05/17: Damon Gives Yanks 3rd Straight Walk-off Win
Posted by: Seamus
A.J. Burnett put in a solid performance and another Yankee, this time Johnny Damon, came up big in extra innings as the Yankees defeated the Twins by a score of 3–2. Johnny Damon's home run in the bottom of the 10th gave the Yanks their third straight walk-off win, the first time the team has done that since 1972.
A.J. Burnett and his Twins counterpart, Kevin Slowey, pretty much matched each other pitch for pitch through the first six innings, both not allowing a run before the 7th inning. The Twins did eventually get to Burnett though in the top of the 7th, as Matt Tolbert's single put the Twins ahead 1–0 and Minnesota got a second run in the inning when Nick Punto scored on a wild pitch by Burnett. A.J. finished the game with a respectable line of 2 runs on 6 hits in 6 and 2/3 innings while striking out 7.
The Yankees were able to bounce back in the bottom of the inning. A-Rod led the Yankees' half of the inning off with a solo home run, and the Yanks tied the game on a sac fly by Melky Cabrera that scored Hideki Matsui.
In the bottom of the 9th with the game still tied, Brett Gardner was brought in to pinch run for Nick Swisher at first base with nobody out, and promptly went on to waste his appearance in the game. While there was nothing wrong of course with the decision to pinch hit Gardner in the 9th, he ended up advancing to second on a bunt by Melky that would have gotten Swisher to second just as easily. Fair enough. On the next play, Francisco Cervelli hit a ball off the pitcher that came back towards Twins catcher Joe Mauer. Mauer pump faked a throw to first as Gardner came in rounding third, thinking he could possibly score from second on the groundout since Mauer was a good 20-30 feet in front of the plate. Mauer, whether it was instinctively or somebody motioned to him, turned around and was able to tag Gardner just in time to get the second out of the inning. The next batter, Cano, flied out to left and on we went to extra innings. I've heard some people say it was all instinct on Gardner's part, but your basic instinct as a major league ballplayer should be not to go home with less than two outs unless you're absolutely sure you can make it.
It turned out to be all moot anyway, as Johnny Damon put one into the seats in the bottom of the 10th to give the Yanks their 5th straight win. It was the Yankees' 3rd straight walk-off victory and the 5th straight game in which the Yankees won after trailing at some point.
The Yanks will go for the four-game sweep tomorrow night. The pitching matchup features a battle of lefties, as Andy Pettitte will take the mound against the Twins' Glen Perkins. Game starts at 7:05 ET.
Recap records: Patrick: 11–5, Seamus: 7–8, Andrew: 2–4.
A.J. Burnett and his Twins counterpart, Kevin Slowey, pretty much matched each other pitch for pitch through the first six innings, both not allowing a run before the 7th inning. The Twins did eventually get to Burnett though in the top of the 7th, as Matt Tolbert's single put the Twins ahead 1–0 and Minnesota got a second run in the inning when Nick Punto scored on a wild pitch by Burnett. A.J. finished the game with a respectable line of 2 runs on 6 hits in 6 and 2/3 innings while striking out 7.
The Yankees were able to bounce back in the bottom of the inning. A-Rod led the Yankees' half of the inning off with a solo home run, and the Yanks tied the game on a sac fly by Melky Cabrera that scored Hideki Matsui.
In the bottom of the 9th with the game still tied, Brett Gardner was brought in to pinch run for Nick Swisher at first base with nobody out, and promptly went on to waste his appearance in the game. While there was nothing wrong of course with the decision to pinch hit Gardner in the 9th, he ended up advancing to second on a bunt by Melky that would have gotten Swisher to second just as easily. Fair enough. On the next play, Francisco Cervelli hit a ball off the pitcher that came back towards Twins catcher Joe Mauer. Mauer pump faked a throw to first as Gardner came in rounding third, thinking he could possibly score from second on the groundout since Mauer was a good 20-30 feet in front of the plate. Mauer, whether it was instinctively or somebody motioned to him, turned around and was able to tag Gardner just in time to get the second out of the inning. The next batter, Cano, flied out to left and on we went to extra innings. I've heard some people say it was all instinct on Gardner's part, but your basic instinct as a major league ballplayer should be not to go home with less than two outs unless you're absolutely sure you can make it.
It turned out to be all moot anyway, as Johnny Damon put one into the seats in the bottom of the 10th to give the Yanks their 5th straight win. It was the Yankees' 3rd straight walk-off victory and the 5th straight game in which the Yankees won after trailing at some point.
The Yanks will go for the four-game sweep tomorrow night. The pitching matchup features a battle of lefties, as Andy Pettitte will take the mound against the Twins' Glen Perkins. Game starts at 7:05 ET.
Recap records: Patrick: 11–5, Seamus: 7–8, Andrew: 2–4.
