08/31: Imperfect Game: No No-No, But Pettitte Gets Win vs. O's
Posted by: Seamus
Tonight's game for the Yankees against the Orioles began at 7:05 ET. 21 batters and about 3 ulcers later, the Orioles had their first baserunner. An error by Jerry Hairston Jr. with two outs in the seventh followed by a base hit by Nick Markakis ended Andy Pettitte's perfect game and no-hit bids, but Pettitte's gem was still more than enough to help the Yankees secure a 5–1 victory over the O's in Camden Yards.
Pettitte was completely locked in, retiring the first 20 batters he faced in the game. Andy had Oriole hitters looking foolish until with two outs in the seventh inning, Jerry Hairston Jr. let a ground ball that was hit right at him go under his legs for an E5, ending Pettitte's perfect game bid just seven outs short. The next batter, Nick Markakis, ended Pettitte's no-hit bid with a solid single down the left field line. Hard to say what could have been, as not only did Hairston botch Pettitte's perfect game with his error, but Markakis' hit came with Pettitte pitching out of the stretch in the 7th, which he had not done all game. No point dwelling on the "what-ifs" though, and as Michael Kay would say, "That's the fallacy of the predetermined outcome."
Pettitte eventually lost his shutout in the eighth after Melvin Mora launched a solo home run to left-center field. The Yankees handed the ball over to Brian Bruney in the 9th, who put two runners on base before handing it over to Mariano Rivera to close the game out.
Offensively, the Yankees were led by Nick Swisher, who was 3-for-4 including a home run and 2 RBI on the night. Swisher has now homered 12 times in 80 career at-bats in Camden Yards.
A.J. Burnett will get the ball tomorrow night and he'll be up against David Hernandez as the series resumes at 7:05 ET.
Recap records: Seamus: 38–22, Patrick: 35–16, Andrew: 10–10
Pettitte was completely locked in, retiring the first 20 batters he faced in the game. Andy had Oriole hitters looking foolish until with two outs in the seventh inning, Jerry Hairston Jr. let a ground ball that was hit right at him go under his legs for an E5, ending Pettitte's perfect game bid just seven outs short. The next batter, Nick Markakis, ended Pettitte's no-hit bid with a solid single down the left field line. Hard to say what could have been, as not only did Hairston botch Pettitte's perfect game with his error, but Markakis' hit came with Pettitte pitching out of the stretch in the 7th, which he had not done all game. No point dwelling on the "what-ifs" though, and as Michael Kay would say, "That's the fallacy of the predetermined outcome."
Pettitte eventually lost his shutout in the eighth after Melvin Mora launched a solo home run to left-center field. The Yankees handed the ball over to Brian Bruney in the 9th, who put two runners on base before handing it over to Mariano Rivera to close the game out.
Offensively, the Yankees were led by Nick Swisher, who was 3-for-4 including a home run and 2 RBI on the night. Swisher has now homered 12 times in 80 career at-bats in Camden Yards.
A.J. Burnett will get the ball tomorrow night and he'll be up against David Hernandez as the series resumes at 7:05 ET.
Recap records: Seamus: 38–22, Patrick: 35–16, Andrew: 10–10
