The Comeback Kids strike again!

by Travis G on May 23, 2009 7:17 PM EDT in Game Recap

Melky Cabrera hit his third walk-off hit of the season to give the Yanks their ML best 17th come-from-behind win.

It looked like we were going to lament one bad pitch by Andy Pettitte (a three-run jack in the fifth), but the Yanks tacked on a run in the sixth, then rallied for three in the ninth (against one of the game's best closers no less).

The pleasure of this game was seeing the young guys come through yet again. Despite A-Rod's clutch homer in the bottom of the ninth, I didn't have utmost confidence Rivera could shut down the homerific Phillies in this homerific park. But Cano followed with a clean single, then stole second (something he's not usually good at). Melky came to bat, and watched a slider cross the outer edge of the plate. Lidge threw another in the same spot and Melky put a nice, easy swing on it, depositing it into right-center field for the game-winning hit. Here's how it went down:

New York - Bottom of 9th	SCORE
Brad Lidge pitching for Philadelphia	PHI	NYY
B Lidge relieved R Madson.	4	2
J Damon walked.	4	2
J Damon to second on fielder's indifference.	4	2
M Teixeira struck out swinging.	4	2
A Rodriguez homered to right, J Damon scored.	4	4
R Cano singled to center.	4	4
R Cano stole second.	4	4
M Cabrera doubled to right center, R Cano scored.	4	5

Who shouldn't be forgotten is Phil Coke, who pitched 1.2 scoreless relief innings to keep the Yanks within two.

Who should also be recognized is Kevin Long. Despite not hitting J.A. Happ much at all, the Yanks' ABs against Brad Lidge looked like they'd seen him hundreds of times. The only hitter who didn't look comfortable was Teixeira. Everyone else looked comfortable and confident, especially A-Rod, who laid off slider after slider until Lidge finally threw a full-count fastball; A-Rod was ready, putting a pretty, opposite-field swing on it, lining it into the first few rows of the right-field stands (a New Yankee Stadium Special).

Great rubber match tomorrow: Sabathia vs. Hamels.

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Hmmm

I am trying to figure out the most satisfying part of that game:
1) A-Rod’s stupendously clutch homer
2) Cano getting the single then stealing second and Melky’s clutchiness
3) Burnett’s cream pieS
4) Joe Buck looking like he caught someone feeling up his daughter during the post game.

by HappyLuckyGoldenDragonNumber1! on May 23, 2009 7:25 PM EDT reply actions

i'd take #1 or 2

and how about FOX assuming the guy sitting in the stands near where Mayberry’s HR landed was John, Sr.! ok, he was black (like Mayberry) and cheering for the Phils, so he’s his dad? i was questioning that when i saw it – first off, Mayberry Sr. is probably sitting in the field level, 2) that dude was wearing all Panama paraphrenalia.

by Travis G on May 23, 2009 7:34 PM EDT up reply actions

To be fair

I think they said that the guy’s name actually was John Mayberry Sr. …., but not THAT John Mayberry Sr.?

by FreeBradshaw on May 23, 2009 7:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I would take

or #2 anyday, but #4 was priceless and your description of his expression nailed it!!

Pride, Power, Pinstripes...Go Yankees!

by acman319 on May 23, 2009 8:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Joe Buck has a daughter?

isn’t he a homo?

by Brian5517209 on May 23, 2009 9:48 PM EDT up reply actions

A-Rod

While that average doesn’t look to good right now, the other stuff looks incredible. He’s been making good contact, the AB where he pulled the HR foul, then grounded out hard to third (a hit that many times is a single or double down the line) comes to mind.

He’s been incredibly patient too with those sliders in the dirt. It wasn’t just against Lidge.

He’s letting pitchers pitch too him. He strikes out here sometimes too, but that’s OK cuz the pitcher is coming after him and K’s him on "A-Rod’s’ terms.

A-Rod’s eye looks to be better than I’ve ever seen it. Its just a matter of time before that average comes up.

by FreeBradshaw on May 23, 2009 7:40 PM EDT reply actions

i think our second run came in the sixth or seventh

not the eighth

by Brian5517209 on May 23, 2009 9:49 PM EDT reply actions

you're right

i changed it to the 6th, but it didnt save the edit for some reason. fixed now.

by Travis G on May 24, 2009 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions

great day

Not only do we pull out the win, but the Blue Jays lose and the Mets beat Papelbon and the Red Sox. (Also, the Mets turned in some pretty unbelievable defense in the bottom of the 9th.)

by long time listener on May 23, 2009 10:02 PM EDT reply actions

I watched the ninth;

great ballgame. Papelbon acted like a complete jerk (what else is new). How he gets a pass for all of his histrionics, and Joba gets killed for pumping his fist is beyond me.

"Here, if you have a milkshake, and I have a milkshake, and I have a straw. There it is, that's a straw, you see? You watching?. And my straw reaches acroooooooss the room, and starts to drink your milkshake... I... drink... your... milkshake!"-Daniel Plainview

by yankee come lately on May 23, 2009 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

The way he ran out in the ninth when the umpire called the out at second was bush league. Or rather little league. Hey Paps, maybe you should have kept the ball in the yard in the top half. Infant.

by HappyLuckyGoldenDragonNumber1! on May 24, 2009 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions

Beautiful day in the Bronx

mets beat boston and the blue jays lose to the braves and the yankees are 1/2 a game out of first. GO YANKEES!!!

by donnybaseball23 on May 23, 2009 10:09 PM EDT reply actions

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO YANKEES!!!!!!

by Brian5517209 on May 23, 2009 10:15 PM EDT reply actions

Could it be?

The Yankees have started playing fundamental baseball and it has translated to wins, This is looking like the ’98 team

by BlackandGoldSSgt on May 23, 2009 10:18 PM EDT reply actions

the 98 team had a damn good bullpen

this group…not as good

by Brian5517209 on May 24, 2009 12:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Pen is shaping up

If Bruney stays healthy he can be a great RH set-up man like Nelson was in ’98, Phil Coke is getting better and could fill the LH role that Mike Stanton had in ’98 and Aceves is looking great, just the way Ramiro Mendoza did in ’98. What they need is a lefty specialist like they had in Graeme Lloyd in ’98 and Damaso Marte is TERRIBLE!

by jd68 on May 24, 2009 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Damn, what a game!

Started jumping around the living room as soon as A-rod hit it. Talk about clutch! I love winning games coming from behind. It reminds me of the good old days where no lead was safe against the Yanks. This team doesn’t give up and the best part is that they can build from this and believe they can come back against any team under any situation. I’m loving this team. Wow.

"Basketball doesn't build character. It reveals it"

by PanamaSun on May 24, 2009 2:38 AM EDT reply actions