08/23: Team Power Surge, Abreu's 5 Hits Lead Yankees Over Baltimore, 9-4
Posted by: Patrick
Before Friday's game against the Orioles, Bobby Abreu arranged for the recently eliminated Venezuelan team, from the Little League World Series, to attend the game. Abreu, who was born in Maracay, a city in central Venezuela, treated the kids to food and on field access before the game. Then, during the game, he put on a show, helping the Yankees to a 9-4 win over the Orioles.
Abreu collected five hits in as many at bats, all singles, scoring two runs while driving in one. It was the first time that Bobby had five hits in a game since August 8, 1999, according to Yahoo! Sports. His average shot up 7 points, giving him a line of .295 AVG/.367 OBA/.466 SLG. Those average and on base figures are the highest they've been since June 11 and May 10, respectively.
It was Abreu who drove in the Yankees first run of the day, scoring Johnny Damon in the first inning.
Mike Mussina started the game for the Yanks and the Orioles answered right back in the bottom half, with an RBI single. Moose would log yet another solid start, throwing 6 innings and allowing 4 runs while striking out 3 and walking no one.
However, the Yankees would come away scoreless in the second, third and fourth innings. In the fifth, Robinson Cano and Jose Molina connected for lead off, back to back home runs that, at the time, tied the game at 3.
Mussina finished with 115 pitches through six, leaving the game down a run. Jose Veras entered and pitched a 1-2-3 inning, keeping it close.
The Yankees managed to take back the lead in the eighth, when Abreu scored on a wild pitch, that also moved A-Rod to third base. The very next batter, Xavier Nady, hit a single to right, bringing Rodriguez around, making the score 5-4, Yankees lead.
Damaso Marte was called on to start the eighth inning. He retired Nick Markakis and a hot Melvin Mora. But, then he hit Aubrey Huff and that was enough for Girardi, who immediately went to Mariano Rivera to pitch to Kevin Millar. Millar popped out.
After Johnny Damon and Derek Jeter led off with back to back outs in the ninth, the Yankees staged a two out rally to put this one away. It all started with (guess who?) Bobby Abreu, who singled. After a pitching change, A-Rod hit a ground rule double, putting runners at second and third for Cody Ransom, who entered in the eighth as a defensive replacement.
Ransom hit a deep fly ball to left center, putting the Yanks up by four runs. It was Ransom's second home run in as many at bats for the Yankees this season. He now has 5 RBIs. His line is 1.000/1.000/4.000. That's not bad. After the game, Brett Gardner would comment, to Ramson, "You should retire." "Thinking about it," was how Ransom responded.
But, the Yankees weren't done. For the second time in the game, the Yankees would hit back to back home runs as Nady followed the Ransom home run with a deeper one of his own. When the smoke cleared, the Yankees held a 9-4 lead.
Mariano stayed in the game and pitched the bottom of the ninth, retiring the side in order. He retired all four batters he faced, collecting his 29th save in 30 chances. Jose Veras was credited with the win, improving to 4-2.
In the first inning, Jeter singled, reaching the 2,500 hits plateau (video). "It means we won the game today," Jeter told Peter Abraham. "I guess if you play long enough, you’re bound to get some milestones. More importantly we won. We needed this game." Just two other Yankees have collected this many hits in the pinstripes: Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. I hope fans aren't taking this for granted.
At 7:05 PM ET tonight, the series continues with a true oddity. Carl Pavano will start, making his first Major League appearance since April 9 of last season. He'll face the very capable Jeremy Guthrie, who is 10-9 on the season with a 3.15 ERA. In two starts against the Yankees, he has a 2.70 ERA over 13 and 1/3 innings of work.
Abreu collected five hits in as many at bats, all singles, scoring two runs while driving in one. It was the first time that Bobby had five hits in a game since August 8, 1999, according to Yahoo! Sports. His average shot up 7 points, giving him a line of .295 AVG/.367 OBA/.466 SLG. Those average and on base figures are the highest they've been since June 11 and May 10, respectively.
It was Abreu who drove in the Yankees first run of the day, scoring Johnny Damon in the first inning.
Mike Mussina started the game for the Yanks and the Orioles answered right back in the bottom half, with an RBI single. Moose would log yet another solid start, throwing 6 innings and allowing 4 runs while striking out 3 and walking no one.
However, the Yankees would come away scoreless in the second, third and fourth innings. In the fifth, Robinson Cano and Jose Molina connected for lead off, back to back home runs that, at the time, tied the game at 3.
Mussina finished with 115 pitches through six, leaving the game down a run. Jose Veras entered and pitched a 1-2-3 inning, keeping it close.
The Yankees managed to take back the lead in the eighth, when Abreu scored on a wild pitch, that also moved A-Rod to third base. The very next batter, Xavier Nady, hit a single to right, bringing Rodriguez around, making the score 5-4, Yankees lead.
Damaso Marte was called on to start the eighth inning. He retired Nick Markakis and a hot Melvin Mora. But, then he hit Aubrey Huff and that was enough for Girardi, who immediately went to Mariano Rivera to pitch to Kevin Millar. Millar popped out.
After Johnny Damon and Derek Jeter led off with back to back outs in the ninth, the Yankees staged a two out rally to put this one away. It all started with (guess who?) Bobby Abreu, who singled. After a pitching change, A-Rod hit a ground rule double, putting runners at second and third for Cody Ransom, who entered in the eighth as a defensive replacement.
Ransom hit a deep fly ball to left center, putting the Yanks up by four runs. It was Ransom's second home run in as many at bats for the Yankees this season. He now has 5 RBIs. His line is 1.000/1.000/4.000. That's not bad. After the game, Brett Gardner would comment, to Ramson, "You should retire." "Thinking about it," was how Ransom responded.
But, the Yankees weren't done. For the second time in the game, the Yankees would hit back to back home runs as Nady followed the Ransom home run with a deeper one of his own. When the smoke cleared, the Yankees held a 9-4 lead.
Mariano stayed in the game and pitched the bottom of the ninth, retiring the side in order. He retired all four batters he faced, collecting his 29th save in 30 chances. Jose Veras was credited with the win, improving to 4-2.
In the first inning, Jeter singled, reaching the 2,500 hits plateau (video). "It means we won the game today," Jeter told Peter Abraham. "I guess if you play long enough, you’re bound to get some milestones. More importantly we won. We needed this game." Just two other Yankees have collected this many hits in the pinstripes: Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. I hope fans aren't taking this for granted.
At 7:05 PM ET tonight, the series continues with a true oddity. Carl Pavano will start, making his first Major League appearance since April 9 of last season. He'll face the very capable Jeremy Guthrie, who is 10-9 on the season with a 3.15 ERA. In two starts against the Yankees, he has a 2.70 ERA over 13 and 1/3 innings of work.
