fly out to deep center. It was deep enough to allow Womack to advance to third.
Tying run on 3rd, 2 out, Gary Sheffield up. Sheff pounced with a double to right, scoring Womack and tying the game. Jeter to third for A-Rod. A-Rod came up big, singling to left to score Jeter and hand the Yankees an 8-7 victory.
Nice comeback fellas.
08/27: Yankees Acquire Lawton
Posted by: Patrick
The Yankees have acquired outfielder Matt Lawton from the Cubs in exchange for pitcher Justin Berg.
This article (via Steve Lombardi) speculates that he will get playing time in left with Matsui sliding to center more often.
Yes, we hope you do, too.
This article (via Steve Lombardi) speculates that he will get playing time in left with Matsui sliding to center more often.
"I've watched the World Series in Yankee Stadium. Now I hope to play in one," Lawton said by phone yesterday from Chicago.
Yes, we hope you do, too.
Posted by: Patrick
The Unit's last win coming into today? July 26 against the Twins. So, it took him a month to get another win. He did it in impressive fashion today as he pitched 8 solid innings, allowing 1 run on 4 hits while walking no one. The lone run coming on an Angel Berroa RBI single in the 7th. His record improves to 12-8 with his ERA falling down to 4.20. This year has been a mixed bag for the unit. Blow outs, great games, half way decent games... it's all been in there. But, one thing he has done is eat innings. Over his 26 starts he's averaged 6 and 2/3 innings pitched a start and thrown 4 complete games.
Mariano finished the 9th (albiet with a little drama in the form of 1st and 2nd, 1 out), but did not earn a save.
The Yankees offense was led by Bernie Williams, who went 3 for 4 with 4 RBI, hammering 2 homers in the 6th and the 8th. A-Rod (1 RBI), Sheffield and Giambi each scored a run with Jeter adding 2 hits of his own. Jeter finds his batting average at .312 and his OBA at about .390. If he can maintain his totals, this will be his best BA/OBA year (full season) since 2000.
The Indians and A's have already won and it looks like the Red Sox will, as well, so it's a good thing we did. Tomorrow we'll get Jaret Wright (2-0 since returning from the DL) against Runelvys Hernández (8-11, 5.03) at 1:05 PM Eastern.
Mariano finished the 9th (albiet with a little drama in the form of 1st and 2nd, 1 out), but did not earn a save.
The Yankees offense was led by Bernie Williams, who went 3 for 4 with 4 RBI, hammering 2 homers in the 6th and the 8th. A-Rod (1 RBI), Sheffield and Giambi each scored a run with Jeter adding 2 hits of his own. Jeter finds his batting average at .312 and his OBA at about .390. If he can maintain his totals, this will be his best BA/OBA year (full season) since 2000.
The Indians and A's have already won and it looks like the Red Sox will, as well, so it's a good thing we did. Tomorrow we'll get Jaret Wright (2-0 since returning from the DL) against Runelvys Hernández (8-11, 5.03) at 1:05 PM Eastern.
Posted by: Michael
Derek Jeter called him wild. Shawn Chacon called his performance a grind. Regardless, he pitched himself out of some jams and the Yankees won todays game verses the Blue Jays 6-2.
Chacon worked out of a bases-loaded situation twice, gave up two runs on six hits with six strikeouts. Today's win was Chacon's third as a Yankee. With the Rockies he was just 1-12.
A-Rod and Gary Sheffield put up back to back homers in the first to give the Yanks the cushion they needed for the day. But the Jays made it dangerously close several times as Chacon gave them an opportunity by loading up the bases. While he gave them the opportunity, he worked extra hard on those pitches to shut them down.
Todays win was important as it kept the Yanks tied for the lead with Oakland in the wildcard race. The Cleveland Indians are right behind them half a game out. I also felt that today's win was important for when Chacon pitches the way he did, you have to win these games. Especially in August-September. You gotta play your guts out right now.
