Monday, April 02, 2007
Opening Day 2007
One down, 161 to go.
Jason Giambi drove in three runs and Jorge Posada and Alex Rodriguez both homered as the Yankees defeated the Devil Rays, 9-5, giving them their 10th straight Opening Day victory.
The 83rd home opener at Yankee Stadium saw New York score the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, as Giambi singled off Tampa Bay right-hander Brian Stokes, scoring Rodriguez.
Trailing by two runs, Derek Jeter tied the game in the sixth with a bases-loaded single to center. Bobby Abreu added insurance with an RBI single in the eighth before Rodriguez blasted his first homer of the year, a two-run shot off Mark Salas.
Yankees starter Carl Pavano received a no-decision in his first career Opening Day start.
Making his first Major League appearance since June 27, 2005, the right-hander worked 4 1/3 innings, allowing five runs (four earned) and six hits.
Pavano was staked to a two-run lead after the first inning, when Giambi brought in a pair -- the Yankees' first runs of the season -- with a single to center.
B.J. Upton singled home Tampa Bay's first run in the second, and the Devil Rays roughed Pavano up for four more runs in the fifth.
Elijah Dukes logged his first Major League hit and home run on the same pitch, slugging a solo home run, and Rocco Baldelli added a RBI single. Delmon Young tacked on the last run charged to Pavano, singling home Baldelli while facing reliever Brian Bruney.
Posada slugged the Yankees' first home run in the fourth, a solo shot to right-center off Scott Kazmir. The Devil Rays left-hander allowed six hits and five earned runs in five-plus innings, walking four and striking out five.
Kyle Farnsworth held the Rays scoreless and handed the ball to Mariano Rivera for a typical three-out ninth in a no save situation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Labels: Alex Rodriguez, Carl Pavano, Derek Jeter, Jason Giambi, Opening Day, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, win, Yankees


Posted by Steve Kenul at 4:47 PM

Monday, March 05, 2007
No Problem in the Clutch
The Yankees remain undefeated this spring with a 5-0 record, only one of two teams, thanks to timely clutch hitting.
Last Friday against the Devil Rays trailing 1-0, minor league third baseman Chris Basak hit the game winning three-run shot in the ninth inning which the Yankees held onto for the win.

On Saturday, more late inning magic against the Pirates. Down 3-1 in the eighth, the Yankees rallied for three runs highlighted by the game-winning RBI hit by minor leaguer Marcos Vechionacci.

And finally today, hosting their former playoff opponents, the Detroit Tigers. Both teams shared the lead early in the game but the Tigers held onto a 5-4 lead going in the ninth inning when yet another minor leaguer, this time Bronson Sardinha hitting the game-winning two-run shot off last year's Rookie of the Year Justin Verlander to win the game.

The above three games acounted for a total of eight runs in three innings in late inning and clutch performance, something the Yankees lacked last season.
Although it's five games into Spring Training, and these games do not count for anything, seeing as how these minor leaguers are playing, one can say that the future of the Yankees organization is alive and well.
ESPN.com has either hired a statistician who knows nothing about baseball, one of the weirdest games in baseball history was played, or no one cares about spring training. I am very well educated in the rules of baseball, and no where do I recall games to begin in the sixth inning and 11 free runs earned. I don't think FRE will be an official stat anytime soon. Also, is it possible to have duel no hitters with this type of score?

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Labels: clutch, Detroit Tigers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Yankees



Posted by Steve Kenul at 5:07 PM
