Things are looking up. Like A.J. Burnett last night, C.C. Sabathia could hardly have been better this evening – good thing too after what the bullpen just went through – and the Yankees beat the Red Sox 5-0, though most of the game was much closer. New York has taken the first three games of the series, and now have a 5.5-game lead in the AL East. Feels like old times.
Sabathia pitched 7.2 shutout innings, allowed just two walks and two hits, and struck out nine. In fact he took a perfect game into the fifth inning, and a no-hitter into the sixth, and the way he was throwing I wouldn’t have been stunned to see him pull it off. Sox starter Clay Buchholz was pretty good himself, giving up two runs in six innings, but with Sabathia rolling and the Red Sox hitters collectively slumping, that was two runs too much.
New York scored their first run in the third, when Mark Teixeira singled home Melky Cabrera. They scored one more in the sixth, when Robinson Cano scored on a Jose Molina sac fly, and another in the seventh when Nick Swisher walked with the bases loaded, though they then left the bases loaded. Finally, in the eighth, Derek Jeter hit a real New Stadium Special about 314.5 feet to right field for a two-run homer, which meant Dave Robertson could close out the game instead of Rivera (though not without enough drama to get Mo warming up). According to Joe Buck during today’s game, the Yankees are 45-1 when leading after six innings – more impressive than I would have guessed.
There was a little drama in the seventh inning when Ramon Ramirez threw one uncomfortably up and in to Mark Teixeira, then hit A-Rod in the elbow. He was immediately ejected and that was the end of it, at least for today; afterwards Joe Girardi, while careful with his words, seemed to think it was payback for Pedroia getting hit the other night. I’m sure some fans will be ticked off because the Yankees didn’t retaliate, but that seems like the right move to me – they’re cruising now, so why risk firing up the Red Sox and getting someone on either team hurt? I say a 6.5-game division lead would be the best revenge.
Tim McCarver WTF? Quote of the Game: “There’s a difference between playing with fire, and playing with fire in your eyes.”
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Side note: I was at the Stadium for last night’s ridiculous 15-inning epic. I’ve never seen such a wrung-out crowd; by the thirteenth or so everyone was punch drunk and could barely muster the energy to boo Kevin Youkilis. It was both awesome and agonizing since, for a number of reasons, I really needed to get home on the early side last night. The best laid plans.
I kept saying: Okay, if they don’t score this inning I’m leaving. Hmmm. Okay, if they don’t score this inning… but of course I couldn’t do it. How would I ever have lived with myself? I think I got A-Rod’s homer out of the park by sheer force of will, and by the time I staggered off the subway in Brooklyn it was almost 2:30 in the morning, but I have no regrets. That was my first real classic at the new Stadium (though the Yankees are now 3-0 when I’m there) and since we’re all stuck with the place, I’m glad I’m starting to build up some good memories there – because that’s what will eventually, years from now, make it feel like home.
I was at the Friday epic too and had pretty much the same experience. Once the game got past the 9th, it became like a tennis match of relief: Sox fans relieved when the Yankees were retired; Yankee fans relieved when the Sox went down. Of course, that relief quickly turned into frustration as the half inning turned.
Eventually, I had to leave my seat in the 12th inning because it became too nerve wracking to be inactive. For the last three innings, I just kept walking to a different vantage point and would watch a half inning...almost looking for a good luck spot. The reaction of the crowd varied from amused to frustrated to exhausted to festive. The 14th inning, however, was a back breaker. I caught the bottom of the inning from along the third base line, so I had a great view of the 1st base line. When Hinske hit the fly ball, everyone in that section jumped up ready to cheer. Drew's catch dashed all those hopes. The same would happen on Melky's foul ball.
I finally wound up standing above the Mohegan Sun Bar in CF for the bottom of the 15th. Everyone groaned after the Damon bunt and cursed when Tex struck out. With Arod stepping in, there was the typical "Arod never comes through" moan, but one woman declared that she was willing to be a target for Arod. A few pitches later, it was all over. Relief gave way to joy, which quickly gave way to an exodus from the ballpark.
