By the end of his two-inning stint in the Bronx, Scott Feldman must have felt like Marty Feldman in Young Frankenstein. The Texas Rangers’ ace received first-hand evidence of the Yankees’ ability to grind through opposition starting pitchers like no other ballclub. Feldman, a sinkerballing right-hander who usually has a knack for throwing strikes, needed 61 pitches to work through the first two innings of a matinee at Yankee Stadium. Feldman escaped the first inning unscathed, but allowed two runs in the second, as the Yankees launched a 7-3 win over the Rangers.
The Yankees did not exactly crush the ball during the rally–they mixed in two infield hits with a walk–but their ability to foul off pitches and prolong at-bats clearly frustrated Feldman. Feldman also hurt himself by failing to throw out Brett “The Jet” Gardner on a softly tapped grounder down the first base line. With two outs and the bases loaded, Nick “The Stick” Johnson waited out Feldman, drawing a walk on a 3-and-2 count to score the first run of the game. The slumping Mark Teixeira followed up by hitting a ground ball into the second base hole. Joaquin Arias made a diving stop on the outfield grass, but was unable to complete the play with a throw to first. Tex’s relatively soft infield single gave the Yankees an early 2-0 cushion.
The Yankees used another infield single to add to their lead in the third inning. After Curtis Granderson’s opposite-field double knocked Feldman from the game and pushed Jorge Posada to third, Gardner slapped a ball to the left side of the infield and easily beat Elvis Andrus’ throw to first base. (Fast as a flash bulb, Gardner would finish the game with three infield hits.) The Yankees then pulled a page out of the “Billy Ball” playbook by having Gardner attempt to steal second with the idea of drawing a throw from Rangers catcher Taylor Teagarden. Opting to throw through, Teagarden badly short-hopped Joaquin Arias, as Gardner stopped midway between the bases before continuing to second base. With the ball trickling into the outfield, Granderson scored easily from third, giving the Yankees a 4-0 lead.
Derek Jeter then delivered the hardest hit ball of the first three innings, slamming a batting practice pitch from reliever Doug Mathis into the left-field bleachers. The two-run shot gave the Yankees a comfortable 6-0 lead. One inning later, Alex Rodriguez ended his season-starting homerless streak by touching Mathis for a solo home run, an opposite-field blast that easily cleared the right-center field wall. A-Rod’s 584th career home run pushed him past Mark McGwire and puts him two behind the illustrious Frank Robinson on the all-time list.
In the meantime, A.J. Burnett handled the potent Rangers with relative ease. Throwing a fastball that consistently clocked 93 to 94 miles and mixing in a diving curve ball, Burnett kept the Rangers quiet through the first four innings before running into trouble in the fifth. Texas loaded the bases on a double by Chris Davis, a single by Arias, and a walk by Elvis Andrus, but Burnett stiffened by retiring Julio Borbon on an infield pop-up and Michael Young on a lazy fly ball to right field, thereby maintaining the shutout.
Burnett finished off his effort with two more scoreless innings, highlighted by seven strikeouts. He struck out Nelson Cruz three times during the seven-inning stint, an impressive achievement given his slugging percentage of over 1.000 this season. Cruz did connect for a home run in the eighth, a three-run shot coming against Alfredo Aceves. But by then the Yankees had things well in hand, as they coasted to their third straight victory.
Yankee Doodles: Robinson Cano’s 10-game hitting streak to start the season came to an end. Cano went 0-for-4 against an assortment of Rangers pitchers… The Yankees had six infield hits in the game, including the three hits for Gardner… Although Rodriguez and Teixeira have combined for just one home run, the Yankees have a record of 8-and-3 and have won their first four series to start the season… Prior to the game, Curtis Granderson received the Marvin Miller Award from the MLB Players Association. The award, which honors performance on and off the field, was based on a secret ballot of major league players.
Granderson won the MM award, voted on by the players? That is so cool..I'm thrilled the Yankees picked him up! Watched Detroit and Seattle on tv yesterday morning, seeing Johnny D in a Tigers uniform was sad..watching him throw a 7-hopper to the cutoff man made me happy...
8-3! As has been said, just wait till A-Rod and Tex pick it up!
