09/28: Yankees @ Boston (Game 2); 9/28/08
Posted by: James
Looking to finish the season on a winning note and getting to a nice round 90 in wins, the Yankees looked to sweep the Red Sox in the second game of a double-header. Standing against them was knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (and some would say, their own starter Sidney Ponson).
Well, I guess it's true what they say then. You just can't script baseball...as Sir Sidney went six strong (say that six times fast) innings of one run ball. It probably helped that the Sox trotted out the B lineup (as did the Yankees) but Ponson's only mistake happened in the first when he gave up an inning opening double to Coco Crisp, who later scored on a single. After that, it was smooth(-er) sailing for Sidney.
The Yankees got on the board in the 6th when Cano and Giambi led off the inning with singles, putting men on first and third. A Xavier Nady groundout then plated the tying run.
Another starter that the Yankees had to rely on far too much this season, Darrell Rasner, then took over. After an easy first inning, Rasner walked the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the eighth. After getting a strike-out, Sean Casey then singled up the middle to plate two runs and give the Sox a 3-1 lead.
In the top of the ninth, the Yankees seemed to kick it into gear as the first 3 hitters all got on. Wilson Betemit singled, Damon walked and Melky Cabrera reached on a bunt that turned out to be a hit. So with the bases loaded and none out, Juan Miranda hit a sac fly to plate one run and move the tying run to third base. Brett Gardner then came up and went down on strikes (is he ready for prime-time? Nope, not yet) and it looked the Yankees season would end in a fashion that described the whole season; disappointing. However, Mr. Disappointing himself, Robbie Cano, stepped up to the plate and singled to plate the tying run and into extra innings we went.
The winning run scored in the bottom of the 10th when Jose Veras came in and promptly gave up a triple to Alex Cora. With a man on third and no one out, he struck out Chris Carter and intentionally walked Jeff Bailey and Sean Casey to load up the bases and set up the force at every base. It worked out well at first as Veras got David Ross looking to get the second out. However, the next batter Jonathan Van Every (that's just an odd name) was able to single through the right side to plate the 4th and winning run.
89-73. Third in the AL East (yes, Hank, still the 4th best record in the league) and a looming off-season chock full of questions regarding the direction of this team. Should be a fun one...but that's it for this game, this season and for me. Good night and good luck.
Well, I guess it's true what they say then. You just can't script baseball...as Sir Sidney went six strong (say that six times fast) innings of one run ball. It probably helped that the Sox trotted out the B lineup (as did the Yankees) but Ponson's only mistake happened in the first when he gave up an inning opening double to Coco Crisp, who later scored on a single. After that, it was smooth(-er) sailing for Sidney.
The Yankees got on the board in the 6th when Cano and Giambi led off the inning with singles, putting men on first and third. A Xavier Nady groundout then plated the tying run.
Another starter that the Yankees had to rely on far too much this season, Darrell Rasner, then took over. After an easy first inning, Rasner walked the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the eighth. After getting a strike-out, Sean Casey then singled up the middle to plate two runs and give the Sox a 3-1 lead.
In the top of the ninth, the Yankees seemed to kick it into gear as the first 3 hitters all got on. Wilson Betemit singled, Damon walked and Melky Cabrera reached on a bunt that turned out to be a hit. So with the bases loaded and none out, Juan Miranda hit a sac fly to plate one run and move the tying run to third base. Brett Gardner then came up and went down on strikes (is he ready for prime-time? Nope, not yet) and it looked the Yankees season would end in a fashion that described the whole season; disappointing. However, Mr. Disappointing himself, Robbie Cano, stepped up to the plate and singled to plate the tying run and into extra innings we went.
The winning run scored in the bottom of the 10th when Jose Veras came in and promptly gave up a triple to Alex Cora. With a man on third and no one out, he struck out Chris Carter and intentionally walked Jeff Bailey and Sean Casey to load up the bases and set up the force at every base. It worked out well at first as Veras got David Ross looking to get the second out. However, the next batter Jonathan Van Every (that's just an odd name) was able to single through the right side to plate the 4th and winning run.
89-73. Third in the AL East (yes, Hank, still the 4th best record in the league) and a looming off-season chock full of questions regarding the direction of this team. Should be a fun one...but that's it for this game, this season and for me. Good night and good luck.
