09/16: A Win is a Win: Yanks Win Slugfest 11-10
Posted by: Patrick
For Randy Johnson, it was not meant to be. After allowing 3 runs in the 1st, he was tossed out for arguing balls and strikes in the 2nd inning with 2 outs. It was his shortest start in more than a decade.
The Yankees did all of their damage in innings 1 through 4. Giambi doubled in A-Rod in the 1st. Flaherty doubled in Cano in the 2nd. The 3rd and 4th innings are where the Yankees really did their damage. Cano hit a 3 run shot, bringing in Giambi and Matsui. And then Flaherty homers. Yes, Flaherty. His 2nd home run of the year and his 12th in 131 games with the Yankees. In the 4th, A-Rod would hit a 2 run homer, bringing Jeter around. With Giambi at 3rd and Sheffield at 1st, Matsui grounded into a fielders choice - Sheffield out, but Giambi safe at home. Cano brought him around on his second home run of the day.
Proctor relieved Johnson in the 2nd retired the first batter he faced with a runner on second. He would be solid in the 3rd and 4th innings, as well, failing to allow a runner to score. So, entering the bottom of the 5th, it was Yankees 11, Blue Jays 3. However, the Blue Jays refused to go quietly into the night.
In the bottom of the 5th, the Blue Jays made it 11-4 on an RBI groundout. The 6th was more trouble. With a single, double, strike out and walk, Proctor was able to load the bases with 1 out. He then gave way to Felix Rodriguez, who promptly gave up a 3 run double but retired the next two batters to end the inning. Proctor: 3 and 2/3 IP, 4 ER. Yankees 11, Blue Jays 7.
More trouble in the 7th. Rodriguez surrended a single to Seah Hillenbrand, followed by an RBI double by Aaron Hill. Exit F-Rod (2/3 IP, 2 ER), enter Embree. He was able to strike out Corey Koskie before allowing both an RBI double and an RBI single. He was able to induce a groundout off the bat of Russ Adams for the 2nd out of the inning. And that was the end of his day (2/3 IP, 1 ER). Tanyon Strutze made his way into the game. He retired Reed Johnson to end the inning. At the end of 7, we're at 11-10 with the Yankees holding on to an uncomfortable 1 run lead.
In the 8th, the Yankees went down in order. Sturtze (finally a pitcher who didn't allow a run today) held the lead with a scoreless 8th. In the 9th, the Yankees again went down in order. And so, the stage was set for another Mariano Rivera appearance. This would be his 3rd outing in as many days and if he finished the 9th, it would total 3 and 1/3 innings during that span - 4 and 2/3 since September 11. He was called upon and he did the job. He quickly reached 2 outs before allowing Gregg Zaun to single. He retired Russ Adams to end the game. It's Mariano's 40th save, knocking his ERA down to 1.38 - if the season was over today, that would be his lowest ERA is a season, ever. That's saying something. MVP? Cy Young? He's 2 saves below the AL Leader (Wickman), but his ERA, WHIP and BAA are are all much, much lower.
The Yankee offense was led by Mr. Cano, who put up the first multi-homer game of his career. He was 3 for 5 with 3 runs and 5 RBI. Jeter was 2 for 5 with 1 run and a stolen base, A-Rod was 1 for 2 with 2 runs, 2 RBI, 2 walks and 2 stolen bases, Giambi was 1 for 3 with 2 runs, 1 RBI and 2 walks, Sheff was 2 for 5, Matsui was 1 for 5 with 2 runs and 1 RBI and Flaherty was 2 for 4 with 1 run and 2 RBI.
In his last 2 games, Cano is 6 for 10 with 2 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 6 runs and 10 RBI.
The Indians and Red Sox both won, so we maintained our ground.
Tomorrow it'll be Chacon versus Chacin as Shawn faces Gustavo (12-8, 3.59).
The Yankees did all of their damage in innings 1 through 4. Giambi doubled in A-Rod in the 1st. Flaherty doubled in Cano in the 2nd. The 3rd and 4th innings are where the Yankees really did their damage. Cano hit a 3 run shot, bringing in Giambi and Matsui. And then Flaherty homers. Yes, Flaherty. His 2nd home run of the year and his 12th in 131 games with the Yankees. In the 4th, A-Rod would hit a 2 run homer, bringing Jeter around. With Giambi at 3rd and Sheffield at 1st, Matsui grounded into a fielders choice - Sheffield out, but Giambi safe at home. Cano brought him around on his second home run of the day.
Proctor relieved Johnson in the 2nd retired the first batter he faced with a runner on second. He would be solid in the 3rd and 4th innings, as well, failing to allow a runner to score. So, entering the bottom of the 5th, it was Yankees 11, Blue Jays 3. However, the Blue Jays refused to go quietly into the night.
In the bottom of the 5th, the Blue Jays made it 11-4 on an RBI groundout. The 6th was more trouble. With a single, double, strike out and walk, Proctor was able to load the bases with 1 out. He then gave way to Felix Rodriguez, who promptly gave up a 3 run double but retired the next two batters to end the inning. Proctor: 3 and 2/3 IP, 4 ER. Yankees 11, Blue Jays 7.
More trouble in the 7th. Rodriguez surrended a single to Seah Hillenbrand, followed by an RBI double by Aaron Hill. Exit F-Rod (2/3 IP, 2 ER), enter Embree. He was able to strike out Corey Koskie before allowing both an RBI double and an RBI single. He was able to induce a groundout off the bat of Russ Adams for the 2nd out of the inning. And that was the end of his day (2/3 IP, 1 ER). Tanyon Strutze made his way into the game. He retired Reed Johnson to end the inning. At the end of 7, we're at 11-10 with the Yankees holding on to an uncomfortable 1 run lead.
In the 8th, the Yankees went down in order. Sturtze (finally a pitcher who didn't allow a run today) held the lead with a scoreless 8th. In the 9th, the Yankees again went down in order. And so, the stage was set for another Mariano Rivera appearance. This would be his 3rd outing in as many days and if he finished the 9th, it would total 3 and 1/3 innings during that span - 4 and 2/3 since September 11. He was called upon and he did the job. He quickly reached 2 outs before allowing Gregg Zaun to single. He retired Russ Adams to end the game. It's Mariano's 40th save, knocking his ERA down to 1.38 - if the season was over today, that would be his lowest ERA is a season, ever. That's saying something. MVP? Cy Young? He's 2 saves below the AL Leader (Wickman), but his ERA, WHIP and BAA are are all much, much lower.
The Yankee offense was led by Mr. Cano, who put up the first multi-homer game of his career. He was 3 for 5 with 3 runs and 5 RBI. Jeter was 2 for 5 with 1 run and a stolen base, A-Rod was 1 for 2 with 2 runs, 2 RBI, 2 walks and 2 stolen bases, Giambi was 1 for 3 with 2 runs, 1 RBI and 2 walks, Sheff was 2 for 5, Matsui was 1 for 5 with 2 runs and 1 RBI and Flaherty was 2 for 4 with 1 run and 2 RBI.
In his last 2 games, Cano is 6 for 10 with 2 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 6 runs and 10 RBI.
The Indians and Red Sox both won, so we maintained our ground.
Tomorrow it'll be Chacon versus Chacin as Shawn faces Gustavo (12-8, 3.59).
Seamus wrote:
Either way, I'll take it. Like the headline says, a win is a win.