Missed this one -- I was out today (despite the cruddy weather). Caught the extra innings of the Sox/Rays postponement from last night, and it was delightful -- my favorite part was when the Sox loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the eleventh with Ortiz coming to bat... and failed to score. (Of course Burrell's two run Monster seats blast in the twelfth was nice, too.)
They're playing today's game now and Laptop is being tortured, partly by the Rays refusing to swing at his junk at partly by Mike Cameron's jaw-dropping, Little League error with two out and runners in the corners. Soft line drive literally bounced out of the webbing of the Gold Glover's glove. Inexplicable. And as I type Pat Burrell comes to bat with the bases loaded and two down, and a Fenway Fool screams "Pat Burrell Sucks!", which as we know is quite the badge of honor for Burrell, so he rips a base-clearing double. Laptop is looking overmatched.
Gosh, this has been a fun April so far!
Dude, how bout them Mets? They are in a scoreless game in St. Louis in the 16th inning.
But they led off the 16 with a single, so there is hope!
if anyone is out there...check into the braves game. it's heading into the 9th. let's just say - it's possible history is made. now, shut up!
[2/3] oh, i guess the two of youze is out there! cool. check on the braves-rox game. it's going to the top of the 9th right now. it's the bottom of the frame you'll wanna follow...
[3] so, how do you think the Muts will lose this one?!
Holy smokes. Okay I'll watch the Mets. That beats the fun of watching Boston get bashed. (Sorry, thelarmis.)
[7] i see how ya are!
[6] Ohhhh. That one's good too! yeah, I forgot you're all about the baseball superstitions.
1 out in the 9th here in atlanta, for ubaldo jimenez!
Here's Albert...he's walked four times in a row...
chipper's down. 2 out. 1 more to go. it's up to McCann...
[4] Thanks. Listening now.
Plus first day of the NBA playoffs! I'm sooo stoaked!
No hitter for Jimenez!
Albert got a hit and Colorado got the no no.
It'd great if this goes to 17.
NO HITTER!!!!
1st one in Rockies history. jimenez had 6 walks, so he took the AJ Burnett route. he was effectively wild. colorado is sooo excited. always nice to see history!
congrats, ubaldo!!!
RUNDOWN!
[17] not gonna happen.
you both beat me to the no-no. i was watching it inside...
Hol-ee Shit.
Mets are going to win this...
Wow.
[17] And so they do.
And very cool that you said that with comment #17.
Mets pulled off an unconventional DP to end the threat in the bottom of the 16th to save the game. Ludwick ran through the sign at 3rd.
jimenez sounds like a great kid. nice interview.
dexter fowler made a rather excellent diving catch in the gap to help preserve it.
unfortunately, caray was calling the game. no fisting allowed!!!
D Wright leads off with an infield single.
[22] not a chance! ; )
[24] thanks for telling me what happened. RI's certainly no help! ; )
I can hear MK in my head complaining about why batters slide into 1st base...
Although it worked out for D Wright.
Dexter Fowler is a great name.
infield single - theme of the day
Mets. Will. Win.
[29] agreed.
ubaldo = not so much!
[31] they need a win, man.
This game is intense and boring at the same time. Be great if the Mets scored three runs, the Cards tied it up and then they keep going...
[31] maybe. but i highly doubt it. : )
Whoa, nifty play.
thelarmis, the Mets game is on Fox. Stop whining and turn it on.
[34] thankfully, they play at 4:10pm tomorrow and not a 1 'o clock game.
[37] damn! right on. i was about to mention i can't watch it. cool.
about time you pull your weight around here! (he he)
good ol' Frenchy.
i'm glad todd helton got to take part in a no-hitter.
[37] oh, i forgot to show my appreciation.
thanking you, RI !!! : )
Holy shite... so this is the Fox Sat afternoon game?!? Craaaaaaazy.
name that Molina!!!
goddamn. these teams are playing hard. holy ben sheets.
That was some kind of throw.
leadoff homer coming up...
It was a great throw.
Poor Metsies.
Oh, you are sooooo welcome, thelarmis.
Siddown, Yaddie.
wow, 17 innings of timmay. at least joe fuck's not there...