Tomorrow the Yankees take on the Kansas City Royals. The off-and-on Randy Johnson (11-8, 4.34 ERA) takes on Mike Wood (4-4, 4.09 ERA). It'll be interesting to see which Randy Johnson shows up. Let's hope he has his stuff. Game time is 7:05pm ET at the Stadium.
Chacon worked out of a bases-loaded situation twice, gave up two runs on six hits with six strikeouts. Today's win was Chacon's third as a Yankee. With the Rockies he was just 1-12.
A-Rod and Gary Sheffield put up back to back homers in the first to give the Yanks the cushion they needed for the day. But the Jays made it dangerously close several times as Chacon gave them an opportunity by loading up the bases. While he gave them the opportunity, he worked extra hard on those pitches to shut them down.
Todays win was important as it kept the Yanks tied for the lead with Oakland in the wildcard race. The Cleveland Indians are right behind them half a game out. I also felt that today's win was important for when Chacon pitches the way he did, you have to win these games. Especially in August-September. You gotta play your guts out right now.
Tomorrow the Yankees take on the Kansas City Royals. The off-and-on Randy Johnson (11-8, 4.34 ERA) takes on Mike Wood (4-4, 4.09 ERA). It'll be interesting to see which Randy Johnson shows up. Let's hope he has his stuff. Game time is 7:05pm ET at the Stadium.
Posted by: Patrick
Steve Lombardi mentioned the following in his recap or last night's game:
So cool. Typical Jeter fashion.
One of his commenters said that s/he saw it. I didn't watch the game. Anyone else see it?
I did not see the post-game on YES - so, I have no idea if this was confirmed, but, on the replay of the Matsui HR in the 9th to tie the game, when they showed the Yankees dugout, I'm pretty sure that Jeter said to A-Rod "I told you."
How cool is that?
How cool is that?
So cool. Typical Jeter fashion.
One of his commenters said that s/he saw it. I didn't watch the game. Anyone else see it?
Posted by: Patrick
You can vote at MLB.com.
He's up against Roy Halladay, Bob Wickman, Jay Gibbons, Barry Zito and Richie Sexson.
He's up against Roy Halladay, Bob Wickman, Jay Gibbons, Barry Zito and Richie Sexson.
Posted by: Seamus
I offer my condolences to anyone who missed tonight's game because it was one of the best games I've seen all season. The game went right down to the wire as Felix Escalona untied the game with a base hit in the 9th. Al Leiter was good in his start, giving up 3 runs on 6 hits in 7 innings, and Mariano Rivera picked up his 6th win of the season after giving up a run on two hits.
Derek Jeter led off the first inning with a base hit before Jays' hurler Josh Towers retired 15 Yankees in a row. The game remained scoreless until the 4th inning when the Blue Jays scored two from a home run by Vernon Wells and an RBI single by Greg Zaun. The Yankees got sacrifice hits in both the 6th and 7th innings (by Bernie and Posada, respectively) to tie the score at two. The game was back and forth from there, as each team scored at least once in each of the remaining innings. Shea Hillenbrand put Toronto ahead 3-2 with a single off the struggling Tanyon Sturtze, and in the bottom of the inning Bernie Williams scored Tony Womack with a base hit of his own. Mariano Rivera entered with a tie game in the 9th and allowed a run courtesy of Reed Johnson's hit to give the Blue Jays a 4-3 lead. The Yankees would not be outdone, however, as Mr. Clutch Hideki Matsui led off the bottom of the 9th with a home run to tie the score at 4. Later in the inning, Derek Jeter was walked intentionally to bring up Felix Escalona with the bases loaded and two outs. Escalona got behind early in the count 0-2, but lined the next pitch into centerfield to score Jorge Posada and give the Yankees a 5-4 victory.
The Indians defeated the Devil Rays in Tampa and the A's lost in Detroit, so the Yankees remain in a virtual tie with the Indians for the A.L. Wild Card lead (the Yankees are actually ahead by about half a percentage point). The Red Sox defeated the Royals 5-2, so they remain 3.5 ahead of the Yankees in the A.L. East.
