04/03: Opening Night - Yankees vs. A's - Johnson vs. Zito
Posted by: Michael
We are set for the opening with fireworks and the star spangled banner in the background. I've got the mlb.tv broadcast up and running with it dialed into an Oakland channel for the pregame. Booo! Update: I just noticed as I was typing up this entry that they (the powers that be at mlb.tv) floated the broadcast over to the YES network. Most likely this is because YES and ESPN2 are broadcasting the game. Who knows...but I'll take it!).
Randy Johnson takes the mound this evening against Barry Zito who finished up last year with an abnormal 14-13 record.
First Inning: The top of the inning starts off with Damon striking out looking and Jeets popping out in foul territory. Zito then begins to work both Sheff and A-Rod high and tight. Both were able to draw walks to give way to Giambi. Giambi then strikes out and the second strike would have most definitely been a foul. The bottom of the inning begins with Randy Johnson throwing a first pitch strike. Another interesting stat is that its his 14th opening day start. Ellis pops into the centerfield and Damon records his first defensive play in pinstripes. Kotsay has a broken-bat hit to A-Rod, who drops the ball, picks it up and fires it to Giambi. Giambi totally misses the ball, and Kotsay is able to make it to second. Score an error for Jason. Bobby Crosby strikes out and Chavez hits a streaker to right only to be caught by Sheff. End of the inning with no score.
Second Inning: Matsui draws a walk and followed by Posada who draws a walk. Zito is a walking machine! Murcer seems to think Zito is not finishing his pitches. Line drive by BERNIE into centerfield and Matsui scores! Yanks lead 1-0! Cano bunts with the throw to third to get Posada...but Posada beats the throw! Bases load with nobody out. Damon singles to right and Posada scores! Yanks lead 2-0! Oakland gets their bullpen working. Jeter line drives to left and Bernie scores! Yanks lead 3-0! Let's talk about some small ball. Sheff strikes out while at the same time getting hit by the pitch. Ouch! And speaking of ouch...A-Rod just tees off on Zito for his first home run of the season! A Grand Slam and the Yankees lead 7-0!!! Kirk Saarloos enters the game and faces Giambi who promptly strikes out for the second out of the inning. Matsui singles to center and Posada gets hit down near the knees. Yikes! Bernie then pops out to Kotsay with 2 men left on base. Let's hope Randy isn't stiff. Big Hurt up at the plate almost slices off a homer down the leftfield line, and then actually homers in middle left. Milton Bradley strikes out swinging. Jay Payton flies out to right. Kendall is up at the plate with the guys on YES forcasting a home run...fortunately he strikes out and the long second inning ends. Yanks lead 7-1.
3rd Inning: Cano singles to left. Damon then flies out to right. Jeter swings the bat with Kendall picking up Cano streaking to second. Kendall is able to throw out Cano with Oakland shortstop Crosby coming up with a hand injury. It appears not to be serious, but he leaves the game as a precaution. Jeter then strikes out. Nick Swisher hits a slow roller to A-Rod who can't make the throw to Giambi in time. I'm just happy they held him to first base. Mark Ellis pops out to Damon. Kotsay then singles to left and we have runners at first and second. Crosby is still in the game as he is at the plate. Crosby pops out to Damon, who then makes a rather weak throw all the way into the infield. Runner Swisher advances to 3rd. Chavez then pops out to left to end the 3rd. Yankees lead 7-1.
4th Inning: Sheff reaches on an error by Crosby. Still feeling the effects from Cano's hard slide I'm sure. A-Rod singles on a hard grounder to second, and Sheff advances to 3rd. Giambi then singles in Sheff on a liner into center field. Yanks lead 8-1. With runners on 1st and 2nd, Matsui booms a shot high into rightfield, and the Yanks add another 3. The Yankee lead is now 11-1. The A's are leaving in Saarloos to soak up innings. Posada hits the ball sharply into rightfield, but it is run down by Bradley for the first out. Singleton makes the comment that every Yankee has scored. What a great game! Kotsay makes a great play diving for Bernie's lofty pop. Cano doubles off a line drive to left. Fortnately Payton couldn't come up with it. Damon then pops out to left for the 3rd out. Big Hurt comes up to the plate a pops it up to Jeter for the first out. Bradley lines one into left field. Jay Payton bloops to Jeter for the second out, and Kendall gets the final out on a great play by A-Rod to Giambi. Finally! Yankees lead 11-1!
