06/07: Yankees Beat Rays After Big 8th Inning Rally
Posted by: Seamus
The Yankees moved back into first place in the A.L. East after a late rally helped the Yankees climb over the Rays in the ballgame and over the Red Sox in the standings (Boston lost to Texas). The Yankees trailed 3–1 in the 8th but a three-run bottom of the inning helped net the Yankees their league-leading 20th come from behind victory of the season.
Both teams scored in their half of the 3rd inning (B.J. Upton RBI double for Tampa Bay, Nick Swisher solo homer for the Yanks), but that was all of the offense until the 6th, when Joba Chamberlain coughed up two runs that put the Rays up by a score of 3–1. Despite the rough inning, Joba had a pretty decent outing, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits in his 6 innings of work. Alfredo Aceves relieved Chamerlain to start the 7th and pitched two strong, scoreless innings to keep the Yankees in the game.
The Yankees remained behind until they were able to battle back with a 3-spot in the bottom of the 8th. The Yanks made it 3–2 after Grant Balfour walked in Robinson Cano, and that was followed up by a key play in which the Yankees tied the game when Rays third baseman Willy Aybar bobbled a ground ball from Jorge Posada that could've been an inning-ending double play had he handled it cleanly. Hideki Matsui then gave the Yankees the lead in the ensuing at bat, as he was able to beat out a double play for an RBI fielder's choice groundout.
Mariano Rivera bounced back from his rough 9th inning in yesterday's ballgame, and punched out the Rays 1-2-3 to earn his 13th save of the season.
The Yanks will try to take the rubber game of this series tomorrow evening as they'll send Andy Pettitte to the mound to face Andy Sonnanstine and the Rays. Game starts at 7:05 ET.
Recap records: Patrick: 16–7, Seamus: 13–11, Andrew: 4–5
Both teams scored in their half of the 3rd inning (B.J. Upton RBI double for Tampa Bay, Nick Swisher solo homer for the Yanks), but that was all of the offense until the 6th, when Joba Chamberlain coughed up two runs that put the Rays up by a score of 3–1. Despite the rough inning, Joba had a pretty decent outing, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits in his 6 innings of work. Alfredo Aceves relieved Chamerlain to start the 7th and pitched two strong, scoreless innings to keep the Yankees in the game.
The Yankees remained behind until they were able to battle back with a 3-spot in the bottom of the 8th. The Yanks made it 3–2 after Grant Balfour walked in Robinson Cano, and that was followed up by a key play in which the Yankees tied the game when Rays third baseman Willy Aybar bobbled a ground ball from Jorge Posada that could've been an inning-ending double play had he handled it cleanly. Hideki Matsui then gave the Yankees the lead in the ensuing at bat, as he was able to beat out a double play for an RBI fielder's choice groundout.
Mariano Rivera bounced back from his rough 9th inning in yesterday's ballgame, and punched out the Rays 1-2-3 to earn his 13th save of the season.
The Yanks will try to take the rubber game of this series tomorrow evening as they'll send Andy Pettitte to the mound to face Andy Sonnanstine and the Rays. Game starts at 7:05 ET.
Recap records: Patrick: 16–7, Seamus: 13–11, Andrew: 4–5