Tonight's game was really fun to watch as I stated above, but one thing that is starting to concern me a bit is the arm of Tanyon Sturtze. He's really been struggling lately. I think it's partly because he was a starting pitcher for most of his career and isn't used to throwing everyday. We all know of how it has been well documented that he's been overworked this year along with Tom Gordon. It would be nice if Joe Torre could find a way to just shut him down for a week before the stretch run in September.
The Yankees will go for three straight against the Blue Jays in this four-game set tomorrow as they will send out Mike Mussina to face Dave Bush. The Yankees' starters have been giving us solid starts lately and are going deep into games which can be good for a guy like Sturtze or Gordon who needs a little rest. Hopefully the Moose can give us another good 7 or 8 innings tomorrow at the Stadium.
Derek Jeter led off the first inning with a base hit before Jays' hurler Josh Towers retired 15 Yankees in a row. The game remained scoreless until the 4th inning when the Blue Jays scored two from a home run by Vernon Wells and an RBI single by Greg Zaun. The Yankees got sacrifice hits in both the 6th and 7th innings (by Bernie and Posada, respectively) to tie the score at two. The game was back and forth from there, as each team scored at least once in each of the remaining innings. Shea Hillenbrand put Toronto ahead 3-2 with a single off the struggling Tanyon Sturtze, and in the bottom of the inning Bernie Williams scored Tony Womack with a base hit of his own. Mariano Rivera entered with a tie game in the 9th and allowed a run courtesy of Reed Johnson's hit to give the Blue Jays a 4-3 lead. The Yankees would not be outdone, however, as Mr. Clutch Hideki Matsui led off the bottom of the 9th with a home run to tie the score at 4. Later in the inning, Derek Jeter was walked intentionally to bring up Felix Escalona with the bases loaded and two outs. Escalona got behind early in the count 0-2, but lined the next pitch into centerfield to score Jorge Posada and give the Yankees a 5-4 victory.
The Indians defeated the Devil Rays in Tampa and the A's lost in Detroit, so the Yankees remain in a virtual tie with the Indians for the A.L. Wild Card lead (the Yankees are actually ahead by about half a percentage point). The Red Sox defeated the Royals 5-2, so they remain 3.5 ahead of the Yankees in the A.L. East.
Tonight's game was really fun to watch as I stated above, but one thing that is starting to concern me a bit is the arm of Tanyon Sturtze. He's really been struggling lately. I think it's partly because he was a starting pitcher for most of his career and isn't used to throwing everyday. We all know of how it has been well documented that he's been overworked this year along with Tom Gordon. It would be nice if Joe Torre could find a way to just shut him down for a week before the stretch run in September.
The Yankees will go for three straight against the Blue Jays in this four-game set tomorrow as they will send out Mike Mussina to face Dave Bush. The Yankees' starters have been giving us solid starts lately and are going deep into games which can be good for a guy like Sturtze or Gordon who needs a little rest. Hopefully the Moose can give us another good 7 or 8 innings tomorrow at the Stadium.
Posted by: Patrick
Sweet Symphony Finishes in Good Time at Saratoga:
Via Off the Facade.
In rocketing Sweet Symphony around the final turn, jockey Jerry Bailey not only made certain that Steinbrenner was going to pocket the $450,000 first-place check, but he also advanced the on-going drama that is the Yankees. The filly Sis City, one of the two horses that Sweet Symphony blew by, is partly owned by Yankees Manager Joe Torre.
Via Off the Facade.
Posted by: Patrick
Thanks to some campaigning, Mickey Mantle will be featured on a stamp:
Who knew that you had to be dead for ten years to be honored on a stamp?
Via Off the Facade.
Former state legislator Marv Diemer's five-year, one-man drive to get a U.S. postage stamp honoring baseball great Mickey Mantle has finally paid off.