I have a slightly sore throat and two members of my family are sick, so I'm a little concerned about drinking, but the Fox broadcast crew is driving me to a big glass of Scotch.
good to see reyes back out on the ballfield
aight.. I'm gonna call this now. Mets will win 5-3 in 22 innings. Anyone want dem odds?
[51] [50] Exactly.
This is going to 18...
[51] viruses can't live in a 100% alcohol environment.
It's like getting a free baseball game!
[51] yeah man, i've got a raging headache for like 2 days now. i was originally planning on drinkin' tonight, but i can't since i have to get up early to play a jazz brunch. no beer for me...
timmay ran out of scorecard. hopefully that means he's excused for the rest of the game...
Feel more betterer, RI !!!
51] If you were a Mets fan you'd of started drinking in the third inning.
Still say the Mets will win.
[56] Excellent point. I am sterilizing my innards.
[55] Chai !!!
Yeah, feel better!
[59] if he were my bass player, he'd have never stopped!
"What's the use of getting sober...when you're gonna get drunk again?!"
whoa, felipe lopez is pitching? talk about a utility guy! all for a million bucks. holy crap, loeshe in left?! this is indeed a crazy ballgame...
C'mon BLUE
[63] when I was a kid, I used to try and pass off a similar argument w my pops. "why do I hafta make my bed when I'm only gonna get back in it?".
Then he'd retort, "well, why do you wipe your ass if you're only going to shit again". Okay, I'll make the bed.
What a PLAY!
wow, cool catch, stirrups!
He is just hissing that sucker in there! 76 mph with no movement.
Oh, man, over the shoulder!
i'd pay to see Ichiro pitch.
I bet the Cards would just love to have Nick Swisher out there.
Weird when a game becomes funny like this.
uncle charlie!
oh god. this is getting silly.
This is hilarious.
Shelley Duncan would be a great pinch pitcher!
Damn, Gameday doesn't have Pitch F/X data for this game. I really want to see the break on these pitches.
The Folly Floater...!
7 strikes in a row.
just a biiiiit outside...
this AB is a battle!
OMG!!!!!!!
Nice base running DICKHEAD.
little league plays going on here, man. AHHHHHH
Oh my god. That is so embarrassing.
this is a friggin' video game!
watch him get picked off...
Mets. Will. WIN
Mets win on a stolen base and two balks.
LOL
terrific! he had no-hit stuff!!!
Oh, man.
He's gonna get the W, isn't he?
[86] ah, you'll come around soon enough...! ; )
[90] yup. maybe the game winning hit, too!
would be cool if the cards still had rick ankiel. (he hit 2 homers today and is off to a hot start)
[92] that would be awesome! He's due up 9th, though.
my little pony groundouts w/ runners on the corners. big game james has 4 k's and a 4-0 lead after 3...
Mather is a fucking punk. Way to miss that shit, Meat.
[94] ah, my plan foiled...again. : ~
[95] Ohhhhhh. Poor little pony.
i'm glad ryan got rid of his porn 'stache but kept the stirrups
man on.
This game is completely insane.
that 86 mph fastball looked like a 106 after watching Lopez!
[102] Hey, Lopez touched 81!
METS WILL WIN!!!!!
shit, looks like the Yanks might be on Fox here next Saturday afternoon. i've got a gig in Athens (UGA), and that's a drive, so i'll miss the telecast. damn.
wow, nice turn. Lopez for 2?!
(shut up, timmay)
Wow, this Mets-Cards fiasco might generate more comments in the post-game thread than the Yankees did in the game thread today!
[104] highly unlikely. : )
don't bring up Joba rules, Timmy.
i can't believe 1989 was 21 years ago. yikes.
[108] that was the 16th, man!
Can you imagine trying to keep a scorecard for this game?
Reyes you fucking MUTT, swing that bat.
wow, that's pretty cool that the local high schools get to play on the major league field.
Reyes is scoring.
[110] Yeah, but who will pitch the 18th???
[112] he'll steal 2nd AND 3rd.
[111] depends how much it paid. ; )
here comes a balk
This guy Mather is garbage.
LOL
steal 3rd.
The Mets are dumbass' bunting there. How about this? Mets score and then K Rod blows it.
castillo looks hurt.
Yeah, Castillo is hurt, that's why he bunted. But why not steal second first???
