Today's game was decided by two factors. Luck, and courage.
Burnett the burner once again showed why he's big time. Pitching into the 7th, he held the powerful Indians' lineup to 3 runs, leaving with one out and the bases loaded, down 3-1. Then (I'm gonna call him Johnny A-ball) got the next two outs in a courageous display of clutch pitching to keep the game within reach.
In the bottom of the inning, the Yankees big time players came through. First Matsui cut the lead in half with a clutch hit to make it 3-2. Then Posada connected solidly, lifting the ball into the heavens...but got under it.
Watching the TV, one can only estimate the position of a fly ball by watching the outfielder and listening to the announcer. And as the outfielder drifted back slowly toward the wall, the announcer's voice rose, the crowd stood on it's feet...and the ball dropped STRAIGHT DOWN into the hands of a fan who was sticking his arms out drunkenly over the wall. The fan failed to make the catch, the ball dropped to the grass, replays provided little evidence for overturning the home run, and the Yanks took the lead! A game of inches indeed.
But there was more. While the Yankees' courage and poise under pressure was on display late, the Indians cowardice reared its feathery head. With the bases loaded and two outs in a one run game, Cody Ransom broke his bat and popped a lazy fly ball down the line into left. Ransom threw the sawed off handle to the grass in disgust, trotting dejectedly down the first base line. The 3 runners on base did their duty, jogging around the bases while waiting for the ball to be caught.
But it was not caught. The left fielder, rather than running full speed and sliding to make the catch, which would have ended the inning, kept the game within reach, and earned him part of his bloated salary, stopped short of the wall, preventing a self-inflicted faceplant, but also allowing the ball to bounce just inside the foul line. Three runs scored and the game was out of reach for the Tribe, who could learn a thing or two about execution down the stretch in tight games. Lucky for them, the Yankees were here to provide two days of lessons in that area.
Burnett the burner once again showed why he's big time. Pitching into the 7th, he held the powerful Indians' lineup to 3 runs, leaving with one out and the bases loaded, down 3-1. Then (I'm gonna call him Johnny A-ball) got the next two outs in a courageous display of clutch pitching to keep the game within reach.
In the bottom of the inning, the Yankees big time players came through. First Matsui cut the lead in half with a clutch hit to make it 3-2. Then Posada connected solidly, lifting the ball into the heavens...but got under it.
Watching the TV, one can only estimate the position of a fly ball by watching the outfielder and listening to the announcer. And as the outfielder drifted back slowly toward the wall, the announcer's voice rose, the crowd stood on it's feet...and the ball dropped STRAIGHT DOWN into the hands of a fan who was sticking his arms out drunkenly over the wall. The fan failed to make the catch, the ball dropped to the grass, replays provided little evidence for overturning the home run, and the Yanks took the lead! A game of inches indeed.
But there was more. While the Yankees' courage and poise under pressure was on display late, the Indians cowardice reared its feathery head. With the bases loaded and two outs in a one run game, Cody Ransom broke his bat and popped a lazy fly ball down the line into left. Ransom threw the sawed off handle to the grass in disgust, trotting dejectedly down the first base line. The 3 runners on base did their duty, jogging around the bases while waiting for the ball to be caught.
But it was not caught. The left fielder, rather than running full speed and sliding to make the catch, which would have ended the inning, kept the game within reach, and earned him part of his bloated salary, stopped short of the wall, preventing a self-inflicted faceplant, but also allowing the ball to bounce just inside the foul line. Three runs scored and the game was out of reach for the Tribe, who could learn a thing or two about execution down the stretch in tight games. Lucky for them, the Yankees were here to provide two days of lessons in that area.
7-6, and bring on the Sox, ("the real") America's team. Oh wait we got the A's next.
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