06/12: Four Homers and an Unbelievable Finish Lead to 9-8 Yankees Victory
Posted by: Patrick
The Yankees opened a three game set at home against the Mets, with Joba Chamberlain going against Livan Hernandez. Joba's result wasn't terrible - except for the fact that he managed to throw 100 pitches in four innings, hence getting himself removed from the game. He allowed 2 earned runs on 1 hit and 5 walks.
He pitched better than Livan, certainly, as the Yankees rung up 6 runs against the veteran righty in 5 and 1/3 innings. Unfortunately, Brett Tomko was pretty bad, taking over for Joba to start the fifth. It went like this: double, runner advances to third on stolen base, walk, 2 RBI double, 2 run HR, strike out, fly out, walk... end of his night. Dave Robertson got the final out.
At that point, the Yankees were down 6 to 3, having scored runs on a Robinson Cano solo homer in the second and a Mark Teixeira two run shot in the third. Derek Jeter added another solo shot in the fifth to make it 6-4. And in the very next inning, Hideki Matsui hit a three run blast to give the Yankees a 7-6 lead.
The mets came right back to tie it up in the seventh, with Phil Coke allowing a run on a double play. In the eighth, Mariano Rivera entered with two outs and no runners on to face Carlos Beltran, who he walked. David Wright followed with a double to give the Mets a one run lead.
The Yankees went down quietly in the 8th and Mo set the Mets down in order in the top of the 9th. What happened in the bottom of the ninth was insane and, for this, I pass you to Seamus Molloy, who watched the game live:
Things were not looking good as Francisco Rodriguez was 16 for 16 coming into the game in save situations. The inning started out innocently enough, as Brett Gardner led off by popping up to the catcher. Derek Jeter kept hopes alive with a single up the middle. Johnny Damon struck out on a 3-2 changeup. Mark Teixeira came up as the Yankees' last hope, and was intentionally walked after K-Rod's first three pitches all missed the plate, bringing up A-Rod, who was 1-14 in his career against K-Rod.
Rodriguez promptly popped up to short right field and threw his bat down in frustration before the ball finally hit the glove of Luis Castillo... and fell out of it. Incredibly, Castillo could not hold onto the routine fly, the ball dropped to the ground, and both Jeter and Teixeira scored to give the Yankees a 9–8 victory. Probably the most bizarre ending you'll ever see to a ballgame. Here's the clip:
And there you have it - Yankees win. Wow.
The offense was led by Hideki Matsui (1 for 4, 1 HR, 3 RBI), Derek Jeter (2 for 5, 2 R, 1 HR), Mark Teixeira (2 for 3, 1 R, 1 HR and 2 BB) and Robinson Cano (2 for 4, 2 R, 1 RBI). Mo collected his first win of the season.
Game 2 is tomorrow at 4:10 PM ET with Andy Pettitte (6-2, 4.22) facing off against Fernando Nieve (0-0, 0.00).
He pitched better than Livan, certainly, as the Yankees rung up 6 runs against the veteran righty in 5 and 1/3 innings. Unfortunately, Brett Tomko was pretty bad, taking over for Joba to start the fifth. It went like this: double, runner advances to third on stolen base, walk, 2 RBI double, 2 run HR, strike out, fly out, walk... end of his night. Dave Robertson got the final out.
At that point, the Yankees were down 6 to 3, having scored runs on a Robinson Cano solo homer in the second and a Mark Teixeira two run shot in the third. Derek Jeter added another solo shot in the fifth to make it 6-4. And in the very next inning, Hideki Matsui hit a three run blast to give the Yankees a 7-6 lead.
The mets came right back to tie it up in the seventh, with Phil Coke allowing a run on a double play. In the eighth, Mariano Rivera entered with two outs and no runners on to face Carlos Beltran, who he walked. David Wright followed with a double to give the Mets a one run lead.
The Yankees went down quietly in the 8th and Mo set the Mets down in order in the top of the 9th. What happened in the bottom of the ninth was insane and, for this, I pass you to Seamus Molloy, who watched the game live:
Things were not looking good as Francisco Rodriguez was 16 for 16 coming into the game in save situations. The inning started out innocently enough, as Brett Gardner led off by popping up to the catcher. Derek Jeter kept hopes alive with a single up the middle. Johnny Damon struck out on a 3-2 changeup. Mark Teixeira came up as the Yankees' last hope, and was intentionally walked after K-Rod's first three pitches all missed the plate, bringing up A-Rod, who was 1-14 in his career against K-Rod.
Rodriguez promptly popped up to short right field and threw his bat down in frustration before the ball finally hit the glove of Luis Castillo... and fell out of it. Incredibly, Castillo could not hold onto the routine fly, the ball dropped to the ground, and both Jeter and Teixeira scored to give the Yankees a 9–8 victory. Probably the most bizarre ending you'll ever see to a ballgame. Here's the clip:
And there you have it - Yankees win. Wow.
The offense was led by Hideki Matsui (1 for 4, 1 HR, 3 RBI), Derek Jeter (2 for 5, 2 R, 1 HR), Mark Teixeira (2 for 3, 1 R, 1 HR and 2 BB) and Robinson Cano (2 for 4, 2 R, 1 RBI). Mo collected his first win of the season.
Game 2 is tomorrow at 4:10 PM ET with Andy Pettitte (6-2, 4.22) facing off against Fernando Nieve (0-0, 0.00).
