For Game 2, the Yanks made an attempt, but along with a weird play in left and Damon injuring himself, Coco Crisp made a dive to end the rally against Papelbon and send the Yanks to their second loss in the series.
Moose was stellar in Game 3, and the Yanks managed to hold on despite Rivera hitting two batters and loading the bases with no outs and a 1-run cushion in the 9th.
None of those, with the exception of the final inning of the Game 3, had the usual feeling of Yanks Sox. Then came the final round of the series...
I think it had to have been one of, if not the best, game I've been to in the Bronx. It had everything you could ask for in it, including:
- A popular pitcher on the mound
- A milestone HR by the best player in the game
- Excellent defensive plays
- Plays at the plate
- Stolen bases
- A managerial ejection
- ...sparking a comeback by the home offense
- Enter Sandman for two brilliant innings
- "Bonus cantos"
- A walkoff single by a rookie
"Do you guys always give players curtain calls for home runs?" ~ Steve "Uhh, Steve, he just tied Mantle in HRs." ~ Me "Oh."
However, Wakefield silenced the rest of the offense and completely made Posada, for example, look silly. Joba kept throwing heat and getting in and out of trouble (including a strike 'em out throw 'em out to end the second with Youk and Casey). In fact, for awhile both pitchers were throwing 1-hitters. That was, until the 5th. Youkilis led it off by singling for the second time in the game, and Sean Casey followed it up with a base hit of his own. The Sox were set up, and quite frankly, no one in the Stadium expected the Yanks to win the game with only 1-run. Joba got a little ahead of himself and threw a wild pitch in an effort to strikeout Crisp, which let Youk score (despite a gritty effort by Molina and Joba) and Coco reach. Damn...a tie game. By now, Steve was cheering and the Yanks fans in front of us threatened to throw him out.
The inning looked as if it would turn around for Joba, as he was able to put up a K against Julio Lugo and backup catcher Kevin Cash. But a VERY questionable walk to Lord Ellsbury (from our angle, it looked like he definitely swung on 3-2) set up a Lil' Dusty bases-loaded single which put the Sox ahead 3-1. Now Steve was definitely going to get thrown out, and all Yanks fans were thinking the same thing: could this offense overcome its incompetence and rally back against the knuckleballer?
The immediate answer looked to be a no. Giambi took a 6-pitch walk to start off the bottom half, but Jorge tried to follow it up...and ended up striking out swinging while watching the first 6 pitches. Dreadful. Cano and Melky made easy outs, and it looked as if the ugly panic offense had returned. Needless to say, I was not pleased.
Joba returned at the top of the 6th to retire Lowell, walk Youk, and get Casey to ground into a 3-6-3 DP that had me on the edge of my seat (oh GOD please don't let Giambi throw to second...). The Stadium roared, and then I was confident that they HAD to get Joba off the hook after a tough 101 pitch outing. They had to.
Enter Bottom 6, which was the first turning point of the game. Molina struck out looking. He had been poor at seeing the flutterball all day, but I also think Laz Diaz at home plate was equally as confused by the knuckleball and forgot how to work the strike zone. Girardi had enough of the inconsistency during Brett Gardner's at-bat; he argued a low "strike" at the ankles, unloaded on Diaz, and got ejected as the crowd started the "Joe Gir-ar-di!" chant. It was great. Feeling this new energy surge, Gardner singled to center, stole second during Jete's at bat, and scored on a Captain hit! 3-2! A poor pickoff attempt (You can't throw a knuckler to first, Wake!) let Jeter advance to second, and Abreu then lined one hard...straight to Lugo :-(. And Jeter was doubled up in the process. The energy in the Bronx peaked and then immediately emptied. I was crushed; it seriously seemed like the best chance they'd have all night, and it was lost due to dumb luck.
David Robertson relieved Joba. He was looking good with his fastball and curve and was able to retire Crisp. But Lugo hit a deep chopper to Jeter, and despite his best Jeterian throw, it was wide to Giambi and the runner got to second. Naturally, KEVIN CASH of all people pulled a Mike Lowell and doubled down the left field line to get the Sox their run back. 4-2 Boston.
But then came the true turning point in the bottom of the 7th. Arod led off by getting his second hit off Wakefield of the night. Giambi represented the tyng run, but after a 7-pitch quality at-bat, he popped a skyscraper to Drew. Damn. Now, here came the interesting part. Posada was up next, who was 0-for on the night against Wakefield. As a knuckleballer with a pitch count at 95, you'd THINK he'd stay in for an easy out. But Tito came out and removed him. Huh? And Jorge's a switch hitter at that! Every Sox fan in the Stadium had to have been shocked, and so was I. But the difference was, I was also smiling.
"If this works out, then I'll be happy. If not, I'll be mad." ~ Steve
"Isn't that how we judge most managerial decisions?" ~ Me
Well, Steve was mad. Jorge singled on the third pitch he saw from Javier Lopez and Arod moved to third. And then Robbie! Robbie Cano don't you know! Cano launched a rare triple to right field, clearing the bases. The Stadium erupted. My voice exploded. It was amazing. The yanks had come back to tie the game! They took advantage of a dumb managerial move! Hell, the ejection of their own manager sparked them! And then I KNEW that they had to win this. They had to.
