08/21: Yankees win fourth straight from Bosox in extra innings
Posted by: David
It looked like the Red Sox would salvage a game from the series on Sunday night. Curt Schilling pitched effectively for seven innings and left with the lead 5-3. However, he was replaced by Mike Timlin and the Yankees rallied.
The Yankees loaded the bases with no outs as Damon, Jeter and Abreu got on. Francona then brought in his ace rookie closer Jonathan Papelbon. Giambi almost took him deep but the ball was caught on the warning track in right for the first out. However, a run scored to make the score 5-4. A-Rod worked a walk to reload the bases and Robinson Cano was next. Papelbon got tough and struck out Cano and then Posada to end the inning and preserve a one run lead for Boston. Scott Proctor retired Boston without allowing a run in the eighth and Papelbon came out to close the game in the top of the ninth.
Melky Cabrera led off with a double up the gap in right center. Papelbon got tough again and struck out Bernie Williams and Johnny Damon. Cabrera had moved to third on a passed ball. It was up to the captain and DJ came through as he fought off a pitch and blooped it to right to score Cabrera and tie the game.
In the bottom of the ninth, Rivera came on and faced David Ortiz to lead off the inning. He got him to ground to first but Giambi let the ball play him and it bounced over his glove and into right field. Ortiz hustled it into a double. Ramirez was intentionally walked. Youkillis attempted to sacrifce but Rivera forced Ortiz at third for the first out. With Lowell batting Posada committed a passed ball and the runners moved up. Lowell was also walked intentionally and the Yankees moved the infield and outfield in. Rivera got really tough and after missing to pinch hitter Eric HInske with a cutter inside he blew him away with three straight fastballs for the second out. Mirabelli then grounded back to the mound to end the inning.
In the tenth, the Yankees scored three runs aided by home runs from Giambi and a two run shot from Posada. Rivera closed out Boston in the bottom of the tenth only allowing a two out single to Mark Loretta and was credited with the win to move his record to 5-5.
Boston had taken an early two run lead off of Mussina in the first inning and they connected on four consecutive hits from Loretta, Ortiz, Ramirez and Youkilis. After the second inning the rain came and the game was delayed for fifty seven minutes.
In the fourth, Jason Giambi connected for his first homer of the night a three run shot off Schilling. The Red Sox tied the game when Doug Mirabelli blooped a single to right to score a run. Ortiz homered in the fifth to put the Red Sox up 4-3 and they added another run in the seventh to make it 5-3.
The win for the Yankees extends their lead over Boston to 5 1/2 games with the series finale tomorrow afternoon. Cory Lidle faces David Wells with the Yankees looking for a five game sweep.
The Yankees loaded the bases with no outs as Damon, Jeter and Abreu got on. Francona then brought in his ace rookie closer Jonathan Papelbon. Giambi almost took him deep but the ball was caught on the warning track in right for the first out. However, a run scored to make the score 5-4. A-Rod worked a walk to reload the bases and Robinson Cano was next. Papelbon got tough and struck out Cano and then Posada to end the inning and preserve a one run lead for Boston. Scott Proctor retired Boston without allowing a run in the eighth and Papelbon came out to close the game in the top of the ninth.
Melky Cabrera led off with a double up the gap in right center. Papelbon got tough again and struck out Bernie Williams and Johnny Damon. Cabrera had moved to third on a passed ball. It was up to the captain and DJ came through as he fought off a pitch and blooped it to right to score Cabrera and tie the game.
In the bottom of the ninth, Rivera came on and faced David Ortiz to lead off the inning. He got him to ground to first but Giambi let the ball play him and it bounced over his glove and into right field. Ortiz hustled it into a double. Ramirez was intentionally walked. Youkillis attempted to sacrifce but Rivera forced Ortiz at third for the first out. With Lowell batting Posada committed a passed ball and the runners moved up. Lowell was also walked intentionally and the Yankees moved the infield and outfield in. Rivera got really tough and after missing to pinch hitter Eric HInske with a cutter inside he blew him away with three straight fastballs for the second out. Mirabelli then grounded back to the mound to end the inning.
In the tenth, the Yankees scored three runs aided by home runs from Giambi and a two run shot from Posada. Rivera closed out Boston in the bottom of the tenth only allowing a two out single to Mark Loretta and was credited with the win to move his record to 5-5.
Boston had taken an early two run lead off of Mussina in the first inning and they connected on four consecutive hits from Loretta, Ortiz, Ramirez and Youkilis. After the second inning the rain came and the game was delayed for fifty seven minutes.
In the fourth, Jason Giambi connected for his first homer of the night a three run shot off Schilling. The Red Sox tied the game when Doug Mirabelli blooped a single to right to score a run. Ortiz homered in the fifth to put the Red Sox up 4-3 and they added another run in the seventh to make it 5-3.
The win for the Yankees extends their lead over Boston to 5 1/2 games with the series finale tomorrow afternoon. Cory Lidle faces David Wells with the Yankees looking for a five game sweep.
Seamus wrote:
Also, I'll just throw this out there: The Yankees are actually closer to the Tigers in the standings right now than than the Red Sox are to the Yankees. :)