Diemer was informed by U.S. Postal Service officials this week that the New York Yankee center fielder's likeness will be issued in a 2006 "Big Hitters" stamp series honoring four other baseball Hall of Fame sluggers: Hank Greenberg of the Detroit Tigers; Brooklyn Dodgers catcher Roy Campanella; and Mel Ott of the New York Giants. ...
Letters of support came from a wide range of people, including the vice president of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.; several of Mantle's Yankee teammates, including Hall of Fame pitcher Whitey Ford, catcher John Blanchard, second baseman Bobby Richardson, outfielder Hank Bauer and third baseman Clete Boyer. Support also came from U.S. Sens. Charles Grassley, Phil Gramm of Texas where Mantle lived following retirement; Don Nichols of Mantle's home state of Oklahoma; and former New York mayor Rudolf Giuliani.
Diemer, who spends his springs as public relations and information person at Hammond County Stadium in Fort Myers, Fla. where the Minnesota Twins play their spring training games, even got 1,000 Twins fans to sign a petition supporting a Mantle stamp, including a signature from Hall of Fame second baseman Paul Molitor, a Twins coach.
Diemer was informed by U.S. Postal Service officials this week that the New York Yankee center fielder's likeness will be issued in a 2006 "Big Hitters" stamp series honoring four other baseball Hall of Fame sluggers: Hank Greenberg of the Detroit Tigers; Brooklyn Dodgers catcher Roy Campanella; and Mel Ott of the New York Giants. ...
Letters of support came from a wide range of people, including the vice president of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.; several of Mantle's Yankee teammates, including Hall of Fame pitcher Whitey Ford, catcher John Blanchard, second baseman Bobby Richardson, outfielder Hank Bauer and third baseman Clete Boyer. Support also came from U.S. Sens. Charles Grassley, Phil Gramm of Texas where Mantle lived following retirement; Don Nichols of Mantle's home state of Oklahoma; and former New York mayor Rudolf Giuliani.
Diemer, who spends his springs as public relations and information person at Hammond County Stadium in Fort Myers, Fla. where the Minnesota Twins play their spring training games, even got 1,000 Twins fans to sign a petition supporting a Mantle stamp, including a signature from Hall of Fame second baseman Paul Molitor, a Twins coach.
Who knew that you had to be dead for ten years to be honored on a stamp?
Via Off the Facade.
Posted by: Michael
Wright pitched another spectacular game last night at the stadium. He gave up four hits in seven innings with three walks and five strikeouts. The Yankee victory pulled them into a three-way tie with the Cleveland Indians and the Oakland A's.
It was Wright's second start after coming back from the DL. At that time his ERA stood at 9.15. Now it is down to 6.00 and assured to drop further if he continues to pitch this way. 99 pitches were thrown for the night, with 46 over the first two innings. Once he got out of trouble, he settled down.
A-Rod's RBI double in the eighth vaulted him over the 100 RBI mark for the eighth straight year. Hideki Matsui drove in three runs, and Jason Giambi broke out of his 0 for 21 hitting funk by going 2-3 with a walk.
Tonight Al Leiter (6-10, 6.09 ERA) takes on Josh Towers (10-9, 4.12 ERA) for the Blue Jays. Game Time 7:05pm ET. Let's hope the Yankee bats can score some runs for Al, as he has been pitching better the last few games.
It was Wright's second start after coming back from the DL. At that time his ERA stood at 9.15. Now it is down to 6.00 and assured to drop further if he continues to pitch this way. 99 pitches were thrown for the night, with 46 over the first two innings. Once he got out of trouble, he settled down.
A-Rod's RBI double in the eighth vaulted him over the 100 RBI mark for the eighth straight year. Hideki Matsui drove in three runs, and Jason Giambi broke out of his 0 for 21 hitting funk by going 2-3 with a walk.
Tonight Al Leiter (6-10, 6.09 ERA) takes on Josh Towers (10-9, 4.12 ERA) for the Blue Jays. Game Time 7:05pm ET. Let's hope the Yankee bats can score some runs for Al, as he has been pitching better the last few games.
