07/06: Yanks Win After Rivera Gives Fans Goosebumps
Posted by: Seamus
If only runs were cumulative...If you look at the six games the Yankees have played so far in this homestand, you'd see they've scored 26 runs and you'd probably think the lineup is clicking, but alas 18 of those runs came in one game, and after yesterday's game with the Red Sox, they've scored just 8 runs in the other five games. Luckily for the Bombers, they got a very good start from Mike Mussina and a mostly solid performance from the bullpen, and the two runs they scored were all they needed as they fought off a late rally by the Red Sox and won the game by a score of 2-1.
The only offense for the Yankees came via an RBI single by Melky Cabrera in the 2nd and a sac fly by Brett Gardner in the bottom of the 6th. Cabrera was the only Yankee with a multi-hit game. The Yankees were 1-6 with RISP and left 10 men on base.
Mike Mussina was on his game again, this time throwing six innings of shutout ball and allowing just four hits, as he picked up his 11th win of the season. Jose Veras and (the dare I say hot?) Kyle Farnsworth pitched a scoreless 7th and 8th, respectively.
The game got interesting in the top of the 9th, however, as Mariano Rivera struggled to find his command on the mound. J.D. Drew led off the inning with a base hit for Boston, and then Manny Ramirez was hit by a pitch. Mike Lowell then scored Drew from second with a base hit. Rivera followed that up by hitting another batter (this game featured an A.L. record 7 hit batsmen), this time Kevin Youkilis as the Red Sox now had the bases loaded with noboby out, down by a run. Rivera then gave the crowd a metaphorical "Just kidding!" as he struck out Coco Crisp with the bases loaded, got Jason Varitek to pop out to first and then struck out Julio Lugo to end the game.
The Yankees will try to salvage a split in this series tonight and pull back to within four games of the wild card. You couldn't ask for a more different couple of pitchers going at it as the 22-year old Joba Chamberlain and his 98-mph fastball will be facing 63-year old knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. Game starts at 8:05 E.T. and will be carried on ESPN.
The only offense for the Yankees came via an RBI single by Melky Cabrera in the 2nd and a sac fly by Brett Gardner in the bottom of the 6th. Cabrera was the only Yankee with a multi-hit game. The Yankees were 1-6 with RISP and left 10 men on base.
Mike Mussina was on his game again, this time throwing six innings of shutout ball and allowing just four hits, as he picked up his 11th win of the season. Jose Veras and (the dare I say hot?) Kyle Farnsworth pitched a scoreless 7th and 8th, respectively.
The game got interesting in the top of the 9th, however, as Mariano Rivera struggled to find his command on the mound. J.D. Drew led off the inning with a base hit for Boston, and then Manny Ramirez was hit by a pitch. Mike Lowell then scored Drew from second with a base hit. Rivera followed that up by hitting another batter (this game featured an A.L. record 7 hit batsmen), this time Kevin Youkilis as the Red Sox now had the bases loaded with noboby out, down by a run. Rivera then gave the crowd a metaphorical "Just kidding!" as he struck out Coco Crisp with the bases loaded, got Jason Varitek to pop out to first and then struck out Julio Lugo to end the game.
The Yankees will try to salvage a split in this series tonight and pull back to within four games of the wild card. You couldn't ask for a more different couple of pitchers going at it as the 22-year old Joba Chamberlain and his 98-mph fastball will be facing 63-year old knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. Game starts at 8:05 E.T. and will be carried on ESPN.
