The great blinking slot machine that is the new Yankee Stadium is no friend to weak pitching. Even good pitching is at risk in what has proved thus far to be a carnival for offense. A side show. In fact, it’s a safe bet that we’ll see our fair share of comeback wins and heart-breaking loses at the bandbox in the Bronx this season, the park where no lead is safe.
On a rainy and humid Friday night, the Angels bullpen was worse than the Yankee bullpen for a second-straight game, and the Bombers overcome a five-run hole to win it, 9-8. Jorge Posada’s two-run single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth sealed the deal.
Andy Pettitte was fine early on even though the Angels reached base steadily. Once it started to rain, however, Pettitte lost his stride, the Angels began to score, and Pettitte didn’t make it through what turned out to be an unsightly sixth inning. The Yanks kicked the ball around and by the time the third out was made, a 4-0 New York lead became a 6-4 deficit. The Angels, hitting line drives and scooting around the bases are is their wont, held a 9-4 lead going into the eighth.
But the Yanks scrapped back, just as they did last Saturday in Boston. Melky Cabrera had an RBI single, Kid Pena drove in two, and Derek Jeter had an RBI ground out to bring the Yanks to within one in the eighth. Then in the ninth, Mark Teixeira walked against the Angels’ closer Brian Fuentes to start the inning. Hideki Matsui slapped a single to left and Robinson Cano belted one up the middle to load ’em up. Posada’s single to left won it.
Let’s all applaud again, let’s all applaud again.
Nice comeback win for the Bombers.
My first trip to the stadium (thanks Jen!) .... and it was a darn good time.
Bleacher seats ..... pretty decent food (mmmmm .... BBQ),
But they really have to do something about the "ribbon board" and showing the linescore and other stuff around it ....
Whether as a result of ability or (mis)usage, the bullpen is an issue, but to maintain the feelgood spirit of a thrilling comeback win, it has not gone unnoticed by me that Jeter is playing very well defensively.
Tomorrow is Sabathia vs a 30 year old career minor leaguer.
This is the first time in a long time this team has felt like one of the old, dynasty teams. Down 9-4 in the 8th I was sure they were going to lose, then when they brought it back to 9-8 I somehow knew they were going to win, Fuentes would fold. Posada being the one to cap it off just makes it sweeter.
One really nice thing about Tex is that even though he's not hitting a lick, he's still walking a lot. That leadoff walk in the 9th really set the tone. Once he starts swinging the bat a bit better, he'll really be worth it.
It's a shame but nice to not see The Impaler in the Angel lineup. CC is due for a gem. Phil is due to build upon his season debut. Joba is due to start with a plan that he can execute. Ah, the optimism of a 4 gaem winning streak can create. : )
[1] No problem.
I guess I've gotten used to the ribbon board. I do think they could make better use of it though and add some out of town scores on there.
Hey, It's certainly better than all the whining we heard after last weekend's nightmare series with the Bosox. People need to remember that Bosox's top four starters are all sporting ERA's above 6 and they are still depending on the decaying corpse that is J Varitek and the powerless D Ortiz for offense. I think our boys will be all right in the long run.......
I don't the offense in this game had anything to do with the new Stadium being a "band box". Instead, it had everything to do with relievers not being able to throw the ball over the plate. After all, there was only 1 HR yesterday, and it would have been out anywhere.
I really hope that a small sample size doesn't continue to brand the new place as a "band box", which is what happened to Camden Yards. Even after all these years, people still mistakenly refer to CY as a hitter's park despite evidence to the contrary. I guess it really is hard to shake off a first impression.
And Teixiera is batting what?
[8] I totally agree. There weren't any homers in the Angels' rallies or either late inning rally. Plainly the aerodynamic properties of the Stadium didn't make Pena hit a line drive and had no effect on Cano's hits.
[5] And even better, I have to say, not to see K-Rod. Brian Fuentes is... not quite as good. (That YES shot of him walking into the tunnel after his horrific performance is a classic.)
For no good reason (I can't even think of a bad one) I was absurdly 'into' the game even at 9-4 ... somehow thought we had a chance. And this was against the Evil Angels of LA-aheim. Tex will be fine, I wish the booing would stop ... he is simply having his usual (slightly worse than) spring. His on-base is stellar and he will start to see serious fastball chances in oh, about 8 days when the Loathsome Phony One reappears to ignite yet more media idiocy.
Fuentes came alarmingly close to smashing his right hand against the doorway to the clubhouse. Even a southpaw gets DLed for a broken right hand.
Melky is playing so well it is funny how I expect him to regress any series now. Matsui is different: if his knees hold up, the man will be a terrific DH. Loved the shot to left in the 9th, that was a very good pitch he hit.
When the Yanks were down 6-4 I still had a good feeling about it ... Then at 8-4, not so much. Glad I was wrong.
Still, it's not the type of game you have very often. I'd have preferred to have seen Pettitte do better than that, and just win 4-2 or something. Not as dramatic, but more reassuring.