Friday, 30 October 2009
34 must be a lucky number in the World Series.
Game 1 winning pitcher Cliff Lee wears #34 in his Phillies uniform. AJ Burnett is also wearing #34 in his Yankees uniform.
And who will forget Nolan Ryan and Rollie Fingers?
AJ Burnett pitched for the Yankees in World Series Game 2 with a blast. The Yankees beat the Phillies on 3-1, tying the series on Thursday night in Yankee Stadium.
The Pie-Man of the Bronx was able to keep his goal for the game. "I won't change anything as far as my plan or my attack, just maybe not be so careless from the get go -- just throwing balls over the middle to get strike one," Burnett said.
The right-handed pitcher allowed 4 hits, 2 walks and just one run in seven innings. The run was from Raul Ibañez, who hit a double, driven by Matt Stairs' single, a ground ball to left field that was deflected by Alex Rodriguez in the second inning.
If the Phillies had a lot of runs in Game 1 on Wednesday, Thursday night gave them a lot of strikes and strikeouts. Burnett struck out Raul Ibañez twice and Ryan Howard thrice. He struck out four other Phillies.
Burnett's favoured catcher was outstanding, not just in helping him with his pitches. Jose Molina, also a Puerto Rican, kept a runner from staying in the fourth inning. Jayson Werth hit a single on a full count but while Ibañez was batting, he was picked off by Molina at first base on a throw to Mark Teixeira. AJ Burnett only faced three batters in the fourth inning.
The Bronx Bombers hit two solo home runs. The Yankees' first homer in the World Series came off the previously shy bat of Mark Teixeira over the fence in the right centre field in the fourth inning. It was his first career World Series home run.
The other solo homer was provided my Hideki Matsui on a fly ball in the right field in the sixth inning. It was Godzilla's second career World Series home run.
When Jorge Posada was announced to pinch hit for Jose Molina in the seventh inning, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel left the dugout to get the ball from Pedro Martinez, the Phillies starter, and summoned Park Chan-Ho to face Posada who went 0-for-7 against him.
Pedro Martinez pitched for 6 innings and left the mound with 4.50 ERA. He struckout eight Yankees but allowed 6 hits and 3 runs.
A.J. Burnett may opt for Jose Molina to catch for him, but he was the number one cheerleader of Jorge Posada when the veteran catcher hit a single on a line drive to centre field driving in Brett Gardner, who was pinch running for Jerry Hairston, Jr., for another run. The run was charged to Pedro Martinez.
The Philadelphia Phillies were able to keep the remaining Yanks off the plate when Johnny Damon lined into a double play. Posada was out off first. They also caused a gathering of the umpires to discuss the play and call, which was questioned by Joe Girardi.
The Phillies were trying to rally more runs, but the goal seemed impossible as they had to face Mariano Rivera in the eight inning. Posada stayed in the game to replace Jose Molina.
The eight inning was quite a battle against The Sandman who drew the third walk for the Phillies with just one out. Shane Victorino, batting next, was able to hit a single on a ground ball to right field. The Old Guard closer was able to stay out of trouble when Chase Utley grounded into double play, Robinson Cano to shortstop Derek Jeter to Mark Teixeira. Shane Victorino was out at second base.
Ryan Howard was batting first in the ninth inning, but he never had the chance to have a base hit as he was struck out on 0-3 count by Mariano Rivera. The first baseman of the Phillies was totally shut out by Burnett and Rivera in his four at-bats.
After 38 pitches, Mariano Rivera struck out the eighth batter he faced on 2-2 count for the final out of the game.
The Yankees are off to follow the Phillies in Citizens Bank Park for Game 3 on Saturday night. Andy Pettitte will start for the Yankees who will face Cole Hamels.
Also posted in Bleacher Report and MLBlog.
