YANKEES SHOW LIFE IN MUST WIN GAME

There’s no denying it; these games are must-win games. After a disappointing (to say the very least) loss on Saturday, the Yankees needed to win on Sunday so they could keep pace with the O’s in the American League East standings. Things were rocky early, but thanks to some fight by the offense in the late innings, the Yanks were able to gut out a 9-6 win.

Following an ineffective start by Phil Hughes, the Yankees were behind the eight-ball early. It was 5-1 going into the sixth, and the Yankees had a hard time generating offense against Henderson Alvarez in the first five innings. However, the Bombers inched closer as Robinson Cano and Nick Swisher led off with hits (double by Cano, single by Swisher) in the sixth. Cano would score later in the inning to make it a 5-2 game, though at the time it was disappointing that they were unable to score Swisher who was at second with just one out. The Yankees weren’t done, though, as in the next inning they would score three of their biggest runs of the season.

One more thing. In the third, Ichiro made a terrific catch while colliding into the wall. He was then applauded by the home crowd. We here at BYB were impressed with that and wanted to show you this terrific photo from AP.

Henderson Alvarez, who pitched 6 innings of two run, seven hit, and four strikeout ball, was relieved in favor of Brett Cecil. Cecil failed to retire the only man he faced, Eduardo Nunez, as he allowed a single to the speedy shortstop. Steve Delabar relieved Cecil, and he immediately allowed Derek Jeter to bloop a double down the right field line to set up a second-and-third situation for Ichiro Suzuki. Ichiro didn’t drive in both runs, but he hit a sac-fly to inch the Yankees closer, making it a 5-3 game. Alex Rodriguez followed, as he fell behind 0-2 early, but he battled back and worked out a tough eight-pitch walk. Robinson Cano, like ARod, fell behind in a pitcher’s count, 1-2, but sure enough he battled back before ripping an RBI double down the right field line to make it a 5-4 game. Aaron Loup relieved Delabar, and with Swisher at the plate, Loup promptly uncorked a wild pitch to cap off the Yankee rally before inducing a Swisher line-drive DP to end the inning.

Thanks to some stellar bullpen work (more on them later), the Yankees were able to keep the game knotted at five going into the eighth. They were able to take the lead for good as Eduardo Nunez was able to sac-fly (looked like he hit a two-run double off the bat) Curtis Granderson, who walked to leadoff the frame, home to make it 6-5. Derek Jeter then made it 7-5 as he drove in Brett Gardner, who was pinch-running for Raul Ibanez, on a bloop single to shallow right.

They then scored two more insurance runs in the ninth on a Curtis Granderson two-run single to drive home ARod and Cano to make it 9-5. The Jays were able to scrap together a run in the ninth, but in the end it did not matter.

Derek Lowe relieved an ineffective Phil Hughes with two out in the fifth in this game, and he was able to miraculously retire all five men he faced. If the Yankees make the playoffs, I have a feeling he’ll make the roster, though don’t set that in stone. Anyway, Logan followed Lowe and picked up two outs to finish off the seventh before DRob and Soriano finished off the eighth and ninth inning, respectively, though Soriano allowed one run as he loaded the bases with no one out before forcing a Yunel Escobar double play, scoring just one run.

Final was 9-6, Yankees.

Talk about a huge win. This win gives them a 4-3 record on their final road trip of the regular season. The Yanks now come back to the Bronx for their final home series of the season as they face the pathetic Red Sox, who showed zero life in their series against the Orioles, on Monday. CC Sabathia (14-6, 3.42 ERA) opposes Clay Buchholz (11-7, 4.22 ERA) in the opener. The Orioles will take on the Rays at the Trop, so with the AL East tied; the Yankees are in a decent position to win the division. Fingers crossed.




--Jesse Schindler, BYB Lead Staff Writer
Follow me on Twitter @SchindlerJesse


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