10/29: Yankees Even Up Series Behind Great Pitching from Burnett and Rivera
Posted by: Patrick
With much hoopla, Pedro Martinez returned to postseason baseball at Yankee Stadium on Thursday night, facing A.J. Burnett in Burnett's first ever World Series start.
The Phillies struck first, in the second inning, when Matt Stairs hit a hard grounder by A-Rod, scoring Raul Ibanez to take a 1-0 lead.
Mark Teixeira put the Yankees on the board with a solo home run in the fourth. And Hideki Matsui would hit one of his own in the sixth, moving the Yankees ahead, 2-1.
Pedro's night was at an end after back to back singles by Jerry Hairston Jr. and Melky Cabrera to start the bottom of the seventh. Joe Girardi opted to punch hit Jorge Posada for Jose Molina and the Phillies brought in Chan Ho Park to face him. But, he delivered a single to put the Yankees ahead 3-1.
After a weird bunt foul out by Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon hit a line drive to Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard. Howard scooped the ball, but it was really close to being a catch and the umpire called Damon out. Posada, thinking it was a ground ball, had advanced to second and was easily doubled off. After some debate with Girardi and the Yankees waiting to take the field, the umpires decided to stick with the incorrect call and the game moved to the top of the eighth. In comes Mariano Rivera.
After a one out walk and single put runners at first and second, Mo induced a double play ball picked up by Cano and nicely turned by Jeter to get out of the inning. Upon instant replay, though, it appeared that the runner at first was just safe. It wasn't a good couple of innings for the first base umpire.
In the ninth, Mo retired Ryan Howard on a strike out and Jayson Werth on a line out before Raul Ibanez doubled to keep the Phillies alive. But, Mo struck out Matt Stairs to even the series at 1.
Matsui was the only Yankee with 2 hits as he went 2 for 3 with his solo home run and a walk.
After a day off on Friday, the Yankees and Phillies will face off in Philadelphia at 7:57 PM ET on Saturday. Andy Pettitte (14-8, 4.16 in the regular season; 2-0, 2.37 in the postseason) will take the ball against Cole Hamels (10-11, 4.32; 1-1, 6.75).
The Phillies struck first, in the second inning, when Matt Stairs hit a hard grounder by A-Rod, scoring Raul Ibanez to take a 1-0 lead.
Mark Teixeira put the Yankees on the board with a solo home run in the fourth. And Hideki Matsui would hit one of his own in the sixth, moving the Yankees ahead, 2-1.
Pedro's night was at an end after back to back singles by Jerry Hairston Jr. and Melky Cabrera to start the bottom of the seventh. Joe Girardi opted to punch hit Jorge Posada for Jose Molina and the Phillies brought in Chan Ho Park to face him. But, he delivered a single to put the Yankees ahead 3-1.
After a weird bunt foul out by Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon hit a line drive to Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard. Howard scooped the ball, but it was really close to being a catch and the umpire called Damon out. Posada, thinking it was a ground ball, had advanced to second and was easily doubled off. After some debate with Girardi and the Yankees waiting to take the field, the umpires decided to stick with the incorrect call and the game moved to the top of the eighth. In comes Mariano Rivera.
After a one out walk and single put runners at first and second, Mo induced a double play ball picked up by Cano and nicely turned by Jeter to get out of the inning. Upon instant replay, though, it appeared that the runner at first was just safe. It wasn't a good couple of innings for the first base umpire.
In the ninth, Mo retired Ryan Howard on a strike out and Jayson Werth on a line out before Raul Ibanez doubled to keep the Phillies alive. But, Mo struck out Matt Stairs to even the series at 1.
Matsui was the only Yankee with 2 hits as he went 2 for 3 with his solo home run and a walk.
After a day off on Friday, the Yankees and Phillies will face off in Philadelphia at 7:57 PM ET on Saturday. Andy Pettitte (14-8, 4.16 in the regular season; 2-0, 2.37 in the postseason) will take the ball against Cole Hamels (10-11, 4.32; 1-1, 6.75).