[120] ah, i like the way you're thinking!
5-3 mets in 22 innings. no joke.
[122] whadjya decide on the scotch?
Ouch.
Yeah, that IBB was very stupid. Mather will struggle to get the ball in the zone.
Be something if the Mets can't score here.
They'd have to go 33 innings to match the record.
Effectively wild, huh?
how bout the hot blonde behind the plate laughing that bay got hit. wtf?
frenchy will bounce into a DP
[125] That Scotch is long gone, thelarmis. Long gone. And I'm feeling better!
HOORAY
wow, frenchy came thru. would be awesome if reyes left early and was out on an appeal...
[131] good for you. it'll be awhile before i have another beer...
Another IBB.
I dunno, I think an excellent strategy for the Mets would have been to take every single pitch. Uh, Tim is agreeing with me, that's scary.
Mather's WHIP is shite.
"don't swing" -- ahhh, the chicken little method...
i wonder if they're still selling beer at the stadium...
Cards are gonna win this...
Now, Albert will homer to tie it.
Mather covered 1B exceptionally well.
Yeah, none of those three pitches was in the zone.
The Mets aren't good at baseball.
Pujols solo shot - tie game - onto the 20th.
K Rod, right?
A real pitcher. I guess Paul Janish's record-setting 49.50 ERA is still safe.
Quite a contrast between the Cards' 19th inning pitcher and the Mets'.
i hate k-rod.
Yeah, walking Ludwick to face Albert, not ideal.
Albert, Albert, Albert, Albert, Albert....
Pujols hit 2 dingers in the game me and me boys went to at Busch last Summer.
yeah! atta boy, frankie. 2-run bomb by Albert coming up...
Wow!
Actually, he really looked safe.
Why, why, why, why, why would the Cardinals steal there?
ahhh fuck. I wrote that Ludick would get caught and then Pujols would tie it solostyle, but I erased it.
nooooo! what an idiot moron.
he may have been safe...
Looked safe to me.
Wow.
[153] suuuure ya did ; )
imagine if kyle loeshe does something with the bat?!
Jesus.
close. was supposed to be a gust a wind.
fuck. woulda been a tie game...
Tony La Russa: baseball genius.
Uh, boy. That CS is brutal.
[159] That's right. Nobody fucks with the Jesus, man.
...pederast
albert should steal 3rd, then score on a suicide squeeze. i mean, why not?!
158) He won't.
Gameday is now showing the Pitch f/X data, and these pitches are sitting at 92-93.
Mo had an rbi walk vs. frankie!
wild pitch. tie game.
ooh, Yadier's the one who broke the muts heart in the playoffs a few years ago!
Yad die Yad die!
Oh, yeah, Mets are winning this game.
k-rod's lookin' a bit pudgier in the punim.
Is Molina a better hitter than Craig? Oh, they aren't walking him, okay.
k-rod's delivery is so violent and ugly. i hate it like i do fat papi's swing.
Oh. My. God.
I don't understand why La Russa would call a hit and run with Pujols batting.
haha... IT NEVER ENDS!
YES!
Kill. Me. Now.
Bite ME K ROD
YES!!!!
[171] care to revise? ; )
damn you, ludwick!
it's even better that it's off k-rod
the fans are all hung over by now. hehe
The burning question all year for the Cardinals has been: Who will pitch the 20th???
who the hell's gonna pitch now, Willie McGee?!
[184] i believe that was Steve Mura's gig.
cameron just struck out on 3 pitches.
mather is going for 2. i'd rather have seen lopez back out there...
Well, now the Mets can win. So long that K Rod blew the save.
C'MON Mather's you fucking dumb ass.
what's next? a rain delay?
squibber. and another infield hit.
watch yadi sneak a throw to 1st and get him!
The Mets have not really pounded the ball against two position players pitching in three innings.
BALK!
Checked in a couple of hours ago and saw 1 comment. Looked now and saw this. lol. Too funny. Fuck K-Rod. Kiss the sky now dude.
[192] Yes, I think it's fair to say that they haven't pounded the ball.
OK, that was a hard hit.
you know my prediction...
who's throw day is it for the Cards' starters? that's who TLR should have warming up.
i'm jumping to Alex Belth's side - the Muts are gonna win!
damn.
will it hold up???
