A rough start by AJ Burnett on 3-days rest put the Yankees in a 6-2 hole that they were ultimately unable to recover from. The enigmatic righty lasted just 2+ innings, giving up 6 runs on 4 hits and 4 walks. After Alfredo Aceves and Dave Robertson combined for 4 innings of effective relief, 2 solo shots off of Phil Coke put the Phillies ahead 8-2, and the game appeared to be over.
Despite the deficit, the Yankees refused to go down quietly. A 2-run double by Alex Rodriguez and a sac fly by Robinson Canó in the 8th cut the lead to 8-5, and suddenly, the Phillies had to take the game seriously. In the 9th against Ryan Madson, who has been Charlie Manuel’s best relief option in this series, the Yankees continued to battle. A leadoff double by Jorge Posada and a single by pinch-hitter Hideki Matsui (intelligently saved for a crucial situation by Joe Girardi) put runners on first and third with no outs, and the tying run was at the plate in the form of Derek Jeter. Unfortunately, Captain Clutch was not so tonight, grounding into a rally-killing double play which scored a run but emptied the bases. Johnny Damon gave the Yankees a chance by scratching a single after falling behind 0-2, but Mark Teixeira, representing the tying run, continued to struggle, and waved feebly at a Madson changeup.
It was a tough but not entirely unpredictable loss, but there are plenty of positives going forward:
- The Yankees are going back to their home park, where they will have the support of the home crowd, the comforts of home, et cetera.
- The return to Yankee Stadium also entails a return to the use of the DH, which greatly benefits the Bombers. Hideki Matsui is hitting .556 in the series, so getting his bat in the lineup full-time represents a huge upgrade, more so than the insertion of Matt Stairs would do for the Phillies.
- Jorge Posada will be the Yankee catcher for games 6 and 7, which represents a significant offensive upgrade over Jose Molina.
- The Philly bullpen looks vulnerable, and the Yankees have shown that they are capable of getting to the closer and setup men in crucial situations. No lead will be safe. The late-inning rally, while ultimately unsuccessful, should give the Yankees confidence going forward that they can score off the Philly bullpen.
- While both are starting on 3-days rest, the Yankees have to feel confident in having the winningest playoff pitcher of all time going for them in Game 6 in Andy Pettitte, and their ace CC Sabathia in Game 7. While the crafty Pedro Martinez could present a challenge to the Yankee lineup, the potential Game 7 matchup of Sabathia vs. either Cole Hamels or JA Happ greatly favors the boys from the Bronx. The fact that Pettitte and Sabathia are both lefties should help to shut down the lefty hitters in the Philly lineup (except for Utley, who is singlehandedly carrying the team).
- The Yankees did not use several of their most important relievers tonight, which will ensure that they will be ready and able to go multiple innings. These include Mariano Rivera (who should be able to get a 6-out save if called upon) as well as Damaso Marte (who has been death to the Philly lefties), and Joba Chamberlain, who, Feliz homer aside, has looked much improved in this series.
- And, lest I forget to mention it, the Yankees are up in the series 3-2. All they need is one.
It’s going to be a long off-day. Am I being too optimistic? Perhaps. But I have faith that they can close it out at home.
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5 Responses to A tough loss, but some positives
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I do think we can close it out at home. I must confess however that I was terribly upset with the fact that AJ started tonight’s game, but that was game 5. I totally trust Andy, he’s a big game pitcher. However, his numbers on short rest are not. He has a 5-7 record with a era of 4.18. Of course our lineup is more than capable of producing runs, i’m just concerned about how far Pettitte will go before we see the questionable bullpen. I’m excited, I expect alot of runs in game 6.
I had to turn off the sports radio as I was driving because there was so much harping on the negative of this loss today. We went into Philly and won 2 our of 3. We were down 1-0 and won 3 straight. We lost 2 games, yes, but to their best pitcher, Cliff Lee who has dominated during the postseason. We were also the 1st team to get to Cliff Lee scoring 5 runs and we won’t be seeing him again. We have 2 games to try and get a lead after 6, and you have to believe that our bullpen will take care of business after that. And we have the added advantage of knowing that even if the game is tight in the late innings – our hitters aren’t afraid of anyone the Phillies have pitching for them. Yankees in 6.
I am glad I dont live in NYC, there are going to alot of Armchair managers on the prowl today. Chase Utley needs to be put on his backside, he sitting on top of the daring them to come inside, just like Ortiz used to do, I am not saying to hit him, but if he does get hit oh well, he is way too comfortable at the plate. I also think Pedro will not have the same success he had in game 2, Yankees in 6.
I agree whole-heartedly with you Kareem about Pedro. You might get past a good hitting team with tricks and junk once but don’t plan on it working twice. I think one of the reasons Mussina retired was he knew he could never trick his way thru a second year with no heat. Very few can.
No matter who threw it was going to be an uphill battle in Game 5. AJ gave us our best chance. True, he shat the bed, but he’s done that on full rest and extra rest, too. And yet despite AJ’s fecal explosion, we came really, really close, and if Jeter’s ball found its way through the hole, our chances of winning were good.
Really what did the Phillies accomplish except avoid being swept in their own building with their best pitcher on the mound? And they almost failed to do that, despite having 5 auto-outs in the back of the Yankee lineup.
We have 2 games in the stadium with Andy and CC against Pedro, Happ or Cole. We have to have shaken any remaining confidence Manuel has in his bullpen, and given our own team (Coke aside) a boost in confidence. A week ago, any Yankee fan would have signed up to be in this position. After Game 1, they would have killed to be here.
We got this.