Even though they almost played 2 games, it still counts for one in the standings. From a fans perspective, however, winning that game was huge because it instantly created a lasting fond memory. I have been lucky to attend so many classic games in the old place, and have seen 4 or 5 walk offs this season. Still, this game will standout among them all. People always talk about games where a player becomes a Yankee...well, last night is when the ballpark became Yankee Stadium. I loved the old place, but couldn't be happier with the transition.
Great recap, Emma.
I'm currently living in exile from NY. I was supposed to be writing something that's due Monday, and had planned to spend my Friday night writing. (Exciting life, no?) I ended up spending four hours on the edge of my seat watching the little pixels blip around Gamecast. Amazing, amazing game.
Wow.
Wow.
I missed both the extra innings of Friday night and today's game. DAMN.
Emma, thanks for body-englishing the A-Rod homer out.
William, I can just imagine it, and I'm certain that's exactly what I would have done -- gotten up and walked around the Stadium out of nerves.
Okay, I'm gonna watch some archived game video now.
12:42 Friday night/Saturday morning was a very nice moment on Bronx Banter.
CC was great, Bucholz was good enough to get out of the jams he created, but I think the cumulative fatigue affected the production of both offenses.
6.5 games would be great, which means we can't send out the B Team today
[6] There are some unexpected bat v. pitch splits v. Lester. For example, I would have thought that Damon might have trouble against him and would be a candidate to be rested, but no, his OPS is 1.113 against him.
Looking further, LH hitters have a higher OPS against him this season tan RH hitters: .757 v. .663,
[7] I don't think it matters. I'd be shocked if three of Matsui/Damon/Rodriguez/Jeter don't sit. Joe loves him some Sunday lineups.
important question:
i think most ballparks stop selling beer sometime around the 7th inning. do they start selling it again if it goes to extras? i imagine not, but the testiness was prolly rising quite a bit going to 15 inning, more than half of which, no beer was allowed!!!
GO ANDY!!! we need to sweep here. judging by GI Joe's comments, i'm NOT expecting a getaway lineup...
i was actually able to hear the first coupla innings on the radio,as i was driving to B'ham. i'll never, for the life me, understand why Kay can't pronounce the name "Rodriguez" - it is completely baffling.
i can't wait for Sunday's game!!!
Jazz Tokyo - i hope Mr. OK Jazz Tokyo Jr. is perfectly FINE!!! : )
Was in Boston for the Futures @ Fenway doubleheader. Watched some of the game in Boston, it's a good feeling, seeing Red Sox fans so uneasily, waiting for that other shoe to drop. Seems like old times.
i was at yesterday's game. cc was of course magnificent. i was really hoping for one of those historic performances, but alas big pedi got what looked like from my vantage point a somewhat questionable ball 4.
nevertheless cc was wonderful and it was a really exciting pitching performance to be part of - he got a nice hand when ellsbury broke up the no-no and a really great ovation when he left.
buccholz was keeping the hitters off balance most of the game, his changeup was working really well - which is surprising he was able to do that with victor martinez behind the plate - i thought only captain facemask was able to coax wonderful performances out of his pitchers.
youk in lf was the unmitigated disaster i was hoping it would be. he obviously hasn't played there much and just cannot get a read for the ball - he took the wrong step all but 1 time. it was hilarious that jd kept hitting balls his direction. i was down the lf line in what you would probably call very shallow lf and youk of course took crap all game - it was great.
anyway a few other random thoughts:
- for all that investment in the big screen in cf, they don't show that many replays - they didn't show the pitch that hit arod's bat; the nifty 463 dp where jeter had to avoid youk; and several others
- they did show joe buck dancing and he was roundly booed which made me happy
-apparently there is a michael kay fan club
-i will never understand going to a game with the main purpose of spending most of your time looking around to see who you can get in a fight with - i had 4 of these asshole in my section - and not surprisingly 3 of them were escorted out at some point
[0] [1] thanks for describing what it was like to be at friday's game. i can only imagine the torture/excitement, but you both of your descriptions were excellent.. the banter was collectively punch drunk too - it was good we had this outlet.
the yanks have to find a way to balance going for the kill and not running people into the ground throughout august. i was a little surprised girradi left cc in so long once the no hitter was off the table.
[12] A nice write-up elevated by your use of "asshole" as the plural form. Like a "herd of asshole". I hope this catches on!
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I've noticed a lot of articles and stuff on TV talking about a paradigm shift in the AL East / Yanks-Sox rivalry this weekend, and though it's kind of true I think it's getting a little overblown.
First of all, The Yankees never should have been 0-8. That created an extreme and unusual context, a crazy ditch for the Yanks to get out of, hence a heightened sense of drama. Second, this series is playing out more or less as it should have. Games 1 and 3 favored the Yankees. Game 2 favored the Sox, but not too greatly, and it turned out to be a freakish game, the definition of exceptional.
It's true the Red Sox lineup is really brutal right now, but that won't last. Otherwise I don't think the "change" is really that dramatic. The Yanks performed well below their ability in going 0-8 so in a sense the last couple of games could be considered a correction as much as anything else.
Tonight is actually huge. Without all the hyperbole about a sea change, looking at a 4 game lead, I don't see the Yankees running away with the division. Six games is another story.
[4] yeah, I also thought it was important when we found out that Yankster once dated a Jersey Koosie.
Yesterday's game was great. So relieved when that first run was scored! CC was amazing. Tim McCarver makes me crazy.
My husband and I were at the game on Friday night - our first game of the season in the new stadium. Wow, just wow. Emma and @williamsnyy23 both hit it on the head when they say that the game made the stadium feel like home, and that it made the stadium Yankee Stadium. Watching the games on TV this season has felt strange and unfamiliar. But, I told my husband yesterday morning that I felt like the magic of Yankee Stadium has been recaptured. Granted, if the outcome of Friday night's night had been different I might not be saying that...
I'm opn the road, so haven't been able to banter. Got back to the room late Friday to feverishly check game result - and found it was still ON. I saw the Drew catch, the Melky foul, the walk off. I winced to see Alex rubbing his hip after the home plate mob scene - I have a recurring nightmare/bad joke about a player being hurt in that scrum. The banter did yeoperson service in staying with that game, and I got a kick out of william's report of his travels around the stadium. But william, my man, you've GOT to ease off on your gloom and doom during games ... it'll let you live longer!
I'm a contrarian on this business of resting people today: it is so obvious that Jeter needs a rest, Alex does, Damon does, even Tex should have more downtime ... August Rules. We grumble so much about how bad the bench is, but now we have Pena and Hairston (belatedly being seen as the good pickup it is) and Hinske. USE them. A win or loss is still just one game. I want to avoid fatigue slumps and injuries that come from being tired. (Jeter is a prime candidate right now.)
not to nitpick, or take anything away from the historic Friday night game, but if you've been to any of the games this series thus far you can say you were at the game when the new stadium became THE STADIUM. Certainly felt that way on Thursday. When we were leaving the park that night a bunch of fans noted it was the first game the Yanks had taken from the Sox at the new place, and it felt like a Christening.
Now, old Stadium hardliners could also argue that the new stadium won't become THE STADIUM until a fresh World Championship banner flies there, and they'd have a point. Whatever.
Let's go Pettitte! Finish this great big beautiful sweep!
[12] I could be wrong, but I am pretty sure that ballparks are prohibited from showing replays of any close plays that might contradict the umpire's decision.
[16] even though Jeter's hr was a squeaker, an opposite field shot in his last at bat suggests he still has something in the tank. I agree they all need some rest at this point, but with a BoSox 4 game sweep on the line I say let NO SLEEP TIL TORONTO be this Sunday's mantra.
[16] Rest Jeter. Don't rest three other regulars too. I never understood the "Lets rest everyone on the same day!" approach, and I'm not sure anyone can convince me it makes sense.
[20] you've mentioned that before. But I really don't see that much difference in resting 4 guys in one day v. resting a top player every day on some kind of rotation. Rest is vital for the playoffs. I want to see us take the pennant and be well rested.
I’ve noticed a lot of articles and stuff on TV talking about a paradigm shift in the AL East / Yanks-Sox rivalry this weekend, and though it’s kind of true I think it’s getting a little overblown.
But I thought the "paradigm shift" happened after the Boston Massacre II in 2006? :)
[22] I did think that ... until 2007. ; )