However, ambition got the best of them and they couldn't take the lead; Melky hit a chopper to second, Cano lost his mind and though he could score, and he was easily called out at the plate. Molina then K'd swinging to end the rally. But a tie game in the 8th meant...
Farnsworth?! I yelled; the guys in front of me laughed at the reaction. But despite how I held onto my seat, Farns had a much needed 1-2-3, ending in a vicious K of Youk. Manny Delcarmen then held down the tie in the 8th, and we went into the final regulation inning.
Enter Sandman. His entrance, especially at night, is so intense. Granted, a lead at the time would have been more desirable, but you can't trust anyone else in that situation. I prayed to the baseball gods that he was feeling better, and I was immediately a little scared: Casey singled nicely on the first pitch he saw. Ugh, grumbled the Stadium. Then Crisp laid down a perfect bunt, and the go-ahead run was at second with 1 out; a pinch runner came in for Casey. Then I heard boos and saw on the jumbotron that Varitek was coming in to pinch hit for Lugo!
"JASON VARITEK, Francona? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" ~ Steve
This was the second strange decision made by the Boston manager that night. Pinch hit crap for more crap? But I'll take it! And indeed I did, as Captain C grounded out. Then more boos came. Epic boos. Steve looked at the jumbotron and cheered. I looked and moaned. For none other than Manny Ramirez was about to pinch hit. Oh no.
The infield came in to hold a meeting with Mo. If there was a major at-bat in this game, this was it. The meeting broke up as Diaz came to the mound, and then it was HOF closer vs. HOF slugger. Hold on to your seats...
Was Mo under the weather yesterday? How about when he pitched to Casey? Because he wasn't anymore. On three straight pitches to the outside corner, Manny was sent back to the dugout. Talk about taking care of business! He didn't even have a chance to take the bat off his shoulder! Steve and 5the rest of RSN present cringed, but all the fans of the good guys were ecstatic. Just vintage. Plain vintage.
The bottom of the inning was uneventful, despite a long, but fruitless AB, from Jorge to end it. A revived Rivera returned for the 10th and sat down Jacoby, Lil' Dusty, and Drew in order. The Yanks had to win here, I thought, because our pen could only hold down the fort so so much longer. Tito realized this too and sent in his best, and thus it was Jonathan Papelbon against the bottom of the Yanks order.
Robbie, coming back to form, led it off by singling to center. Nice. Then Melky played it smart and laid down a pretty bunt. Winning run on second, 1-out.
"Nooo! Not RISP!" ~ Me
For some reason (maybe because the bench is so thin?) Thompson decided to pinch hit Betemit for Molina. Now, I know Jose was crap on the day, but is Meat any better? The answer was no, as he was completely overpowered by Papelbon on 4 pitches. Then enter Brett Gardner.
Now Gardner had already had that important hit and steal and run in the bottom of the 6th after Joe's ejection. But I failed to mention what he did in the 8th against Manny Delcarmen. Gardner led off that inning with a true major league at bat. After taking the first two strikes, he took a ball and then fouled off the next three before taking ball two. On his next swing he hit what looked like a single down the third base line, but it called called a foul when he was halfway to second. Of course, as the baseball gods mandate, he K'd swinging on the next pitch. But none of that changes the fact that the rookie had a solid, major league, 9-pitch AB. THAT'S what the Yankees are SUPPOSED to do!
So now we're in the bottom of the 10th with 2 outs and the winning run on second. Gardner, batting .100 at the time, was against the great Jonathan Papelbon. Honestly, I though he'd be overmatched. And after getting into an 0-2 hole quickly I thought I was right. But then Brett did it again--fouling off three of the next five pitches. The count was 2-2, and he was waiting for the 8th pitch of the at-bat. Everyone in the Stadium was calling splitter. Everyone in the Stadium was anticipating the 11th. But then...
Gardner made contact, and this time it didn't go out of play. It split the diving middle infielders and rolled into center! Cano rounded third, everyone was on their feet screaming, Cano went in for the slide, and it was over! Yankees win! Theeeee Yankees win! On a 2-2, 2-out single by rookie Brett Gardner off Jon Papelbon! Oh my god what a game!
The Yankees fans in the Stadium were electric. The Sox fans were, ha, not too pleased. But oh man was it great. Instant Yankee classic right there--no doubt about it. Four years ago was July 1st, but this year it was five days later. Hurrah!
Of course, then I remembered that both of the teams playing were looking far up to the Rays. But who cared at the moment? They're next!
As expected, RSN was so bitter. They decided to waste their time complaining about how badly the Stadium smelled, how dirty it was, and other useless rants. Yes, because Fenway is a garden of roses. And honestly, if you can't handle the real City, go away and don't come back. But not even they could ruin my elation of the night.
Here's the memorable box:
Oh, and apparently, the Twins won against Cliff Lee, handing him only his second loss of the season and putting them on a 5-game win streak and winners of 18 of their last 21. God damn they're on fire. So yesterday was seriously an amazing baseball day.
(And who do they see next? Why, none other than the Sox! Let's hope they don't collapse at Fenway like the rest of MLB...)
Apparently lots of other baseball news happened while I was away (= awake for 21 hours). We'll save that for another post.