5th Inning: Crosby offically leaves the game from a bruised finger. Perez takes his place. Jeter grounds out to Chavez. Sheff streaks a shot down the leftfield line (his second of the inning) for a standing double. A-Rod hits a line drive right at Mark Ellis for the second out. Congrats to Florida for winning the men's college basketball championship. Pitching change as former Yankee Brad Halsey enters the game. Lots of Yankee fans here in Oakland, and it is always good to see the team represented on the road. Giambi up at the plate and gets hit on the right hand. Owww! Matsui is fouling them off and staying alive. Then singles to center to drive in Sheffield. The Yankees now lead 12-1. Matsui has been on base all four times at the plate. Posada gets plunked for the second time this evening and now our guys on YES are questioning if it was intentional. I don't believe it as the bases are now loaded with Bernie at the plate. Halsey walks in Bernie and the Yankees lead 13-1. Cano steps into the batters box, and gets the 3rd out on a ball hit to Swisher. Check swing by Swisher who pops out to Giambi for the first out. Mark Ellis pops out into foul territory to Giambi (who almost runs over Posada) for the second out. Kotsay line drives a ball into left field. Perez is up at the plate for the first time this evening and hits the ball softly to Jeter who throws to Cano at second to record the third out. Yankees lead 13-1.
6th Inning: The game becomes offical and it starts to rain. Damon grounds out for the first out. Jeter grounds out to Swisher for the second out. Then Sheff pops out to Perez to finish the side. A commerical just came on for Silent Hill. That movie looks scary -- but not something I'll check out until it comes out on DVD. Chavez grounds to Cano for the first out. Johnson might be sending a message, or just brushing back Frank Thomas. Regardless, the Big Hurt didn't like it as he stares down Randy. A-Rod makes an outstanding play by robbing Thomas of a double by stretching out and snagging a hard hit ball and making a great throw to Giambi. Bradley pops out to Sheff to end the inning. Yankees lead 13-1.
7th Inning: Witasik replaces Halsey. A-Rod promptly grounds out for the first out of the inning. Giambi draws a walk and is then replaced by Andy Phillips. Matsui singles, and Posada makes Payton run down a ball into the far leftfield corner for the second out. Bernie is making Witasik work it, but he ends up striking out with two men on base. Bubba Crosby comes into the game for Sheffield, and Phillips takes Giambi's post at first. Payton pops out to Matsui and Kendall grounds out to Cano for the first and second outs. Bubba Crosby runs down the pop by Swisher to record the final out of the inning. On to the eighth! Yankees lead 13-1.
8th Inning: Randy Johnson leaves the game. He ties with A-Rod for YanksBlog.com game ball. Cano grounds out, then Damon gets a double on a line drive to right. Jeter singles up the middle, and Damon scores! The Yanks lead 14-1. One more run and they tie their home opener record for most runs scored. Can they do it? I shudder to think of the vibrations sent throughout the league on such a display of power on opening day. Well, come to think of it, the vibrations were already sent a few days ago when Stark and Gammons both predicted the Yankees to come out on top in 2006. A-Rod drives in Jeter on a line drive into right. The Yankees lead 15-1! The record is tied. Runners at first and second with Andy Phillips up at the plate. Phillips flies out to right. Sturtze is due up in the bottom of the 8th in relief of RJ. Matsui draws a walk and the bases are loaded. Posada is up with no hits tonight, although he has been on base three times. Let's go Posada...get that hit! Break that record! Ground to first for the third out. I must admit, I think the Geico commericals are rather clever, but the current one about the cavemen is getting a bit old. Sturtze is in the game, and Michael Kay is already talking about Sturtze's former tired arm. Let's just say Torre overused him the last several years. Stinnett replaces Posada. Mark Ellis gets a base hit, and the leadoff man is on. Kotsay flies out to Damon for the first out. Perez strikes out, and Chavez pops out to Damon for the final out of the inning. On to the 9th, and yes folks it's 1:04am ET. Yanks lead 15-1.
