09/08: Yankees win opener of roadtrip with great bullpen effort
Posted by: David
Ian Kennedy struggled through five innings, but only gave up two runs and left with the game tied at two. Farnsworth, Chamberlain and Rivera pitched four scoreless innings and the Yankees added a run in the seventh to pull out a 3-2 victory.
Kennedy escaped a bases loaded jam in the first and had runners on in almost every inning. In the second, he gave up two runs to tie the score.
The Yankees had jumped out to a 2-0 lead on homers from A-Rod and Posada, but the Royals were able to tie it early and it remained so until the seventh.
Kansas City starter Gil Meche got out of a bases loaded jam of his own in the sixth when he was able to strike out Robinson Cano looking to end the inning.
In the seventh, Jeter got a two out single and Abreu followed with a double off the wall in left center with Jeter scoring.
Farnsworth pitched a solid sixth with two strikeouts and Joba Chamberlain pitched the 7th and the 8th without giving up a run. Chamberlain had his father and about 120 of his family and friends in attendance from Lincoln, Nebraska to support him. He was obviously pumped up and was overthrowing but got through the two innings unharmed.
Rivera was awesome in the ninth, retiring the side on seven pitches including a game ending strikeout of Mark Grudzielanek to preserve a 3-2 Yankee victory.
The series resumes tonight with Andy Pettitte squaring off against rookie Brian Bannister.
Kennedy escaped a bases loaded jam in the first and had runners on in almost every inning. In the second, he gave up two runs to tie the score.
The Yankees had jumped out to a 2-0 lead on homers from A-Rod and Posada, but the Royals were able to tie it early and it remained so until the seventh.
Kansas City starter Gil Meche got out of a bases loaded jam of his own in the sixth when he was able to strike out Robinson Cano looking to end the inning.
In the seventh, Jeter got a two out single and Abreu followed with a double off the wall in left center with Jeter scoring.
Farnsworth pitched a solid sixth with two strikeouts and Joba Chamberlain pitched the 7th and the 8th without giving up a run. Chamberlain had his father and about 120 of his family and friends in attendance from Lincoln, Nebraska to support him. He was obviously pumped up and was overthrowing but got through the two innings unharmed.
Rivera was awesome in the ninth, retiring the side on seven pitches including a game ending strikeout of Mark Grudzielanek to preserve a 3-2 Yankee victory.
The series resumes tonight with Andy Pettitte squaring off against rookie Brian Bannister.
