Pitching and defense: Another 2-1 win

by Travis G on Jul 20, 2009 10:17 PM EDT in Game Recap Comment 39 comments

You might say Hideki Matsui was the hero of tonight's game, but that wouldn't be so. That honor goes to Andy Pettitte, who continued his domination of the O's by holding them to one run in 7.1 innings (and that run came way back in the first). He matched his season high for innings and broke his season high for Ks with eight.

Behind Andy, the defense turned two double plays and made several more fine plays that saved runs. In the second,

In the eighth, with the score tied at one and the infield back with a runner on third, Mark Teixeira scooped a grounder and fired home, barely getting the speedy Cesar Izturis. In the very next AB, Phil Coke threw a 55-footer and the runner was coming home to score, but Molina pounced on the ball and threw to Coke who was covering the plate, again just barely getting Brian Roberts. Sure Coke shouldn't have thrown the wild pitch in the first place, but he should get credit for getting to homeplate quickly. Too often do pitchers get to home just a tad late to nail the runner.

"Pick me out a winner." Matsui's game-winning homer was like something out of The Natural. He broke his bat on a 2-0 foul, got a new bat, and three pitches later launched the capper in the bottom of the ninth.

Two hours and 34 minutes - brilliant! The only other run came on Eric Hinske's fourth Yankee homer (in only five games).

As I write this, John Smoltz is unraveling down in Texas as the Rangers lead the Red Sox 6-2 in the sixth. If the score holds up, we'll have another first-place tie.

PS: Chien-Ming Wang had a setback during his throwing program today, feeling 'tenderness' in his bicep. I wouldn't be surprised if he misses the rest of the season. How long will the Yanks go with Sergio Mitre? Will a certain reliever get another shot in the rotation?

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I guess we don't have to send Andy to the bullpen...

…right Travis?

by New York Sports Jerk on Jul 20, 2009 10:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

can't we all just get along?

by FreeBradshaw on Jul 20, 2009 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Haha...

…I’m just needling him.

At some point people are going to realize that 90% of what I post is tongue-in-cheek.

by New York Sports Jerk on Jul 20, 2009 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

perhaps you are

it’s a bit tough to tell in text form.

by Travis G on Jul 20, 2009 10:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

first off

i never said he should, only that if any starter should, it should be him.

2. i guess we don’t have to send Joba to the pen, right Jerk?

3. it’s one game. you shouldn’t get too high or too low.

4. i give credit where it’s due. you should try it. Andy was great tonight. Joba was very good yesterday. go ahead and say it, i dare you.

5. you can’t just enjoy the win? you have to try to ‘stick it’ to me?

by Travis G on Jul 20, 2009 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow

A little touchy there sparky? Go get a foot rub and calm down.

by HappyLuckyGoldenDragonNumber1! on Jul 21, 2009 12:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

thanks

for the advice, slick.

by Travis G on Jul 21, 2009 12:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't you have a Tampa team to cheer for?

by HappyLuckyGoldenDragonNumber1! on Jul 21, 2009 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

dude

seriously, let it go.

by Travis G on Jul 21, 2009 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nope

I will hound you all season long. If an editor at Over the Green Monster picked anyone other than the Sox to take the division they would be run out of New England.

by HappyLuckyGoldenDragonNumber1! on Jul 21, 2009 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The guy gave his opinion

I’d rather somebody be honest than be a blind homer. It doesn’t diminish your “fanhood” one bit if you thought Tampa or somebody would win the division. You’re choosing something really stupid to be so annoying about. If he said he WANTED Tampa to win the division that’s obviously fair grounds for a ball busting. Nothing wrong with trying to be objective, it’s better than blind optimism.

Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by CasanovaWong on Jul 21, 2009 6:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lets see

You’re saying you should be objective on a Fan Blog? Wanna be objective? Go get your degree in journalism, go follow a minor league team for a few years, get a column in the post and work your way up. This ain’t journalism, it is a glorified fan site. So, as someone who is an editor of a fan site, you think maybe they should pick the team they dedicate all their time to? Picking the Yankees THIS season is not being a homer. With all things being equal then maybe you should pick your own effing team. It’s like running a BBQ Ribs Fan Blog site and the editor being a vegetarian. You don’t like my
“annoying” posts? Don’t read em. You wanna be man enough to pick TAMPA for the AL East when the Yankees signed Burnett and Sabathia in the offseason AND Texiera? Well then you should be man enough to take the ribbing. I am quite sure Travis doesn’t need you to defend him like some sorta of school kid. Bottom line, I ain’t giving him slack until 2010, maybe that will motivate him to pick the team his Fan Blog is dedicated to. Pick the Rays or Sox this year is absolutely asinine. Does that offend your delicate psyches? I don’t care. Don’t run a fan blog then, especially from New York, probably not a good place for a delicate ego.

by HappyLuckyGoldenDragonNumber1! on Jul 22, 2009 1:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It was a typical game

No runs, Other team strategically walks players to get to Cano, Hinske HR, top of the lineup on base most of the game, only to stay there.

ANd we have a pie-to-the-face ending.

And Andy dealt. I don’t care who was against (O’s play the Yanks tough anyway), he got lit up his past 2 games.

Very nice and after last nights game, I love it.

