After the usual sentimental events of Old Timers’ Day, which featured an extended and loving tribute to Gene Monahan, there was not much to cheer about for Yankee fans in the early going of their game against the Rockies this afternoon. Juan Nicasio retired the first thirteen Yankees and the Rockies had a 3-0 lead. Robinson Cano singled to break up the perfect game with one out in the fifth and Nick Swisher followed with a two-run homer into the right field bleachers. Jorge Posada was next and he hit a high home run and the game was tied. Just like that.
Ivan Nova wasn’t great but didn’t fall apart either. Ty Wigginton wore him out, that’s for sure. His second homer put the Rockies up 4-3 in the sixth, but the Yanks answered with single runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth. Alex Rodriguez tied it with an RBI single and Eduardo Nunez put them ahead for good with an RBI base hit of his own.
Perhaps the most encouraging performance came from Boone Logan who got three outs in the seventh. David Robertson pitched a scoreless eighth and won a long battle with Troy Tulowitzki to start the eighth. Onions.
Oh, know this: Tulo made a critical error in the bottom of the seventh but also made a sensational play look easy in the eighth when he fielded a ball, moving to his right and threw Nick Swisher out easily, from deep in the hole. Man, it was impressive.
And what better way to end a long afternoon love-in than with the Great One, Mariano Rivera?
Three up, three down. Three strikeouts. It never gets old as we savor the greatness that will never be replicated.
Final Score: Yanks 6, Rockies 4.
[Photo Credit: from the most cool site, I really Like the Rain]
Nice, and nice pix.
But why "self-love"?
When I think of self-love then I think of one ofthose marathon sessions you have when you're 13. Being in first feels THAT good. Maybe there's some hyperbole there. Maybe.
[2] Ah. And did you often end those marathon sessions with the Great One? Somehow I don't think that's quite what AB had in mind...
But, it takes all kinds to make the Banter!
(I do think I get it now. Alex doesn't exactly mean self-love, but love-of-our-own, right?)
[2] 13? Oh right..only at 13...
Monday morning off here, settling in with coffee and a bagel (from Bagel Standard! Boatzilla, you gotta get there, it's the real deal!)
Do other teams have Old-Timer's Day? I guess the Reds, Pirates, Dodgers, Sox (both of them) could do good ones. Tigers, Cardinals..maybe Phillies?
Sweet Lou in the booth! He's such a badass, love the guy.
Yeah, I meant Love In. Thanks for the correction!
Bernie in the booth now! I love Old Timers Day :)
Time-warp game thread here: Swisher with the tater and Jorge with the Boom-Bap!! Tino in the booth now, wonder if Cone really grooved him one?
Tino more fun in the booth when he's not announcing.
Wow, Giambi looks really old..
Rockies have Seth Smith in their OF. That doesn't sound like a baseball player's name..
Damn, Ty Wiggington again!
Is Gardner finally learning how to bunt??!! Beautiful!
Boone _Logan needs to always pitch like that!
Flaherty: "Posada probably wouldn't have been able to score on that hit.. PROBABLY??!?
Well done Eduardo!!
D.Robertson's K rate is crazy, hadn't realized that. He's a great development since the demise of JoSoMo.
Mariano, nothing more to say!
Time warp gamethread finished, time to have a relaxing monday afternoon!
[10] well-spotted. Smith was also a football player. In fact, he carried Eli Manning's jock @ Ole Miss. Dunno if he ever got a start, but he's a grid iron sort.