9th Inning: Kiko Calero replaces Witasick to start the 9th and then promptly strikes out Bernie. Bernie ends the night 1-5, 2 strike-outs and 2 RBI's. Cano then strikes out. Calero has quite a nice breaking ball, but that last pitch was a little high. Damon launches a ball into the third base bag and gains a double due to great luck. Ok, team, we can break the record here. The rain is starting to come down harder as Ron Villone is ready to take the place of Sturtze for the bottom of the 9th. Jeter is walked, and Bubba Crosby comes to the plate. 2 men on with 2 strikes, and Crosby grounds out to Ellis for the 3rd out. Villone in the game and pitches against pinch hitter Dan Johnson. Johnson hits a squib right in front of the mound, and Villone pounces off the mound to make the play at first. Villone exhibited some sleek and cat-like moves out there in making that play. Bradley gets a hit on a line drive into left field. There are so few fans here, you can actually hear the rally drums from the outfield. Of course I'm assuming that is what I hear. Payton gets a hit, and Bradley advances to third on a bobble from Crosby in right. Kendall pops out on a sac fly to center and Bradley scores. The lead is cut 15-2. The game ends on a strike out of Swisher. Final score 15-2 and the Yankees win!
The Yankee bats were sharp tonight, and Randy was just Randy in picking up his first win of the season. Zito was pitiful, and the A's had to stick with a few of their middle relief guys longer than they wanted based on the upcoming schedule. Randy Johnson and A-Rod tie in getting the game ball. Matsui was 4-4 with 2 BB and a three run shot and comes in a close second for that honor. Please let me know your comments about my commentary this evening. I leave you with the sounds of Frank Sinatra singing "New York, New York." Good night.
Randy Johnson takes the mound this evening against Barry Zito who finished up last year with an abnormal 14-13 record.
First Inning: The top of the inning starts off with Damon striking out looking and Jeets popping out in foul territory. Zito then begins to work both Sheff and A-Rod high and tight. Both were able to draw walks to give way to Giambi. Giambi then strikes out and the second strike would have most definitely been a foul. The bottom of the inning begins with Randy Johnson throwing a first pitch strike. Another interesting stat is that its his 14th opening day start. Ellis pops into the centerfield and Damon records his first defensive play in pinstripes. Kotsay has a broken-bat hit to A-Rod, who drops the ball, picks it up and fires it to Giambi. Giambi totally misses the ball, and Kotsay is able to make it to second. Score an error for Jason. Bobby Crosby strikes out and Chavez hits a streaker to right only to be caught by Sheff. End of the inning with no score.
Second Inning: Matsui draws a walk and followed by Posada who draws a walk. Zito is a walking machine! Murcer seems to think Zito is not finishing his pitches. Line drive by BERNIE into centerfield and Matsui scores! Yanks lead 1-0! Cano bunts with the throw to third to get Posada...but Posada beats the throw! Bases load with nobody out. Damon singles to right and Posada scores! Yanks lead 2-0! Oakland gets their bullpen working. Jeter line drives to left and Bernie scores! Yanks lead 3-0! Let's talk about some small ball. Sheff strikes out while at the same time getting hit by the pitch. Ouch! And speaking of ouch...A-Rod just tees off on Zito for his first home run of the season! A Grand Slam and the Yankees lead 7-0!!! Kirk Saarloos enters the game and faces Giambi who promptly strikes out for the second out of the inning. Matsui singles to center and Posada gets hit down near the knees. Yikes! Bernie then pops out to Kotsay with 2 men left on base. Let's hope Randy isn't stiff. Big Hurt up at the plate almost slices off a homer down the leftfield line, and then actually homers in middle left. Milton Bradley strikes out swinging. Jay Payton flies out to right. Kendall is up at the plate with the guys on YES forcasting a home run...fortunately he strikes out and the long second inning ends. Yanks lead 7-1.
