Been a couple of exciting, well-played games by the Yanks and Rays, huh? Phil Hughes made one mistake on Friday night and it cost the Yanks the game. They bounced back tonight, however, and served the Rays a dose of their own medicine. The Yanks rallied down 3-1, and 4-3. A trio of homers did it–a two run bomb by Mark Teixiera, solo shot by Nick Swisher and the game-winner, a long, soaring home run by Robinson Cano.
Final score: Yanks 5, Rays 4.
Javier Vazquez and Matt Garza both competed; neither was great. Matt Joyce hit another long home run, and duly admired the fruits of his labor. Carl Crawford collected the 400th stolen base of his career. But Boone Loogan and Dave Robertson were terrific in relief, and kept the game close for New York. And Mariano did like he do in the ninth after Cano’s homer gave the Yanks the lead in the bottom of the eighth.
Alex Rodriguez had a tough night, striking out, popping up, and laughed at himself when he spoke to reporters after the game. He had some more pitches to drive, put some good swings on them, and had nothing to show for it.
Lance Berkman didn’t look relaxed either but then again, the Yanks only had six hits all night, three by Cano.
The Yanks lead in the AL stands at two. No matter what happens tomorrow, they’ll leave town in first.
[Photo Credit: Mike Carlson, AP,
Maybe it was because I was able to unwind a bit with the deadline having passed (busy week at SI for me: seven articles!), but I got into this game in a way I haven't gotten into a Yankee game in a good while. Really excellent contest with the right kind of late drama/result. Robby freakin' killing it, and, yo, Alex, Joyce may have styled his homer something serious, but did you see where that ball went? He earned it on that one. Quality ballgame.
Oh, and he was nothing tonight, but Lance Berkman really is going to be fun, for his personality and goofy reaction shots in the dugout if nothing else. Crazy eyelinered fat Elvis. Good stuff.
Oh, and I found a pro for the Kerry Wood deal: now he has to shave that crap off his chin.
And one more thing (clearly thelarmis has taken over my mind tonight): if you missed it in my twitter feed: Kerry Wood is taking 39 with the Yankees. He's always worn 34, but that's Burnett's number. By jumping up to 39, #35 remains unused since Mike Mussina's retirement. I don't think they'll ever retire 35, but it seems to me they're clearly honoring Moose in a subtle way by keeping 35 out of rotation for a spell.
Oh my, did anyone else see Melky's throw tonight??
1) yeah, I've really enjoyed the last two games, despite the outcome of the game yesterday. Good baseball between good teams.
Boone Loogan? See - you're getting so close to Loone Bogan. You know you wanna go there...
[3] I'm impressed this wasn't ruled an inside-the-park HR: http://bit.ly/bR8TrQ
[2] excellent! : )
i love seeing mikey moose get some respect!
[3] yeah, i watched it live. soon thereafter, he and hinske were yukking it up in the outfield, which rubbed the announcers the wrong way. that was some throw!
[7] Geez. I mean, if you can't laugh at that, what can you laugh at?
A-Rod not in the line-up today ... at all.
Can Joe afford to do this against the Rays? Why not wait till tomorrow, against the Jays?
[9] The bench is certainly strengthened today. Arod seemed ready to burst after watching Tex' and Cano's bombs, and he probably needs to sit out for part of this game.
When the situation calls for it, he'll hit today, as will Gardner who is also not in the starting lineup either.
9) girardi said that the addition of berkman, especially, and kearns would allow him to give guys full days off rather than half days. I'm not sure if that's the best way to employ his new toys. On the other hand, aRod could use a day off the way he has been going the last few days. So long as we don't get Cervelli and Peña in the same lineup, this doesn't seem like the worst move.
8) yeah, but if, say Swish, dis something like that and cost the Yankees a run, I'm not sure we would have been laughing about it, or happy at him yucking it up. That said, at least Melky's booboo wasn't the diffense in the game, so in the end no harm.
And it was funny.
[8] oh yeah, i laughed my ass off! : )