04/20: Yanks lose opener in Beantown as Rivera blows save again
Posted by: David
Mariano Rivera simply does not have command yet and as a result he allowed two inherited runners to score and two that he let on to score as well and the Yankees lost 7-6 to the Red Sox on Friday night.
A-Rod connected for two more homers off Curt Schilling a bases empty shot early and a two run shot the very next inning. He also scored the sixth run of the game after doubling down the line.
Luis Vizcaino started the eighth and allowed one run and left with runners on first and third and only one out. Torre had specifically mentioned all of spring training that Rivera would not be used except for the ninth inning. That changed on Friday night as he was summoned and he simply let pitches get too much of the plate and got hurt.
He gave up a single to Varitek to make it 6-4 and then Coco Crisp bounced a ball down the line in right which tied the score and left him at third with a triple. Joey Cora blooped a single over a drawn in infield and the Red Sox had the lead at 7-6.
The Yankees has a chance in the ninth since Jonathan Papelbon was not available but could not tie the score and lost 7-6.
The series resumes tomorrow afternoon with Jeff Karstens vs. Josh Beckett and Sunday night Chase Wright faces off vs. Daisuke Matsuzaka.
A-Rod connected for two more homers off Curt Schilling a bases empty shot early and a two run shot the very next inning. He also scored the sixth run of the game after doubling down the line.
Luis Vizcaino started the eighth and allowed one run and left with runners on first and third and only one out. Torre had specifically mentioned all of spring training that Rivera would not be used except for the ninth inning. That changed on Friday night as he was summoned and he simply let pitches get too much of the plate and got hurt.
He gave up a single to Varitek to make it 6-4 and then Coco Crisp bounced a ball down the line in right which tied the score and left him at third with a triple. Joey Cora blooped a single over a drawn in infield and the Red Sox had the lead at 7-6.
The Yankees has a chance in the ninth since Jonathan Papelbon was not available but could not tie the score and lost 7-6.
The series resumes tomorrow afternoon with Jeff Karstens vs. Josh Beckett and Sunday night Chase Wright faces off vs. Daisuke Matsuzaka.
Joseph M wrote:
Torre bungled the game as badly as the Yankee management bungled their opportunity to move on last fall.
Giambi singles home a run in the 8th giving the Yankees a 4 run lead and what does Torre do, pinch runs for Giambi. Hello, Since when is a four run lead at Fenway like money in the bank. This is not a second guess how many fans were shaking their heads at that stupid move. But wait, it gets worse.
Bottom of the 8th, Mike Myers? Anyone out there want to see this guy sent packing after last year? I don't want this guy even warming up during a big game. With a nod to Ralph Nader, Myers is "Unsafe At Any Speed".
Mariano needs more work, but don't disturb Torre with this piece of information. How many times do we have to see Mariano struggle against Boston before we start to realize that he needs to be at the top of his game (which clearly he is not at this point in time) to beat these guys?
Why not leave Andy in there in the bottom of the 7th?
This is not a knock on Torre who has done alot of great things with the Yankees, but the time has come to move on. Torre will of course go on, and he may even win another World Series with a different team, but we need a fresh approach to this talent pool.
This is a cry to save 2007 or at the very least put the team in a better position for 2008. I would go with Girardi but that's a different discussion.