Yankees 7, Orioles 2: CC and the Ninth Inning are Awesome and I Love Them

The final score doesn't show just how much of a nervewracker this game was. But thanks to a big top of the ninth inning, the bottom half wasn't so nervewracking.

Derek Jeter led off the game with a single, and scored on Ichiro Suzuki's double the very next at bat. Suzuki was then thrown out trying to steal third, in the first of several frustrating moments for the Yankees offense.

CC went through the top of the Orioles lineup until the bottom of the third. Chris Davis and Lew Ford led off with singles and moved to second and third on Robert Andino's bunt. Nate McLouth doubled to score them both, and despite CC's early dominance the Yankees suddenly found themselves down 2-1.

The Yankees would get that run back in the top of the fourth. Alex Rodriguez walked to start the inning. He went to second on a groundout by Robinson Cano, after a nice play by Mark Reynolds. After a Nick Swisher walk, Mark Teixeira doubled to score A-Rod, but was out trying to extend his single to a double, in another one of the aforementioned frustrating moments.

After that both teams would trade opportunities to take the lead. CC managed to quell any serious situations for the Yankees. As did the Orioles bullpen. Until the ninth inning that was.

Orioles closer Jim Johnson was brought in for the top of the ninth. Russell Martin then erased any RISP fails with a leadoff home run. Raul Ibanez singled, and would go to third on a single by Jeter. Eduardo Nunez (who was brought in to pinch run for Ibanez) scored on a single by Ichiro. Cano doubled (and advanced to third on an error) to score both Jeter and Ichiro to blow the game open. Swisher hit a sac fly to score Cano, to give the Yankees a 7-2 lead.

After eight great innings, CC was allowed to start the ninth, and retired the first two batters with relative ease. He wouldn't be able to get the third, though. Lew Ford doubled, and CC was pulled one out short of a complete game. David Robertson recorded the last out and the Yankees won 7-2.

Good Stuff

• CC
• CC
• CC
• CC
• CC
• CC

Bad Stuff

• The offense (other than the ninth) with runners in scoring position. Surprise?

I won't say this game was fun, but it was something.

(And if any of this is wrong, I'm sorry, but I am completely delirious, right now.)

Andy Pettitte gets the ball for the Yankees in Game 2, and if I remember correctly he has done some good stuff in Game 2s before. Rookie Wei-Yin Chen will take the mound for the Orioles.

Box Score, Graph Thingy

GO YANKEES GO AMERICA