The Yankees play a handful of games each year like this one, a brisk National League-style pitcher’s duel. The kind of game where both starting pitchers are on, the umpire has a liberal strike-zone, and the line drives find leather. It helps when Roy Halladay is pitching. He gave up a lead-off single to Jorge Posada in the seventh and still managed to get through the inning in six pitches and less than four minutes. It was twenty to nine. The game hit a speed-bump late when relief pitchers and base-runners, nerves and a little schvitzin’ took over. They still finished in a managable two hours and thirty-five minutes.
Andy Pettitte had a crisp breaking ball and six strikeouts. He also was lucky. Derek Jeter snagged two line drives and Marco Scutaro lined-out twice to Alex Rodriguez. Melky Cabrera made a fine running catch to rob Vernon Wells of an extra base hit in the seventh. Pettitte was talking to himself, I saw him mouth “four-seamer” twice and had flashbacks to Game Six of the 2001 World Serious when he tipped his pitches.
The veteran got himself into trouble in the fourth loading the bases with one out, Yanks ahead 2-0. Alex Rios lined out to Eric Hinske for the second out and Aaron Hill scored (Hinske’s throw…well, at least he hit the cut-off man…on a bounce). But Pettitte re-grouped and hummed along until he gave up a bloop double and then a walk with two out in the seventh.Phil Hughes entered the game with a 0.95 ERA in twenty relief appearences, and John Blazed a couple of heaters past Jose Bautista him, then put his head to bed with a pretty uncle Charlie.
The Yanks scored twice against Halladay in the first inning and then he resumed his official duties as the Hit-Nazi (“No hits for you!”). Johnny Damon singled and scored on Rodriguez’s double to the gap in right-center field. They got a break when Halladay muffed a weak-feed from Kevin Millar, and Matsui reached on an error. Rodriguez rounded third and Halladay made a good throw to the plate, beating him. But Rodriguez slid into the catcher’s glove and knocked the ball free.
The Yanks had another shot a couole of innings later. First and third and Matsui got a hold of one. Rios and Vernon Wells converged in right center and at the last moment, Wells made a basket catch on the warning track, a few feet away from the electronic scoreboard on the outfield wall. After that, Halladay was a mother. Until the top of the eighth when Damon (18) and Mark Teixeira (27) hit back-to-back homers with two men out. I yelled and scared my wife. Moe Green, the kitten, a bona fide scaredy cat, took off. The older cat, nappin’ on the job, opened one eye, saw I was acting crazy and went back to sleep. I flexed and yelled some more and my wife told me to calm down. I overruled her and carried on.
Then Phil Hughes gave up consecutive singles in the bottom of the eighth and I shut up. Hughes threw two decent curve balls to Adam Lind then got him looking at the fastball. Kevin Millar was late on two fastballs, fouled off another and then Hughes hung a curve ball. Millar only fouled it off, a break for New York. Hughes followed that by crossing-up Posada–the catcher was looking for the curve and got the heater. Posada and Hughes huddled, Millar fouled off another fastball, the pitcher and catcher met again and then Millar fouled off a curve. Finally, a fastball, perfectly-placed on the inside corner, froze Millar, who was called out.
Enter Sandman. Mariano Rivera’s cutter had break but he could not locate it against Vernon Wells and fell behind 3-0. After a strike, Wells rocked a line drive just over Damon’s out-stretched glove in left, good for a two-run double.
4-3. Do the tighten up. Rios grounded out to Jeter to end the inning.
Halladay stayed in the game and Hideki Matsui hit the first pitch he saw in the ninth over the fence in dead center. More yelling, jumping, and scolding at my house.
Rivera gave up a one out single in the ninth and then Bautista hit a fly ball to deep center. The pitch was right over the plate, far away from the target. My knees gave, and a quick chill passed through me, the same sensation I had when Piazza hit that ball in the 2000 Serious. Cabrera caught the ball on the warning track.
Scutaro singled to right, putting runners at the corner and the Toronto crowd got loud. Aaron Hill checked his swing at the first pitch and looked at a cutter inside for ball two. Oh, no, Mo’s off and the Sox are coming up. Hughes got touched. Oh, this is going to be some week.
More noise from the fans. Then Rivera hung another pitch but Hill got under it and skied it to center. Another break. Cabrera made the catch and Rivera snaked his way out of trouble as the Yanks earned a strong win.
5-3 was the final.
I seem to recall a number of folks lamenting, over the weekend, that it was inexcusable for the Yanks to lose 3 of 4 to the White Sox because they were going to lose to Doc Halladay on Tuesday.
Oops.
=)
c'mon tampa.....
[1] You just can't predict baseball. I know this because John Sterling says so.
bases loaded for Tampa against Bard...they HAVE to score here!
3-2 count...
luis castillo sprained his ankle going down the dugout stairs and was replaced by angel berroa. i am sooo glad i'm NOT a Muts fan!!! : )
damnit. c'mon Tampa!!!
[1] Count me among those happy to be wrong.
[4] They shouldn't be loaded...at least one run should be in, but the umpires completely botched a call. One of the worst I've seen in a while. On an overthrow of first base, Zobrist was rounding third when Drew threw is arms up deep down the right field line. Inexplicably, the umps sent Zobrist back to third.
The Brewers are starting Jason Kendall and Craig Counsell tonight...I didn't even know both were still in the league.
[6] And Berroa made an error that almost cost them the game!
The Tampa announces are very angry.
two strike outs..pathetic job by the Rays..
How Madden didn't get ejected is beyond me. That call was so bad it warranted a hissy fit of historic proportions.
are you kidding me tampa? wow you suck.
Dwayne Stats is going to go down to the umpires room after the game and take them all on!
I couldn't agree more - if I'm Maddon I'm pulling a Slap Shot Strip before they drag me off the field foaming at mouth. I am so sick of the damn Red Sox. MLB is so in the tank for them it's a disgrace.
well, sorry i missed the gamethread. too busy with work. Thanks for holding down the fort folks!
[16] That call was so bad that if someone questioned the integrity of the game, it would be hard to argue otherwise.
[14] Hey Seamus, you've appeared! You would very much appreciate an article posted recently on Rive Ave Blues (and be sure to follow up the links to fan graphs). Very strong evidence for your side in the great Hughes debate.
http://tinyurl.com/moxnx8
Were people as furious as I was about Girardi's management of the pen in tonight's game? I've vowed not to post during games because I've made the extremely rational conclusion that it's bad luck.
[19] interesting. Thanks for the link mp. Hughes looked like he was struggling on gameday. Kind of awesome to hit so many homers off of Halladay.
[20] I was...and I have also come to the same conclusion. Sometimes, I wont post until the other team scores a run.
Ha - I'm afraid I'm just bad luck from beginning to end. I'll post about the two decisions, in particular, that I thought were spectacularly wrong after the Red Sox game.
Jeez..... TB with the bases loaded. no out, and can't score.... except against us.
Apparently, the call in the TB was a ground rule, which I still don't get. How can a ground rule completely counteract logic? Why would they allow such a ground rule to exist?
[25] Many times ground rule doubles that bounce into the stands cost a team a run that would easily have scored. Happens all the time.
Sox should run through their BP in this game.
[26] Except, in this instance, the ball become "stuck" after the runner passed third. Ground rule doubles are understandable because they usually happen quickly after contact. This was a thrown ball.
I get the dead ball part of the ruling, but I'm blanking here - does mlb have ground rules that are specific to stadiums, as would regard things like loose equipment?
[25][26] I would rather have an arbitrary (if at times illogical) ground rule, than rely on the umps' judgment. I've always thought that the ground rule double "rule", for example, should be changed to eliminate the umpire's opinion of who would have scored". Make it simply: all runners (including the batter) are awarded two bases from where they were when the play started.
[29] I think MLB has several general rules for balls that are lodged in the fence, etc., but (I believe) each stadium may have its own ground rules that are specific to the playing conditions there (like balls hitting the cat walk = HR). Presumably MLB has to approve all ground rules, but that's just a guess.
Sounds logical - thanks for the answer.
With the Mitchell Report nonsense finally being exposed, I'm looking for any way that MLB is in the tank for the Red Sox ; )
[30] i generally agree that simpler rules are best.
another stupid shooting in Pittsburgh. I'm so sick of this crap.
doubleplay is nice!
[35] Gun crime in the US is very depressing..not something I miss at all..mystifying to many people abroad how we allow this to happen..
Cripes, they better score this inning.
TB teasing us again. 2nd and 3rd, NO out. I say the game ends momentarily.
[37] no doubt. It sickens me. Not only is it a huge problem, but there is no attempt to even do anything substantive about it. I don't want to get too political. This is our second mass shooting in a handful of months here in Pittsburgh and i"m just sick to death of it.
wasn't Upton up last time when the bases were loaded and no out?
[41] yep, and he whiffed..
[42] thought so. thanks. bases loaded no outs again. c'mon tampa. just do something by accident damnit.
crap, just found out one of the guys from work goes to the gym that shooting just happened at. His wife was planning to go tonight just when the shooting happened but changed her mind thankfully.
The Rays are going to break our hearts again?