3rd Inning: Cano singles to left. Damon then flies out to right. Jeter swings the bat with Kendall picking up Cano streaking to second. Kendall is able to throw out Cano with Oakland shortstop Crosby coming up with a hand injury. It appears not to be serious, but he leaves the game as a precaution. Jeter then strikes out. Nick Swisher hits a slow roller to A-Rod who can't make the throw to Giambi in time. I'm just happy they held him to first base. Mark Ellis pops out to Damon. Kotsay then singles to left and we have runners at first and second. Crosby is still in the game as he is at the plate. Crosby pops out to Damon, who then makes a rather weak throw all the way into the infield. Runner Swisher advances to 3rd. Chavez then pops out to left to end the 3rd. Yankees lead 7-1.
4th Inning: Sheff reaches on an error by Crosby. Still feeling the effects from Cano's hard slide I'm sure. A-Rod singles on a hard grounder to second, and Sheff advances to 3rd. Giambi then singles in Sheff on a liner into center field. Yanks lead 8-1. With runners on 1st and 2nd, Matsui booms a shot high into rightfield, and the Yanks add another 3. The Yankee lead is now 11-1. The A's are leaving in Saarloos to soak up innings. Posada hits the ball sharply into rightfield, but it is run down by Bradley for the first out. Singleton makes the comment that every Yankee has scored. What a great game! Kotsay makes a great play diving for Bernie's lofty pop. Cano doubles off a line drive to left. Fortnately Payton couldn't come up with it. Damon then pops out to left for the 3rd out. Big Hurt comes up to the plate a pops it up to Jeter for the first out. Bradley lines one into left field. Jay Payton bloops to Jeter for the second out, and Kendall gets the final out on a great play by A-Rod to Giambi. Finally! Yankees lead 11-1!
5th Inning: Crosby offically leaves the game from a bruised finger. Perez takes his place. Jeter grounds out to Chavez. Sheff streaks a shot down the leftfield line (his second of the inning) for a standing double. A-Rod hits a line drive right at Mark Ellis for the second out. Congrats to Florida for winning the men's college basketball championship. Pitching change as former Yankee Brad Halsey enters the game. Lots of Yankee fans here in Oakland, and it is always good to see the team represented on the road. Giambi up at the plate and gets hit on the right hand. Owww! Matsui is fouling them off and staying alive. Then singles to center to drive in Sheffield. The Yankees now lead 12-1. Matsui has been on base all four times at the plate. Posada gets plunked for the second time this evening and now our guys on YES are questioning if it was intentional. I don't believe it as the bases are now loaded with Bernie at the plate. Halsey walks in Bernie and the Yankees lead 13-1. Cano steps into the batters box, and gets the 3rd out on a ball hit to Swisher. Check swing by Swisher who pops out to Giambi for the first out. Mark Ellis pops out into foul territory to Giambi (who almost runs over Posada) for the second out. Kotsay line drives a ball into left field. Perez is up at the plate for the first time this evening and hits the ball softly to Jeter who throws to Cano at second to record the third out. Yankees lead 13-1.
6th Inning: The game becomes offical and it starts to rain. Damon grounds out for the first out. Jeter grounds out to Swisher for the second out. Then Sheff pops out to Perez to finish the side. A commerical just came on for Silent Hill. That movie looks scary -- but not something I'll check out until it comes out on DVD. Chavez grounds to Cano for the first out. Johnson might be sending a message, or just brushing back Frank Thomas. Regardless, the Big Hurt didn't like it as he stares down Randy. A-Rod makes an outstanding play by robbing Thomas of a double by stretching out and snagging a hard hit ball and making a great throw to Giambi. Bradley pops out to Sheff to end the inning. Yankees lead 13-1.
