04/15: Bullpen Implodes, but Yanks Escape with Victory over Rays
Posted by: Seamus
The Yankees defeated the Rays 8-7 in a game that, after 6 innings looked like the Yankees would cruise to their third straight win over Tampa Bay. The Yankees are back at .500 for the 7th time this season (they were 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, 4-4, 5-5, 6-6, and 7-7). The Yankees finally got to Andy Sonnanstine, who has been a thorn in the Yankees' side over the last year, but the Rays also got to the Yankees bullpen, which has also been pretty tough up to this point.
The Yankees jumped ahead early with a leadoff home run by Johnny Damon to start the game. A-Rod (4-4 homered later in the inning, and Morgan Ensberg hit one out in the second for his first home run as a Yankee, putting the team ahead 3-0. The Yankees would go ahead 7-1 with back-to-back 2 RBI hits by Damon and Derek Jeter. The offense clicked, as every spot in the order aside from the 5-hole (Matsui) recorded a hit. Alex Rodriguez had his best game of this young season with a 4-5 night.
Ian Kennedy was sharp, but left the game in the bottom of the 7th with a 7-2 lead after a ball hit off the bat of Jason Bartlett hit him in the hip. Kennedy said after the game that it feels a bit sore, but he doesn't expect to miss any time.
Billy Traber relieved Kennedy and gave up a two-run homer to Carl Crawford, cutting the Yanks' lead to 7-4. After hitting Carlos Pena's hand (bat) with a pitch, Joe Girardi brought in Brian Bruney, who gave up back-to-back homers to B.J. Upton and Evan Longoria to cap off a 5-run seventh as the Rays tied the game at 7 apiece.
Robinson Cano responded in the top of the 8th with the last of the offense as he homered to right after replacing Alberto Gonalez to put the Yankees back ahead by a score of 8-7. The Yankees brought Mariano Rivera for a four-out save, who pitched a perfect 1 and 1/3.
The Yankees will finish up this quick two-game set tonight at 7 before heading back to the Bronx for another two-game series with Boston. Andy Pettitte will be going up against Edwin Jackson.
The Yankees jumped ahead early with a leadoff home run by Johnny Damon to start the game. A-Rod (4-4 homered later in the inning, and Morgan Ensberg hit one out in the second for his first home run as a Yankee, putting the team ahead 3-0. The Yankees would go ahead 7-1 with back-to-back 2 RBI hits by Damon and Derek Jeter. The offense clicked, as every spot in the order aside from the 5-hole (Matsui) recorded a hit. Alex Rodriguez had his best game of this young season with a 4-5 night.
Ian Kennedy was sharp, but left the game in the bottom of the 7th with a 7-2 lead after a ball hit off the bat of Jason Bartlett hit him in the hip. Kennedy said after the game that it feels a bit sore, but he doesn't expect to miss any time.
Billy Traber relieved Kennedy and gave up a two-run homer to Carl Crawford, cutting the Yanks' lead to 7-4. After hitting Carlos Pena's hand (bat) with a pitch, Joe Girardi brought in Brian Bruney, who gave up back-to-back homers to B.J. Upton and Evan Longoria to cap off a 5-run seventh as the Rays tied the game at 7 apiece.
Robinson Cano responded in the top of the 8th with the last of the offense as he homered to right after replacing Alberto Gonalez to put the Yankees back ahead by a score of 8-7. The Yankees brought Mariano Rivera for a four-out save, who pitched a perfect 1 and 1/3.
The Yankees will finish up this quick two-game set tonight at 7 before heading back to the Bronx for another two-game series with Boston. Andy Pettitte will be going up against Edwin Jackson.