I think they really need another one.
i can't stand mather's delivery or the way he releases the ball.
gold glove!
The Mets still suck.
[200] alcoholic beverage?
[202] yes. i agree, wholeheartedly!
The Mets aren't good at this game.
and to think, mather shoulda made the play on the first batter. he woulda had a 1-2-3 inning!
crap, scoot-aro homered. 4-1. professional hitter up. deuces wild 2-2, 2 outs.
[206] No, the Jacobs hit.
[206] Poor defense always comes back to bite you in the big games.
I'm pissed at the MLB network for not showng the end of the Rockies game. WTF. Before the bottom of the 9th I'm watching it and they've got a commercial about "watching history here." Then they come back to the 2nd inning of the Marniners game. At least they had Jimenez's update scrolling along the bottom. booooooooooo
They should lose simply because they couldn't score more than one run there.
210) yeah, I noticed that too. What's up with that?
shields out of it. 7 k's thru 5. 4-1 Tampon.
[208] d'oh! you're right.
[211] i agree. they should lose. i hope they do! : )
[214] You're blocking Jacobs, because it pisses you off that despite his name he isn't Jewish.
[210] ooh, i'm sorry you didn't get to see it. i was listening to a few innings in the car. then watched a coupla bottom halfs when i got home...
wait a tic. Did he just say this is the longest game innings wise in Mets history, but the Cards played a 25-inning game in '74 against the Mets in Shea stadium?
c'mon, stirrups!
still alive
[217] You're listening to Tim McCarver?
Pull yourself together, dude.
bossman junior just stole 2nd. pat the bat up...
walk him.
wait, swing at 3-0 and tie the game!
Just making it close...METS. WILL. WINNNNN!
Cards still have a 18% win expectancy.
wow. 4 straight balls. rally time!
i hope the Cards pull it out. just cause...
ludwick. atonement time...
hehe this is the worst cool game ever.
[224] i fully expect them to win.
[221] And then he stole third! Love that.
bossman junior stole third.
MISSED his pitch...it's over...
Time for a shout out to Rochester and the longest ever minor league game. : )
Hooray! Yay Mets!
knew it all along.
wow. game over.
go rays!
[231] And Pawtucket!
every team should win at least one game each week.
Kind of reminds me why I don't like the Mets.
well, in any case, this was a lot of fun following with you guys! a no-hitter as an added bonus!
hopefully tampa brings BJ home...
And K-Rod gets a most undeserved W.
[231] Boggs & Ripken were both in that game!
tampa doubled. 5-1. scott achison is not a good pitcher. i'm glad he's on boston.
[238] Already have. The back-up back-up catcher doubled him in.
[241] I know, they should go pick up a Cardinal utility infielder or something. (Of course, the Rays are not the Mets, so it might not work.)
[242] oh, okay, that's who that guy was - i was wondering...
Time for...playoff hoops!
K, y'all I'm signing off. Nice little bonus banter tonight! Have a great night.
Ciao, Alex.
They have a 4 pm game tomorrow. Would really suck if it was a 1 pm game.
Just in case anyone's still here: what a bunch of drunken morons at Fenway tonight. "Come awn, graaaaaan slaaaaam, Papi!"
[248] yeah, i mentioned that earlier.
[249] nancy makes an out. shields thru 6.
watching SNL
crap. little pony boy is really off to a hot start. 2-run shot. 6-3 rays.
[251] i've never been a fan of that show. have a great session tomorrow!
[253] It's mostly not that funny. But sometimes they score one. Thanks man.
FUCK! ugly w/ a 2-run job, too. 6-5. i can't stand that little league field. i really can't. i hate how the whole world thinks it's such an awesome stadium. fuck fenway, fuck the sawx.
sonnanstine into pitch..
[254] sometimes the shit sox score 2. then 2 more.
then...hopefully NONE more. and LOSE!!!
ugly ended it. sux lose!
[257] Lot of folks out in Massachusetts not very happy with the Sox so far. Lots of "Ortiz is toast, I knew this defense thing wasn't going to work, why didn't they re-sign Bay" and the like.
Me, I'd just like to be able to sit down and watch a Yankee game without having to work.