7th Inning: Witasik replaces Halsey. A-Rod promptly grounds out for the first out of the inning. Giambi draws a walk and is then replaced by Andy Phillips. Matsui singles, and Posada makes Payton run down a ball into the far leftfield corner for the second out. Bernie is making Witasik work it, but he ends up striking out with two men on base. Bubba Crosby comes into the game for Sheffield, and Phillips takes Giambi's post at first. Payton pops out to Matsui and Kendall grounds out to Cano for the first and second outs. Bubba Crosby runs down the pop by Swisher to record the final out of the inning. On to the eighth! Yankees lead 13-1.
8th Inning: Randy Johnson leaves the game. He ties with A-Rod for YanksBlog.com game ball. Cano grounds out, then Damon gets a double on a line drive to right. Jeter singles up the middle, and Damon scores! The Yanks lead 14-1. One more run and they tie their home opener record for most runs scored. Can they do it? I shudder to think of the vibrations sent throughout the league on such a display of power on opening day. Well, come to think of it, the vibrations were already sent a few days ago when Stark and Gammons both predicted the Yankees to come out on top in 2006. A-Rod drives in Jeter on a line drive into right. The Yankees lead 15-1! The record is tied. Runners at first and second with Andy Phillips up at the plate. Phillips flies out to right. Sturtze is due up in the bottom of the 8th in relief of RJ. Matsui draws a walk and the bases are loaded. Posada is up with no hits tonight, although he has been on base three times. Let's go Posada...get that hit! Break that record! Ground to first for the third out. I must admit, I think the Geico commericals are rather clever, but the current one about the cavemen is getting a bit old. Sturtze is in the game, and Michael Kay is already talking about Sturtze's former tired arm. Let's just say Torre overused him the last several years. Stinnett replaces Posada. Mark Ellis gets a base hit, and the leadoff man is on. Kotsay flies out to Damon for the first out. Perez strikes out, and Chavez pops out to Damon for the final out of the inning. On to the 9th, and yes folks it's 1:04am ET. Yanks lead 15-1.
9th Inning: Kiko Calero replaces Witasick to start the 9th and then promptly strikes out Bernie. Bernie ends the night 1-5, 2 strike-outs and 2 RBI's. Cano then strikes out. Calero has quite a nice breaking ball, but that last pitch was a little high. Damon launches a ball into the third base bag and gains a double due to great luck. Ok, team, we can break the record here. The rain is starting to come down harder as Ron Villone is ready to take the place of Sturtze for the bottom of the 9th. Jeter is walked, and Bubba Crosby comes to the plate. 2 men on with 2 strikes, and Crosby grounds out to Ellis for the 3rd out. Villone in the game and pitches against pinch hitter Dan Johnson. Johnson hits a squib right in front of the mound, and Villone pounces off the mound to make the play at first. Villone exhibited some sleek and cat-like moves out there in making that play. Bradley gets a hit on a line drive into left field. There are so few fans here, you can actually hear the rally drums from the outfield. Of course I'm assuming that is what I hear. Payton gets a hit, and Bradley advances to third on a bobble from Crosby in right. Kendall pops out on a sac fly to center and Bradley scores. The lead is cut 15-2. The game ends on a strike out of Swisher. Final score 15-2 and the Yankees win!
The Yankee bats were sharp tonight, and Randy was just Randy in picking up his first win of the season. Zito was pitiful, and the A's had to stick with a few of their middle relief guys longer than they wanted based on the upcoming schedule. Randy Johnson and A-Rod tie in getting the game ball. Matsui was 4-4 with 2 BB and a three run shot and comes in a close second for that honor. Please let me know your comments about my commentary this evening. I leave you with the sounds of Frank Sinatra singing "New York, New York." Good night.
Patrick wrote: