09/17: Yanks Split First of Two Day-Night Doubleheaders with BoSox
Posted by: Seamus
The Yankees lost a game yesterday but got their magic number down to 4 when they defeated the Red Sox last night to split the first of two consecutive doubleheaders. Derek Jeter recorded one hit in each game, extending his hitting streak to 25 games, the longest for a Yankee since 1942 (I find that kind of surprising).
Chien-Ming Wang struggled a little in the afternoon affair, a 5-2 loss in which Wang allowed 3 runs on 9 hits, only going five innings. Wang recorded his sixth loss of the year, and will probably not reach the 20-win plateau as he probably will not get enough starts now, even though the Yankees have 15 games left, because Torre was forced to bundle up his rotation for this weekend series with Boston. The Yankees struck first with a two-run homer by red-hot Robinson Cano, but that was all the offense they got and the Red Sox took the lead with three runs in the 4th and never looked back.
The second game was more back and forth. The Yankees scored first via a single by A-Rod. Boston scored 3 in the 3rd, and Bernie tied the game in the 4th with a double to left. The Red Sox went back ahead 5-3 in the 6th on a two-run ground rule double by Coco Crisp before Melky Cabrera tied the game in the bottom of the inning with a base hit that scored Bernie Williams. The Yankees went ahead for good in the 7th with an opposite field double by Jason Giambi, and Jorge Posada added an insurance run by bringing in Kevin Thompson with a single. Randy Johnson allowed 5 runs on 8 hits in 5 and 2/3, resulting in a no-decision. Scott Proctor pitched two scoreless innings to record his 6th win of the season and Kyle Farnsworth pitched a scoreless ninth for his 5th save.
The Yankees and Red Sox will play two again today, with Jaret Wright facing Kyle Snyder in the first game and Mike Mussina going up against Ken Jarvis in the nightcap. The Yankees can clinch the A.L. East title tonight with a doubleheader sweep and a loss by the Blue Jays, who are hosting the Devil Rays this afternoon.
Chien-Ming Wang struggled a little in the afternoon affair, a 5-2 loss in which Wang allowed 3 runs on 9 hits, only going five innings. Wang recorded his sixth loss of the year, and will probably not reach the 20-win plateau as he probably will not get enough starts now, even though the Yankees have 15 games left, because Torre was forced to bundle up his rotation for this weekend series with Boston. The Yankees struck first with a two-run homer by red-hot Robinson Cano, but that was all the offense they got and the Red Sox took the lead with three runs in the 4th and never looked back.
The second game was more back and forth. The Yankees scored first via a single by A-Rod. Boston scored 3 in the 3rd, and Bernie tied the game in the 4th with a double to left. The Red Sox went back ahead 5-3 in the 6th on a two-run ground rule double by Coco Crisp before Melky Cabrera tied the game in the bottom of the inning with a base hit that scored Bernie Williams. The Yankees went ahead for good in the 7th with an opposite field double by Jason Giambi, and Jorge Posada added an insurance run by bringing in Kevin Thompson with a single. Randy Johnson allowed 5 runs on 8 hits in 5 and 2/3, resulting in a no-decision. Scott Proctor pitched two scoreless innings to record his 6th win of the season and Kyle Farnsworth pitched a scoreless ninth for his 5th save.
The Yankees and Red Sox will play two again today, with Jaret Wright facing Kyle Snyder in the first game and Mike Mussina going up against Ken Jarvis in the nightcap. The Yankees can clinch the A.L. East title tonight with a doubleheader sweep and a loss by the Blue Jays, who are hosting the Devil Rays this afternoon.
