08/13: After Blowing Moose's Win in the Eighth, Yanks Win on Bombs in the 12th
Posted by: Patrick
I guess it should be the norm, this season, by now, but I'm still amazed by the consistency that Mike Mussina has had this year. If there is one individual milestone I want a Yankee to accomplish this season, it's for Moose to win 20 games. In last night's effort, he threw 7 innings, allowing just 3 earned runs on 8 hits while striking out 5 and walking 1. He left the game with a 6-3 lead. Win number 16, here we come!
Not so fast. Damaso Marte relieved Moose and allowed a double to the first batter. After a fly out, pinch hitter Randy Ruiz singled to right, putting runners on first and third for Delmon Young. Mariano entered, in attempt to clean up the mess.
What's the worst possible thing that could happen? Well, it happened. Young took Mo deep to right, hitting a three run homer that tied the game and gave Rivera his first blown save of the season. Ouch. But, with that out of the way, Mo retired 5 out of the next 6 batters, allowing just a single and forcing extra innings.
The Yankees offense was quiet in the 10th and Jose Veras entered to pitch the bottom half, retiring the side in order. Another scoreless inning for both teams followed in the 11th, Veras again faced three hitters and retired three hitters. Veras' ERA is now down to 2.79.
In the top of the 12, with one out, A-Rod homered to center to give the Yankees the lead. The red hot Xavier Nady added a pair of insurance runs with a home run of his own, scoring Ivan Rodriguez.
Edwar Ramirez pitched the 12th and it was yet another 1-2-3 inning. So, Veras and Ramirez combined to set the entire Twins lineup down in order in the extra innings of this game. Ramirez collected his first save of the season, while Veras collected win number 3.
With the exception of Jose Molina (0 for 4, 1 run and 1 walk), every Yankee starter collected a hit in this one. The offene was led by Xavier Nady (2 for 5, a double, a home run and 4 RBIs), Johnny Damon (3 for 5, a home run and 2 runs) and Derek Jeter (3 for 5, 1 RBI). Abreu and Giambi also had 2 hits each.
Jeter fouled a ball off his foot in the fourth inning. He stayed in the game, collecting hits in his next three at bats, but was removed in the ninth. He had x-rays and they were fine, so he may play today.
Not so fast. Damaso Marte relieved Moose and allowed a double to the first batter. After a fly out, pinch hitter Randy Ruiz singled to right, putting runners on first and third for Delmon Young. Mariano entered, in attempt to clean up the mess.
What's the worst possible thing that could happen? Well, it happened. Young took Mo deep to right, hitting a three run homer that tied the game and gave Rivera his first blown save of the season. Ouch. But, with that out of the way, Mo retired 5 out of the next 6 batters, allowing just a single and forcing extra innings.
The Yankees offense was quiet in the 10th and Jose Veras entered to pitch the bottom half, retiring the side in order. Another scoreless inning for both teams followed in the 11th, Veras again faced three hitters and retired three hitters. Veras' ERA is now down to 2.79.
In the top of the 12, with one out, A-Rod homered to center to give the Yankees the lead. The red hot Xavier Nady added a pair of insurance runs with a home run of his own, scoring Ivan Rodriguez.
Edwar Ramirez pitched the 12th and it was yet another 1-2-3 inning. So, Veras and Ramirez combined to set the entire Twins lineup down in order in the extra innings of this game. Ramirez collected his first save of the season, while Veras collected win number 3.
With the exception of Jose Molina (0 for 4, 1 run and 1 walk), every Yankee starter collected a hit in this one. The offene was led by Xavier Nady (2 for 5, a double, a home run and 4 RBIs), Johnny Damon (3 for 5, a home run and 2 runs) and Derek Jeter (3 for 5, 1 RBI). Abreu and Giambi also had 2 hits each.
Jeter fouled a ball off his foot in the fourth inning. He stayed in the game, collecting hits in his next three at bats, but was removed in the ninth. He had x-rays and they were fine, so he may play today.
Greg wrote: