This game story really only needs to talk about two innings. In the first, the Yankees got an RBI double from Robinson Cano to take a 1-0 lead. There the score stayed until the 9th inning.
With that 1-0 lead, David Robertson took the mound in the 9th and things did not go well. After his first six pitches of the inning, he had given up singles to Sean Rodriguez (one pitch) and pinch hitter Brandon Allen (one pitch) and walked Ben Zobrist (four pitches). It’s worth noting that on the Allen single, Nick Swisher tried to throw all the way to third to try and nail Rodriguez. Having missed the cutoff, Swisher’s throw allowed Allen to move to second basE. Robertson then retired Carlos Pena with a strikeout on a perfectly placed fastball. B.J. Upton came up and drove a liner to right which Nick Swisher caught for the second out. Of course, Rodriguez was able to score, giving Upton an RBI and a sac fly. On this play, Swisher’s quick release actually made the play close. But, the damage was done (for now) and the game tied, the save blown. Lefty Matt Joyce then stepped up and hit a three run home run to put the Yankees ahead 4-1. The Yankees went down rather quietly in the 9th as Swisher struck out, Ibanez singled, Russell Martin (softly) lined out, and Dewayne Wise lined out as well.
This was bound to happen at one point, whether “this” is a blown save in general, or “this” is Robertson giving up runs. Robertson has blown games and leads before, and he’ll probably do it again. What we’ll have to see now is how he bounces back. I don’t know about anyone else, but I have full confidence in him doing so.
NOTES:
Perhaps the secret to getting Luke Scott out is by throwing a slider. Both Boone Logan (5th) and Rafael Soriano (8th) got him out on strikes with that pitch.
David Phelps pitched well, if inefficiently. It took him 89 pitches to get through 4 2/3, but he held the Rays scoreless. Command and control were issues, as he walked 4, but he did strike out 3 and was able to limit the potential damage of 7 base runners in 4 2/3 IP.
How about Cory Wade? 1.1 perfect innings tonight. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop with him, but it just…doesn’t.
The Rays and Yanks were a combined 1-19 w/RISP.
With tonight’s 0-4, Mark Teixiera (who did make a great play in the top of 8th to save a run, but GIDP in the bottom half to kill a rally…) is now hitting .217/.269/.373.
On a personal note, happy 85th birthday to my late Grandpa Louie. I may miss him every day, but any time I watch a Yankee game, he’s in me and with me.
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2 Responses to Robertson blows save in 9th, Yanks fall 4-1 to Rays
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TIQ IQ
Nice personal note at the end. I wonder how many of us have a grandparent who got us started??
Mine (Hardy-J) was a regular with the Newark Bears (back when Yogi, Scooter, and the gang were playing there), was friends with Larry Doby (also from Newark) and took me and my oldest cousin to our first Yankee game (June 14, 1962).
Thanks, Dad.
Career IP: 153.1 Career BABIP: .245.
The other shoe will drop – just give it time (innings).