08/08: Clemens, Torre Ejected; Yankees Crush Jays, 9-2
Posted by: Patrick
Clemens started this game, pitching a very impressive 6 innings, allowing just 1 run on 2 hits and 1 walk, striking out 6. But, Clemens outing wasn't ended by himself or Torre, it was ended through ejection. In the 3rd inning of this game, Josh Towers hit A-Rod in the leg. I only just watched a quick replay of it on ESPN, so I can only speak to it so much, but after being thrown behind yesterday, A-Rod wasn't too pleased and Towers was saying some things... which led to the benches clearing.
After A-Rod took his base, apparently Towers still had some more to say and A-Rod didn't care for that. Benches cleared again. Nothing happened, but both benches were warned and all that. In the top of the 6th, Shelly Duncan made a hard slide into 2nd. He definitely slid a little late... but, he slid into the base and the guy was on the base. Anyway, it led to the guy covering the base being unable to catch the ball, making it 1st and 2nd with no outs, helping to set up a 2 run inning.
Back to Clemens. To start the 7th, he went up and too far in and hit Rios in the back. He was ejected and Torre was ejected, as well. He was replaced by Jim Brower, who pitched the 7th inning and was given 1 ER when Rios scored on a double. Following him, Joba got his first taste of the majors, pitching the 8th and 9th.
After retiring the first 2 batters in the 8th, he walked Lyle Overbay and allowed a single to Rios. However, he got Vernon Wells to fly out to end the inning. In the 9th, he struck out the lead off hitter, walked the next guy and then got Aaron Hill to ground into a DP to end it. Nice to see. Congrats to Joba. His line is 2 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 2 K.
Offensively, the Yankees gave the pitching more than enough to work with. Damon was 2 for 2 with 3 R, 1 RBI and 2 BB, Jeter was 2 for 5 with 2 RBI, Abreu was 2 for 5 with 1 R, 4 RBI and 1 3B, A-Rod was 0 for 4 with 1 R, Posada was 3 for 5 with 1 2B and 2 RBI, Cano was 0 for 1 with 3 BB (lol... nice!), Phillips was 1 for 5, Duncan was 1 for 4 with 1 R and Melky was 3 for 4 with 2 2B and 3 R. Giambi got into the game, as well, grounding into a fielder's choice in the 9th.
Detroit won, so we stay at .5 back in the Wild Card. As I write this, Boston is losing to the Angels 9-4 after 6. If they lose, we'll be 5 games back in the division.
Tomorrow, we'll get a great pitching match up, as Wang (13-5, 3.49) will go up against Roy Halladay (12-5, 4.12) at 7:07 PM ET.
After A-Rod took his base, apparently Towers still had some more to say and A-Rod didn't care for that. Benches cleared again. Nothing happened, but both benches were warned and all that. In the top of the 6th, Shelly Duncan made a hard slide into 2nd. He definitely slid a little late... but, he slid into the base and the guy was on the base. Anyway, it led to the guy covering the base being unable to catch the ball, making it 1st and 2nd with no outs, helping to set up a 2 run inning.
Back to Clemens. To start the 7th, he went up and too far in and hit Rios in the back. He was ejected and Torre was ejected, as well. He was replaced by Jim Brower, who pitched the 7th inning and was given 1 ER when Rios scored on a double. Following him, Joba got his first taste of the majors, pitching the 8th and 9th.
After retiring the first 2 batters in the 8th, he walked Lyle Overbay and allowed a single to Rios. However, he got Vernon Wells to fly out to end the inning. In the 9th, he struck out the lead off hitter, walked the next guy and then got Aaron Hill to ground into a DP to end it. Nice to see. Congrats to Joba. His line is 2 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 2 K.
Offensively, the Yankees gave the pitching more than enough to work with. Damon was 2 for 2 with 3 R, 1 RBI and 2 BB, Jeter was 2 for 5 with 2 RBI, Abreu was 2 for 5 with 1 R, 4 RBI and 1 3B, A-Rod was 0 for 4 with 1 R, Posada was 3 for 5 with 1 2B and 2 RBI, Cano was 0 for 1 with 3 BB (lol... nice!), Phillips was 1 for 5, Duncan was 1 for 4 with 1 R and Melky was 3 for 4 with 2 2B and 3 R. Giambi got into the game, as well, grounding into a fielder's choice in the 9th.
Detroit won, so we stay at .5 back in the Wild Card. As I write this, Boston is losing to the Angels 9-4 after 6. If they lose, we'll be 5 games back in the division.
Tomorrow, we'll get a great pitching match up, as Wang (13-5, 3.49) will go up against Roy Halladay (12-5, 4.12) at 7:07 PM ET.
