ALDS GAME 2: YANKEES EFFORT NOT ENOUGH IN TOUGH LOSS

This one hurts. Well, all losses in the postseason hurt, so what are you expecting me to say? The Yankees had some chances on offense and came through a couple of times, but they weren’t able to get that one big hit to tie or take the lead. They got a good pitching performance out of Andy Pettitte, but it wasn’t enough in a 3-2 loss on Monday night.

Like Sunday night’s game, the Yanks were able to put a run on the board before the Orioles got to take their first hacks. That’s huge as it gave the Yanks early momentum. Hopefully they’ll keep it up in the next two (or three) games at the Stadium. Anyway, the run came from a two out RBI double from Robinson Cano. He drove in Ichiro from first, and before he scored, he had to make two incredible, acrobat-like moves to avoid not one, but two tags from catcher Matt Wieters at the plate. More on that in a moment.

Before this, however, Alex Rodriguez lined into a double play. Second baseman Robert Andino made a great diving play and doubled off Derek Jeter at second. If that ball got through, the Yanks could have scored multiple runs that inning.

The Yanks did come away empty in some big spots, most notably in the fourth inning. They loaded the bases with one out on a Mark Teixeira single, Russell Martin walk, and Curtis Granderson single. Eduardo Nunez popped up weakly to second and Jeter grounded out weakly to Manny Machado at third. It was very frustrating, especially the Nunez at-bat because all he needed was a deep fly ball to drive in a run.

Nunez, however, did help create a run in the seventh as he led off the inning with a hustle bloop double before Jeter drove him in to make it 3-2. Also, in that seventh inning, the Yanks had second and third with two out, but Nick Swisher flew out on a 3-2 pitch to left against reliever Brian Matusz. Most of this came against O’s starter Wei-Yin Chen who allowed two runs (one earned) in 6.1 innings. Also, in case you’re wondering, the Yanks offense went 2-for-8 with RISP.

Andy Pettitte started, and he pitched a very solid game. He allowed three runs in 7+ innings (He surrendered a leadoff single to Chris Davis in the eighth) on seven hits, one walk, and five strikeouts. What really stings, though, is that the Orioles scored two runs off of him in the third after Jim Thome and Machado made two quick outs to open the frame. Robert Andino singled to start the rally (The O’s first base runner of the game) before Nate McLouth and JJ Hardy reached on a single and a walk, respectively. Chris Davis then knocked two home on an RBI single to right.

The third and final run Andy allowed came in the sixth on a Mark Reynolds single to right. This came after Matt Wieters led off the inning with a double, and on the Reynolds single it looked like Cano had a chance to at least dive and knock the ball down to keep it in the infield so the runner couldn’t score. Maybe he didn’t have a great chance since he was playing so close to the bag at second, I don’t know. Overall, it’s tough to blame Andy. He pitched well; the offense had a hard time scoring in the big spots.

On Twitter, everyone seemed to pile on ARod, which I’m not surprised of. He did have a tough game (1-for-5 with two strikeouts including the game-ender against Jim Johnson), but c’mon, there were plenty of other reasons why the Yankees lost, at least be somewhat objective here.

Play of the Game: Again, the heroics from Ichiro Suzuki in the first inning running home, dancing around an awkward Matt Wieters to score.  Just amazing. Many thought that would be the momentum the Yankees needed to win Game 2... I guess not.

O’s win 3-2

 

Like I said, this one hurts, but we need to shake it off. These two teams take a day off on Tuesday before playing Game 3 in the Bronx. It’s a best-of-three now, and thankfully all three (if necessary) will be at the Stadium. Hiroki Kuroda (16-11, 3.32 ERA) makes arguably his biggest start in his MLB career against Miguel Gonzalez (9-4, 3.25 ERA) on Wednesday.

 


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


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