09/20: Yanks Beat O's to Take Opener of Final Series
Posted by: Seamus
The final series ever at Yankee Stadium started on a high note, as the team got some good pitching, great defense, just enough hitting and a little bit of luck to defeat the Orioles by a score of 3-2. The entire game was decided in five innings, as the game was scoreless from the sixth inning on.
The Orioles jumped ahead early with an RBI single by Aubrey Huff in the first and a sacrifice fly by Lou Montanez in the second. That would be all the offense Baltimore would get as the Yankees got a good performance out of their pitching staff, beginning with five solid innings from Carl Pavano. The Yankees probably didn't need to use six pitchers, but everybody who contributed did a nice job.
The Yankees tied the game with two runs in the third inning, as Robinson Cano lead the inning off with a solo home run and Brett Gardner brought in Pudge Rodriguez with an RBI double.
It turns out Gardner was just getting started. Luke Scott lead off the top of the fourth and drilled a ball to straightaway center that would have gone over the wall if it weren't for Gardner, who leaped up and snagged the ball from just on top of the wall above the 408 sign to keep the game tied.
That play would turn out to be key, as the only run scored after that was on a wild pitch that scored Johnny Damon in the fifth to put the Yankees ahead 3-2, a score that would prove to be final.
The Orioles got the tying run at third base with two outs in the ninth, but Mariano Rivera got Brian Roberts to pop up to end it. Rivera picked up his 37th save of the season.
The Rays won last night, officially taking the Yankees out of the running in the East. A win by the BoSox over Toronto put the Yankees' elimination number at just two with eight games left to play.
The Yankees will play the last day game ever to be played at the Stadium this afternoon. The pitching matchup will feature Alfredo Aceves for the Yankees and Brian Burres for Baltimore. Game starts at 1:05 ET.
The Orioles jumped ahead early with an RBI single by Aubrey Huff in the first and a sacrifice fly by Lou Montanez in the second. That would be all the offense Baltimore would get as the Yankees got a good performance out of their pitching staff, beginning with five solid innings from Carl Pavano. The Yankees probably didn't need to use six pitchers, but everybody who contributed did a nice job.
The Yankees tied the game with two runs in the third inning, as Robinson Cano lead the inning off with a solo home run and Brett Gardner brought in Pudge Rodriguez with an RBI double.
It turns out Gardner was just getting started. Luke Scott lead off the top of the fourth and drilled a ball to straightaway center that would have gone over the wall if it weren't for Gardner, who leaped up and snagged the ball from just on top of the wall above the 408 sign to keep the game tied.
That play would turn out to be key, as the only run scored after that was on a wild pitch that scored Johnny Damon in the fifth to put the Yankees ahead 3-2, a score that would prove to be final.
The Orioles got the tying run at third base with two outs in the ninth, but Mariano Rivera got Brian Roberts to pop up to end it. Rivera picked up his 37th save of the season.
The Rays won last night, officially taking the Yankees out of the running in the East. A win by the BoSox over Toronto put the Yankees' elimination number at just two with eight games left to play.
The Yankees will play the last day game ever to be played at the Stadium this afternoon. The pitching matchup will feature Alfredo Aceves for the Yankees and Brian Burres for Baltimore. Game starts at 1:05 ET.
Sportstuffblog wrote: