This game was so many different things: frustrating, annoying, nerve racking, exhilarating, deflating, frustrating again and finally, the best thing ever.
Let’s start with the frustrating aspects:
- The Yankees scored four runs on 16 hits.
- They were 4-11 with runners in scoring position
- They left 14 men on base.
Those same things were annoying but so was their ineptitude against the Red Sox bullpen.
The whole game itself was nerve racking but became even more so when the Orioles score became a final and they had beaten the Rays. At that point in the game, the Yankees were losing and were mere outs away from ending the game in a tie, once again, with Baltimore for first place in the AL East.
Then it became exhilarating.
After James Loney hit a solo shot to put the Red Sox up 3-1 in the top of the ninth, the Yankees came up, the Baltimore score was final and they were staring at the last three outs.
Curtis Granderson got things started with a single. Raul Ibanez stepped in as the potential tying run.
Then this happened:
He belted a 1-2 pitch into the right field seats and he became the tying run.
The Yankees were able to load the bases with one out after a Derek Jeter double and two walks – one to Nick Swisher and one to Alex Rodriguez. They had two chances to win the game.
Mark Teixeira hit a broken bat fly out to shallow centerfield and Jeter had to hold up at third. Then Robinson Cano grounded out to second to end the inning.
Completely deflating.
After a couple more frustrating innings – the Yankees were set down 1-2-3 in the 10th and Swisher hit a single in the 11th, the only hit they had in those two innings.
More frustration.
After two quick outs in the bottom of the 12th, everyone’s favorite third string catcher, Francisco Cervelli came into the game and worked a walk. Granderson followed that up with a walk of his own.
So with two on and two out, it was Ibanez’s turn to try and play hero again. And he did.
He poked a single through the left side between Pedro Ciriaco and Jose Iglesias which scored Cervelli and the Yankees win, 4-3.
BEST. THING. EVER.
Now, the Yankees control their own destiny. They were so close to ending tonight in a tie with Baltimore and now all they need to do is win tomorrow in order to capture the AL East.
Some facts:
- Ibanez’s last ten games: .412 avg, 4 home runs, 9 RBI and a .853 slugging pct.
- Derek Lowe was the winning pitcher and it was his 175th career win.
- Tonight’s win was the Yankees fifth walk-off of the season and third since September 21st.
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4 Responses to Yanks Win, Maintain Lead In The East And Now Control Their Destiny
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TIQ IQ
nicely written and a very gratifying win.
might have been worth mentioning, and I KNOW that the big story was from the ninth on, that Phelps gave up hits to the first two batters of the game (leading to two runs) and then only one more hit in % innings.
Hell of a comeback to tie – flash, it’s done. Then it was like strangulation, and your victim just wouldn’t die. Patience and strength, that’s what it takes.
cant let tex off the hook for this game man he was terrible- 3 men on 3rd 1 out and 0 rbi
You didn’t list the most frustrating parts.
4-11 with RISP isn’t actually bad. It’s .363. But two of those hits failed to drive in runs, as the Yankees couldn’t score from second on singles. That’s the really frustrating part.
Plus, as steve g pointed out, they (OK, Teixeira) couldn’t get productive outs when they needed them.