09/23: Yankees Pick Up Ninth Inning Win in Anaheim; Clinch Postseason Appearance
Posted by: Patrick
The Yankees bashed their way to a 5-0 lead after 4 and 1/2 innings on Tuesday night. All of these runs came on homers. An A-Rod two run shot (scoring Teixeira), a Posada two run homer (Matsui) and a Matsui solo home run. And through 4, starter Chad Gaudin had things well in tow, holding the Angels scoreless on 3 hits and 1 walk.
But, the fifth inning was not his friend. After retiring the first two hits, he allowed a solo home run to Chone Figgins, a double to Maicer Izturis, walked Bobby Abreu and allowed an RBI single by Vladimir Guerrero. Joe Girardi went and got the book and brought out Alfredo Aceves, who retired Torii Hunter with runners on first and second to bring the fifth to a close.
The Angels came right back in the sixth, causing more trouble. An RBI single and a two out, bases loaded walk, cut the Yankees lead down to 1. Alex Rodriguez made a great, diving play down the line to retire Vladimir Guerrero for the final out.
After Aceves retired the first hitter in the seventh, Girardi turned to Damaso Marte, who promptly allowed a double to Kendry Morales and was just as promptly removed from the game. Phil Hughes was next in line and he retired the next two batters to end the 7th.
Hughes came back out for the eighth and the got off to a rocky start. After Howie Kendrick reached on a Robinson Cano error, Jorge Posada made a throwing error that allowed him to reach third. Hughes managed to retire Figgins, but Izturis singled to bring in Kendrick and then reached second on a wild pitch. Abreu then walked. But, Hughes settled down and struck out both Vladimir Guerror and Torii Hunter to keep this one tied.
To kick off the ninth, Brett Gardner singled and stole second to get into fielding position for Derek Jeter, who walked to put two runners on. Johnny Damon laid down a sacrifice to move the runners over to second and third for Mark Teixeira. The Angels elected to intentionally walk the first baseman to load the bases for A-Rod. Alex made them pay with a sacrifice fly that scored Gardner to give the Yankees a 6-5 lead.
Mariano Rivera entered for the ninth and immediately walked Morales. But, he then completed a strike 'em out, thrown 'em out double play with Jorge Posada, Rivera retiring former Yankee Juan Rivera on the strikeout and Posada catching pinch runner Reggie Willits at second (edit: correction made to indicate Willits had ran for Morales). An Erick Aybar ground out put this one in the books. Mo picks up save number 41 as Hughes improves to 8-3.
Cano and Teixeira both had 2 hits on the ninth, with Cano picking up double number 46, which moved him 8th place with Red Rolfe for the most in a season by a Yankee. Another one will put him tied 5th with Lou Gehrig (who did it twice) and Bob Meusel.
Jeter collected hit number 200, the seventh season in which he's done so. Congrats to him.
The Yankees clinched a postseason berth during the game, when the A's beat the Rangers, becoming the first team to do so. But, the team elected not to celebrate profusely. According to Peter Abraham, Girardi assembled the team, congratulated them on reaching this goal and told them there was work to be done. The magic number for the A.L. East is down to 6.
The Yankees play today at 3:35 PM ET with A.J. Burnett (11-9, 4.22) going against Scott Kazmir (9-8, 5.08).
Recap records: Seamus: 45–25, Patrick: 40–20, Andrew: 11–11
But, the fifth inning was not his friend. After retiring the first two hits, he allowed a solo home run to Chone Figgins, a double to Maicer Izturis, walked Bobby Abreu and allowed an RBI single by Vladimir Guerrero. Joe Girardi went and got the book and brought out Alfredo Aceves, who retired Torii Hunter with runners on first and second to bring the fifth to a close.
The Angels came right back in the sixth, causing more trouble. An RBI single and a two out, bases loaded walk, cut the Yankees lead down to 1. Alex Rodriguez made a great, diving play down the line to retire Vladimir Guerrero for the final out.
After Aceves retired the first hitter in the seventh, Girardi turned to Damaso Marte, who promptly allowed a double to Kendry Morales and was just as promptly removed from the game. Phil Hughes was next in line and he retired the next two batters to end the 7th.
Hughes came back out for the eighth and the got off to a rocky start. After Howie Kendrick reached on a Robinson Cano error, Jorge Posada made a throwing error that allowed him to reach third. Hughes managed to retire Figgins, but Izturis singled to bring in Kendrick and then reached second on a wild pitch. Abreu then walked. But, Hughes settled down and struck out both Vladimir Guerror and Torii Hunter to keep this one tied.
To kick off the ninth, Brett Gardner singled and stole second to get into fielding position for Derek Jeter, who walked to put two runners on. Johnny Damon laid down a sacrifice to move the runners over to second and third for Mark Teixeira. The Angels elected to intentionally walk the first baseman to load the bases for A-Rod. Alex made them pay with a sacrifice fly that scored Gardner to give the Yankees a 6-5 lead.
Mariano Rivera entered for the ninth and immediately walked Morales. But, he then completed a strike 'em out, thrown 'em out double play with Jorge Posada, Rivera retiring former Yankee Juan Rivera on the strikeout and Posada catching pinch runner Reggie Willits at second (edit: correction made to indicate Willits had ran for Morales). An Erick Aybar ground out put this one in the books. Mo picks up save number 41 as Hughes improves to 8-3.
Cano and Teixeira both had 2 hits on the ninth, with Cano picking up double number 46, which moved him 8th place with Red Rolfe for the most in a season by a Yankee. Another one will put him tied 5th with Lou Gehrig (who did it twice) and Bob Meusel.
Jeter collected hit number 200, the seventh season in which he's done so. Congrats to him.
The Yankees clinched a postseason berth during the game, when the A's beat the Rangers, becoming the first team to do so. But, the team elected not to celebrate profusely. According to Peter Abraham, Girardi assembled the team, congratulated them on reaching this goal and told them there was work to be done. The magic number for the A.L. East is down to 6.
The Yankees play today at 3:35 PM ET with A.J. Burnett (11-9, 4.22) going against Scott Kazmir (9-8, 5.08).
Recap records: Seamus: 45–25, Patrick: 40–20, Andrew: 11–11
