11/01: Swisher Breaks Out as Collective Offensive Leads Yankees Past Phillies, 8-5
Posted by: Patrick
On Halloween night, the Yankees sent Andy Pettitte up against Cole Hamels as the Yankees stepped into Citizens Bank Park for the first time since June 21, 2006.
The first run of the day came when Jayson Werth led off the bottom of the second with a home run to put the Phillies. It didn't stop there. After a Raul Ibanez strike out, Pedro Feliz doubled and Carlos Ruiz walked. Hamels, the pitcher, laid down a bunt that neither Pettitte nor Jorge Posada fielded, which loaded the bases with one out. Pettitte would issue a bases loaded walk to Jimmy Rollins for the second run and Shane Victorino's sacrifice fly brought the third one in. After the dust settled, the Yankees found themselves down 3-0.
In the fourth, the Yankees would answer. A one out walk to Mark Teixeira brought A-Rod to the plate. He hit what at first looked like a double. But, upon watching the replay, it was clear that the ball had hit a camera that was leaning over the right field fence slightly. A-Rod felt it was actually a home run and Joe Girardi came out to request a replay review. The umpires did so and upon further review, they declared it a home run. The Phillies still had the lead, but it was down to 3-2.
Nick Swisher finally broke out in the fifth with a lead-off double. Melky Cabrera struck out for the next out and Pettitte was the next hitter. The lefty delivered a single that scored Swisher. Derek Jeter followed this up with a single to move Pettitte to second. Johnny Damon came through with the go ahead double to put the Yankees ahead 5-3. In the top of the sixth, Swisher added what had to be a gratifying home run off of Phillies pitcher J.A. Happ to move the Yankees to 6 runs.
In the bottom half of the inning, Werth once again hit a bomb off of Pettitte, a solo shot to lead off. But, that is where the frame would end, with the Yankees leading 6-4.
In the seventh, Damon walked with one out and stole second when Teixeira struck out. A-Rod was hit by a pitch (for the second time) and Posada tacked on an insurance run with an RBI single that scored Damon. The Yankees would add another one in the eighth when a pinch hitting Hideki Matsui hit a solo home run to deep left, putting the Yankees up 8-4.
On the pitching end, Joba Chamberlain entered for Pettitte in the seventh and retired the side in order. After Joba was lifted for Matsui, Damaso Marte was called on to face Ryan Howard, who he struck out. He did the same to the hot hitting Werth and retired Ibanez next for his own 1-2-3 inning.
In the ninth, Girardi opted to go with Phil Hughes, in an attempt to give Mariano Rivera another night off. After getting a ground out from Pedro Feliz, he allowed a solo home run to Ruiz, the 8 hitter. That was enough for Girardi as he immediately went to Mo. 5 pitches later, the game was over, as he set down Matt Stairs and Jimmy Rollins, closing out an 8-5 Yankees win. The Phillies now trail New York, 2 games to 1.
The series will pick back up tomorrow night at 8:20 PM ET when CC Sabathia (19-8, 3.37 regular season; 3-1, 1.52 postseason) will face (12-8, 4.05; 0-0, 4.66).
The first run of the day came when Jayson Werth led off the bottom of the second with a home run to put the Phillies. It didn't stop there. After a Raul Ibanez strike out, Pedro Feliz doubled and Carlos Ruiz walked. Hamels, the pitcher, laid down a bunt that neither Pettitte nor Jorge Posada fielded, which loaded the bases with one out. Pettitte would issue a bases loaded walk to Jimmy Rollins for the second run and Shane Victorino's sacrifice fly brought the third one in. After the dust settled, the Yankees found themselves down 3-0.
In the fourth, the Yankees would answer. A one out walk to Mark Teixeira brought A-Rod to the plate. He hit what at first looked like a double. But, upon watching the replay, it was clear that the ball had hit a camera that was leaning over the right field fence slightly. A-Rod felt it was actually a home run and Joe Girardi came out to request a replay review. The umpires did so and upon further review, they declared it a home run. The Phillies still had the lead, but it was down to 3-2.
Nick Swisher finally broke out in the fifth with a lead-off double. Melky Cabrera struck out for the next out and Pettitte was the next hitter. The lefty delivered a single that scored Swisher. Derek Jeter followed this up with a single to move Pettitte to second. Johnny Damon came through with the go ahead double to put the Yankees ahead 5-3. In the top of the sixth, Swisher added what had to be a gratifying home run off of Phillies pitcher J.A. Happ to move the Yankees to 6 runs.
In the bottom half of the inning, Werth once again hit a bomb off of Pettitte, a solo shot to lead off. But, that is where the frame would end, with the Yankees leading 6-4.
In the seventh, Damon walked with one out and stole second when Teixeira struck out. A-Rod was hit by a pitch (for the second time) and Posada tacked on an insurance run with an RBI single that scored Damon. The Yankees would add another one in the eighth when a pinch hitting Hideki Matsui hit a solo home run to deep left, putting the Yankees up 8-4.
On the pitching end, Joba Chamberlain entered for Pettitte in the seventh and retired the side in order. After Joba was lifted for Matsui, Damaso Marte was called on to face Ryan Howard, who he struck out. He did the same to the hot hitting Werth and retired Ibanez next for his own 1-2-3 inning.
In the ninth, Girardi opted to go with Phil Hughes, in an attempt to give Mariano Rivera another night off. After getting a ground out from Pedro Feliz, he allowed a solo home run to Ruiz, the 8 hitter. That was enough for Girardi as he immediately went to Mo. 5 pitches later, the game was over, as he set down Matt Stairs and Jimmy Rollins, closing out an 8-5 Yankees win. The Phillies now trail New York, 2 games to 1.
The series will pick back up tomorrow night at 8:20 PM ET when CC Sabathia (19-8, 3.37 regular season; 3-1, 1.52 postseason) will face (12-8, 4.05; 0-0, 4.66).