21:05 Posted in Sports | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this | Tags: 2009, yankees, phillies, aj burnett, mark teixeira, hideki matsui, ryan howard, jose molina, jorge posada, mariano rivera, raul ibañez, joe girardi, robinson cano
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
Old Guard pitchers advance the Yankees back to World Series.
The Yankees may have lost Game 3 of the series with Pettitte as their starter, but Dandy Andy presented himself in the mound in Game 6 with confidence and results that speak of his possible legend.
The 36-year old pitcher only allowed one walk, of which Howie Kendrick was the recipient. It was after Vladimir Guerrero hit an RBI, which he grounded off first in the second inning. Guerrero's move was considered to be a wrong move; obviously.
The Angels have committed a lot of mistakes during the series, some of which were not even part of their accumulated 8 error record in the ALCS. Some of those errors even helped the Yankees reach homeplate.
One easy and unwonted out happened during the sixth inning. Chone Figgins, after bunting Pettitte's 89 MPH fastball, grounded out to catcher Jorge Posada. He was out for tagging himself as he ran to first base. His left foot touched the ball.
In the same sixth inning, the Angels might've had a run when Vladimir Guerrero's double RBI advanced Torii Hunter to third base. The centre fielder's speed has been a concern to the Bombers. With two out, Mr. Iron Gaze saved the inning when Kendrick Morales hit the ball back to him for the third out.
With long time teammate Jorge Posada catching behind the plate, the left-handed pitcher struck out six Angels in 6.1 innings before Manager Joe Torre climbed to the hill. The man in the mound knew what was coming.Pettitte may have wanted to stay longer, a lot of the fans wanted too, but he yielded to his former teammate's call and left his throne with 99 pitches and a 2.84 ERA.
The post-season veteran pitcher allowed seven hits and only had one run. The Yankee fans gave Pettitte a standing ovation while the Old Guard starting pitcher tipped his cap in recognition of the fans as he retired to the dugout.
Joba relieved for him, pitching against two Halos. He grounded out both to end the top of the seventh inning, but that was all for him. Joe Girardi already had plans for the eight and ninth inning.
The Sandman left the Yankee bullpen radiating assurance to the Yankees and at the same time threat to the Angels. "I knew I was going to be there for at least two," said Rivera who was called in the top of the eight.
Mariano Rivera is one of those pitchers you don't want to face when you're in the batter's box.
"Man, I don't even want to talk about Mariano Rivera right now," Torii Hunter said. "You don't want to face him. I don't plan on getting to him. If we do, the game is probably in the bag."
Chone Figgins was fortunate to hit an RBI on one ball - one strike count against Mariano Rivera. He was not the only blessed Angel of the night. With two outs, Figgins scored on Vladimir Guerrero's RBI giving the Angels their second and last run. It was the first post-season run given up by Mariano Rivera at home since Game 2 of the 2000 World Series against the Mets.
In the top of the ninth inning with two out, and just one more for the final one, Gary Matthews Jr. was pinch hitting for catcher Mike Napoli. It was an offensive move but obviously didn't work. Matthews, Jr. struckout swinging for the final out of the series. The pitch was not even a cutter.
The Bombers earned three runs in the fourth inning from Robinson Cano and Nick Swisher on Johnny Damon's RBI and from Derek Jeter who had to step on homeplate to give way for A-Rod who was walked with bases loaded.
They had another runs in the eight inning from Robinson Cano on Melky Cabrera's sacrifice bunt, which he earned as double on throwing error by Scott Kazmir, and from Brett Gardner on Mark Teixeira's sacrifice fly to centre field.
The New York Yankees defeated the Los Angeles Angels on 5-2 in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series. The Bronx Bombers will represent the American League in the World Series to face the defending champions Philadelphia Phillies of the National League on Wednesday night in Yankee Stadium.
Also posted in MLBlog and Bleacher Report.
20:27 Posted in Sports | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email this | Tags: 2009, yankees, andy pettitte, mariano rivera, jorge posada, phillies, world series