09/01: Yanks Take 2 Game Wild Card Lead Behind 7 Strong from Kennedy
Posted by: Patrick
Sir Ian Kennedy (I hear he has a wonderful middle name) made the first major league start of his career this afternoon and he did not disappoint, throwing 7 innings of 5 hit, 3 run and 1 earned run ball to go along with 2 walks and 6 strikeouts. I'm not sure how he only got 1 ER and not 3, but that's what the box scores are telling me, so let's go with it.
The Yankees offense came out in support, putting up 7 runs in the first 4 innings. A-Rod got the team started in the first with a 2 run shot (number 45) that scored Abreu. A-Rod had a huge day, going 3 for 4 with that homer, plus a double and 4 RBIs. Devil Rays manager Joe Maddon tried to derail his day by taking his bat before his second at bat, but A-Rod had no part of that. In the 2nd inning, Joe Torre asked for Akinori Iwamura's bat to be examined (it has a flat end, apparently) and it was confiscated. So, the next inning, Maddon did the same. You can watch the video at MLB.com (click "A-Rod's bat confiscated"). Whatever.
Both Abreu and Giambi grounded runs in in the 3rd to score the 3rd and 4th runs. They would add 3 more in the 3rd, thanks to Abreu walking with the bases loaded and A-Rod doubling home Jeter and Molina.
The Devil Rays finally answered back via a B.J. Upton home run in the 6th. Kennedy came back out to pitch the 7th, retiring the side in order and finishing his day with a strikeout. He threw 99 pitches on the day - 66 for strikes.
A pair of RBI singles in the bottom of the 7th made the score 9-3. Jose Molina singled to score Shelley Duncan and Melky singled to score Andy Phillips.
Jose Vizcaino came out to pitch the 8th and it didn't go so well. He walked the lead off man and then allowed an RBI double with the runner advancing to third, thanks to an error by Melky. A sacrifice fly cleared the bases and made it 9-5 with 1 out. B.J. Upton doubled and Delmon Young singled to make it 1st and 3rd. A second sacrifice fly, this time off the bat of Brendan Harris, pushed Young to second and another run across the plate. With Greg Norton pinch hitting and a runner on second, Torre made the call to Mo. Not taking any chances today. Mo answered, getting a ground out from Norton to end the inning.
Mo was flat out dominant in the 9th, striking out the side in order to end the game and collect save number 23. The Mariners lost to Toronto, 2-1, so we now hold a 2 game lead in the Wild Card standings. The Red Sox play tonight at 7:05 PM ET. Tomorrow, we have the series finale with Andy (12-7, 3.70) going against Jason Hammel (1-4, 7.44).
The Yankees offense came out in support, putting up 7 runs in the first 4 innings. A-Rod got the team started in the first with a 2 run shot (number 45) that scored Abreu. A-Rod had a huge day, going 3 for 4 with that homer, plus a double and 4 RBIs. Devil Rays manager Joe Maddon tried to derail his day by taking his bat before his second at bat, but A-Rod had no part of that. In the 2nd inning, Joe Torre asked for Akinori Iwamura's bat to be examined (it has a flat end, apparently) and it was confiscated. So, the next inning, Maddon did the same. You can watch the video at MLB.com (click "A-Rod's bat confiscated"). Whatever.
Both Abreu and Giambi grounded runs in in the 3rd to score the 3rd and 4th runs. They would add 3 more in the 3rd, thanks to Abreu walking with the bases loaded and A-Rod doubling home Jeter and Molina.
The Devil Rays finally answered back via a B.J. Upton home run in the 6th. Kennedy came back out to pitch the 7th, retiring the side in order and finishing his day with a strikeout. He threw 99 pitches on the day - 66 for strikes.
A pair of RBI singles in the bottom of the 7th made the score 9-3. Jose Molina singled to score Shelley Duncan and Melky singled to score Andy Phillips.
Jose Vizcaino came out to pitch the 8th and it didn't go so well. He walked the lead off man and then allowed an RBI double with the runner advancing to third, thanks to an error by Melky. A sacrifice fly cleared the bases and made it 9-5 with 1 out. B.J. Upton doubled and Delmon Young singled to make it 1st and 3rd. A second sacrifice fly, this time off the bat of Brendan Harris, pushed Young to second and another run across the plate. With Greg Norton pinch hitting and a runner on second, Torre made the call to Mo. Not taking any chances today. Mo answered, getting a ground out from Norton to end the inning.
Mo was flat out dominant in the 9th, striking out the side in order to end the game and collect save number 23. The Mariners lost to Toronto, 2-1, so we now hold a 2 game lead in the Wild Card standings. The Red Sox play tonight at 7:05 PM ET. Tomorrow, we have the series finale with Andy (12-7, 3.70) going against Jason Hammel (1-4, 7.44).