I just wish this team would string a few wins together where they pitch like this AND get some hits.

by FreeBradshaw on Jul 20, 2009 10:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

speaking of defense

how about that Tex-Cano-Andy play where the ball bounced off Tex?
or how about that 360 Jeter spin?
good job Yanks

by Brian5517209 on Jul 20, 2009 10:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

yes!

forgot about that one.

by Travis G on Jul 20, 2009 10:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

good win

we should be tied and then take this lead

by jv52yankees on Jul 20, 2009 10:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hate to say it

But we got lucky as hell tonight. Two huge baserunning mistakes from Jones and Itzuris kept the Orioles off the scoreboard, two bang bang plays at the plate. We definitely pitched well enough to win but the O’s handed us this game.

Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by CasanovaWong on Jul 20, 2009 10:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

it happens

and you have to capitalize too. The game was still 1-1 in the bottom of the ninth. Both these teams in their home par will take that any time out cuz of the home field advantage in the 9th.

The Yanks almost cost the game yesterday with Jorge’s error to send granderson to 3rd on a steal, and also Swisher forgot that a ball can roll to the wall if you miss it, and allowd Granderson’s ""triple"" in the 5th.

Those teams didn’t capitalize on the other team’s mistakes, they lost. The Yanks really didn’t either, they just played possum till the end.

I wouldn’t say lucky as hell.

by FreeBradshaw on Jul 20, 2009 10:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

we definitely got lucky

but it would’ve been a shame to waste so many breaks.

by Travis G on Jul 20, 2009 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lucky whatever...

…there are games like that. Big whoop. Yanks won, O’s lost….and so did the Sox, so back to being tied for 1st! Just another 70+ games to go! SooOOOOoo close!

by Ragnar808 on Jul 20, 2009 11:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Why do ARod and Melkey fight for the tossed-off helmet at the plate gathering of the walkoff?

Hmm… I wonder what they have going on there.

by dorsal on Jul 20, 2009 11:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

that was really strange

and why does Arod always look awkward when celebrating?

by Travis G on Jul 20, 2009 11:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know what you mean

He’s just not a cool dude. That’s all I can think of. Derek is cool. Montana was cool. Joe Namath was cool. Alex was not given this gift at birth. I’d like him to be cool, but he just isn’t. I think it’s just how it is…..nothing he can do about it.

by dorsal on Jul 20, 2009 11:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why the need to

dissect every thing about the guy, even down to the way he celebrates? He looked like he was genuinely happy to me. Him and Melky are clowns, you can tell. He was enjoying a W and we should just take it for what it was.

by Hood on Jul 21, 2009 4:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

A-rod

looks awkward going ANYTHING and EVERYTHING.

by RollingWave on Jul 21, 2009 5:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

it's like the whole...

…catching of the bouquet— maybe whoever catches the helmet gets the next walk off hit… i don’t know just throwing it out there..

by NumberSeven on Jul 20, 2009 11:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like that.

Now that’s pretty cool…..the dude wants the next one so bad…..that he’s fightin’ his teammmates for it…ok….yeh that’s what it looks like!

by dorsal on Jul 20, 2009 11:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm thinking the jump for the helmet is a lucky charm thing?

As to say…the magic gets passed on from the “lucky helmet” Just my guess.

by ReggieARodJeter on Jul 21, 2009 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

A-Rod actually stole it from melky too

towards the end.

A-Rod looks goofy, so what?

People do realize that since the goof came back they Yanks have the best record in baseball?

by FreeBradshaw on Jul 21, 2009 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

it's his fault

by Brian5517209 on Jul 21, 2009 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

great baseball

Another crisp, well played game! These are the same guys that looked so horrible in Anheim, right? Pitching, pitching, pitching. It always comes down to pitching, and Tex is worth every cent they payed, just for his defense. Giambi never makes half the plays Tex has made already this season.

by fredny on Jul 21, 2009 10:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Gotta love the effect on the offense though

Four hits and they still win. Moreover, extra confidence among the Yankee 1-4 hitters may come from Matsui hitting in the fifth slot.

by twinight on Jul 21, 2009 12:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Loved Tex's D and Molina holding on to that throw too

Good D is always a sign of a well running machine. Look at the Mets……exactly my point.

by ReggieARodJeter on Jul 21, 2009 12:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Leave my boy ARod alone

Just a quick stat from Elias BTW:
10 of 19 of Alex Rodriguez’s homeruns have either been the tying or go ahead runs.
Let him be awkward….that’s a Yankee some of you are bashing. He’s on the team,wants to win HERE,let him do him. If he starts stinking up the joint,bang on him,if not, let em’ ride.

by ReggieARodJeter on Jul 21, 2009 1:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

what was soo awkward about a rod!?

wtf?….if you ask me melky and cano are more awkward than anyone…..but more so because they are not acclimated to american culture and style like some of the others….a rod IS dominican too you kno…if you wanna pay that much attention to it, all races and cultures seem to show enjoyment and celebrate differently which is cool. just as long as their having fun, who cares!?….what? you want a rod to light a cigar and blow perfect circles of smoke in the air anytime he hits a home run or does interviews so he can look like the smoothest man in america? lol…….new yorkers can NEVER be fully be satisfied lol

let the man live, some people dwell on critiquing others soo much that they dont even realize how lame they actually are themselves lol

by ridinmywave on Jul 21, 2009 2:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

“you want a rod to light a cigar and blow perfect circles of smoke in the air anytime he hits a home run or does interviews so he can look like the smoothest man in america?”

yeah, how’d you know?

by Travis G on Jul 21, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

BTW

i like the throwing of the bouguet celebration idea, i wonder who came up with that one, lol. the yanks have a little cleveland cavalier showmanship going on, and i like it, about time we have some character, tired of this private school atmosphere the yankees have adopted in these recent years.

by ridinmywave on Jul 21, 2009 2:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs