The Scrap-Iron Yanks did it again today, this time rallying against Fernando “Shot Through The Heart” Rodney in the 9th, and winning it on a solo home run by Lyle Overbay in the 10th. It was Rodney’s fifth blown save of the year (he only had two all of last season).
I was in Brooklyn visiting cousins with The Wife this afternoon. By the time we got in the car and headed back uptown the Yanks had a 1-0 lead. The Rays tied it up when we reached the Bronx. Vidal Nuno, man, he was good again. He left in the 7th inning when the Rays strung together several ground balls that gave them a 3-1 lead. Nothing was hit hard, and yeah there was a close play a the plate where the call went against the Yanks but it wasn’t an easy play to call–no great injustice there. What are you gunna do? These things happen.
Fernando Rodney, he of the high-octane heater and the Duh Ha-Ha-Ha change-up, got two fast outs in the 9th but he walked Overbay who advanced to second on Rodney’s first pitch to the pinch-hitter, Brennan Boesch. Well, it was before the pitch as Rodney was called for a balk. Boesch looked overmatched too but an excuse-me swing netted a line drive that managed to stay fair down the left field line. Overbay scored, Boesch had himself a double and he came storming around third when Brett Gardner flicked his bat at an outside change-up and singled to shallow center field. The play at the plate was close with considerable contact but Boesch was safe and the game was tied.
The Rays had their chances. Yunel Escobar hit a low line drive to right field with a man in scoring position in the bottom of the 9th but Ichiro! was positioned in the right spot and made a nice catch; the Rays had the bases loaded with one out an inning later but Ivan Nova–fresh off the disabled list–struck out James Loney on an inside slider and got Matt Joyce to ground out to Robinson Cano to end the inning.
Josh Lueke walked Cano to start the 10th and then mowed down the next five batters he faced. Then he misplaced a fastball–was supposed to be away but grooved back over the plate–which Overbay cranked for a home run.
That run was enough for Mariano Rivera who retired the Rays in order, a vintage performance that was was as dominant and sure as any he’s ever had–could have been 1999, 2002, 2009, you name it: strikeout, ground out, strikeout. And the two strikeouts made the hitters Jose Lobaton and Desmond Jennings look foolish.
They were schooled by The Master.
Final Score: Yanks 4, Rays 3.
[Image Via: Hossien Zare]