Bases loaded no out and the damn Rays pop up twice
2 popups. Holy fuckin shit!
Maybe the .340 BA guy can do something?!?
Please TB... don't make me slit my throat.
Unbelievable,
unreal. the rays are really annoying.
Merde!!!
Fantastic
i can't believe they didn't score. : (
hi seamus! glad you didn't see my "shittsburgh" remark earlier, though it didn't carry bad connotation!
PLEASE be safe up 'ere!!!
[55] hey man. damn your pittsburgh insults. how doe that not carry bad connotation? you... you...
[56] umm. does.
tampa is sure to lose now.
Bottom of the 11th inning...here we go again.
The Sox continue to bat Big Poopi 3rd, even with his .740 OPS and .314 OBP. Now, that's loyalty.
It was hilarious to hear Flash talk about Barajas' good year at the plate with the .284 OBP.
I think Pedroia might actually be uglier than Youk these days.
Here's Papelbon, the instant loaded bases situation.
[62] that can't be him. he just threw 5 straight strikes. he doesn't do that.
[56] HA! nah, i call it 'shitsburgh', just like philthadelphia, etc. Jew York (i'm allowed to say that, btw!)
[63] You just can't predict baseball, seamus..
oh crap. too tired. going to call it a night.
[65] i predict that the rays will load the bases and not score.
[64] gnatlanta!!!
c'mon Zobrist!!!
BoSox pen taking a beating at least...
[63] I was at Duquesne the same time with one of those policeman who was shot a few months ago by that nutjob. Did not know him personally. F##$ing bullshit nonetheless.
I think Youkilis would be one of the ugliest human beings even in a European village with bad dental care, no hygiene products, and plenty of inbreeding.
Why does Jason Varitek run like that?
[69] I didn't know you went to Duquesne. ok gone for real y'all.
[70] and his stance is the worst ever. worse even then craig counsell...
[71] Captain grit
[72] Sho' nuff. You just haven't been paying atttention. : )
C'mon, Rays. Their futility has been exhausting.
Please end this in the 12th. I don't want to see the Rays BP have to face Victor "Professional Hitter™" Martinez in the 13th.
Jose Veras, who put up a 7.62 ERA in 13 innings for the Tribe, has been DFA'ed.
Saito is the last man standing for the Sox.
I know the Sox' BP is super-deep, but I would have stuck with Papelbon for more than 3 outs and 15 pitches.
thelarmis, AllMusic has this http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:jzfqxqegldte~T1
but it doesn't list that funky 70s album i picked up..have been diving into many Fender Rhodes-based albums recently, thanks to a new blog have discovered!
[77] Hells no. Let this one go 27 innings and burn out everyone. Maybe V-Mart will pitch the 18th and blow out his ACL. D'oh.
[77] did you see a "highlight" of Victor's adventure in foul territory on a popup to 1st base tonight? his fall was awkward and HAD to hurt. no, he didn't make the catch... : )
i hope Saito is all out of "shoulder savings" !!!
[83] But he's a Professional Hitter™.
.
.
.
No, I did not see the highlights.
[80] Agreed.
[81] nice, man!
i like how the leadoff man is on. c'mon Pena!!!
fuck. UNproductive out = UNacceptable.
please win now, so i can go to the studio and practice!!!
Pujols hit a grand slam in the 10th. Effin' ridiculous. Too bad K-Rod couldn't hold it in the 9th. He's so Mo-like.
[88] yeah, Muts totally fell apart. it was great! : )
Hide your laptops. Buchholz is coming in soon
damn you, Tampa!
The Never-Ending Ballll-Gaaaaame...whoahhh-ohhh-whoahhh-ohhh-whoahhhooo
Would anyone here prefer Dustbin over Cano? Not me. : )
[93] It's close..but I'd stick with Cano..if he's just lay off ball 4!
wahoo!!!! siddown, ya ugly fuck!!!
There's no way that guy isn't roided out of his head. Is there anyone in baseball who behaves worse than Youkilis?
Michel My Belle! Let's get this thing finished!
c'mon crawford!!!
dammit. c'mon Evan!!!
Finally!
Go Sergio. F. U. Boston.
hell muthafukin' YEAH!!!
2-run game winning job!!!!
WHOO-HOO!
i get to go practice now!!! : )
Evan the Great!! Loss for the BoSox and they burn through their pen..let's hope it happens again tomorrow!
Go Rays! Hell yes. Amazing, too, Longoria with the full on Manny, shoving it in the Red Sox' faces. And you just know one of those schmucks is going to throw at him to defend their "honor". Of course, that will lead to futile hopes for the deserved suspension...