Yanks avert sweep
NEW YORK --- The New York Yankees averted getting swept by their storied rivals from Boston
when Jason Giambi hit a walk-off single with the bases loaded off Jonathan Papelbon to give the Bronx Bombers a 3-2 victory before a Yankee Stadium crowd of 55,092.
The Yankees tied game in in the seventh when Giambi, pinch-hitting for catcher Jose Molina, took Hideki Okajima deep to center field for a 2-run homer. It was Giambi's 27th homer of the season and second of the series.
Okajima's miscue spoiled an otherwise brilliant effort by Sox starter Jon Lester, who went 6.2 innings and allowed just 1 run on 5 hits while ringing up 8 strikeouts.
Closer Mariano Rivera made his first appearance of this three-game set when he emerged from the bullpen with two out in the eighth _ to the muscial accompaniment of Metallica's ``Enter Sandman'' _ and induced Kevin Youkilis to fly out to center.
Justin Masterson, who relieved Okajima with two out in the bottom of the eighth, came in and struck out Alex Rodriguez, who fanned for the third time in the game.
Masterson, however, found himself out of the game in the ninth when he gave up a single to center to Xavier Nady and walked Hideki Matsui (intentionally) and Ivan Rodriguez (unintentionally) to load the bases for Giambi.
Papelbon came into the pressure-packed situation with one out (Robinson Cano's sharply-hit line out to Jed Lowrie) and gave up the winning hit to Giambi.
Why do managers take out starting pitchers pitching brilliantly when they give up one baserunner in the late innings? If Lester had given up a two-out double in the sixth, he's not coming out, but suddenly in the 7th he does even though he was cruising along. Does Francona really think that Okajima is better than the ace of his staff having a great afternoon. I know the old managers would never have taken their ace out in that situation.
PATHETIC... You have a chance to put an unofficial end to your arch rivals season and you hand the game to the bullpen!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? GEEEZE!!!!!!!
I don't care how many pitches Lester threw, anything is better than that pathetic bullpen..
Figures...Typical...the Sox can never put them away for good (Obviously except for 2004). Regular season, last game there, you could see it coming. With all the crap Pap has had to take from their fans and media, you could just see him coming in, and walking off in defeat. You could just see it coming. Hopefully tomorrow, the Sox can get back up and play the way they have been, and the yanks can go back to their losing ways.
Once again Francoma is out managed. With a 2-0 lead in the seventh inning he opts for a match up of Giambi v. Okajima instead of Molina v. Lester. What a bone head move. Giambi was 3-7 against Oki with a HR prior to the move. I am so po'ed with Francoma right now...a win was there and he blew it. The Rays better not win tonight.
That loss goes to Tito Francona. Lester was brilliant and he takes him out...with two outs in the 7th! And brings in Okajima? Lester hadn't finished shaking hands before his "W" went down the drain. Then, to add insult to injury, he brings in Papelbon in the 9th...after the bases are loaded! Come on, Terry; if you have any inclination to bring in Pap, do it at the beginning of the inning. I thought you were resting him when he didn't come out for the bottom of the 9th, but NOOOOO...trot himout after the horse has left the barn. So help me, if the Yankees get back in the race (come on, they are not dead yet), we can thank you for opening the door. Nice job, Tito. Terry Francona: Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
Sox blew this one. Tito should have had Kotsay bunt in the 9th with no outs and Bay at first. Mistake 2 -- Paps should have started the 9th. Rivera was already 16-17 pitches committed and had maybe one more inning. Paps would have given us two (one more after Mo is gone) and a much better chance to win the game.
All in all -- great road trip. Won all 3 series. Big question now is Beckett...
Couldn't see the game . . . had it up on ESPN's widget. The widget made it look like Masterson got squeezed on I-Rod's walk - it showed two pitches right on the outside corner and a third on the inner half being called as balls. It also showed Giambi going outside the strike zone to get the game winning hit. Was that accurate?
The real problem was Francoma having Oki pitch to Giambi in the 7th. Let's review; Lester pitching to Molina or Oki pitching to Giambi who was 3-7 with a HR prior to the AB. Must be tough to decide....not!!!! Francoma lost a great pitching performance from Lester. What a shame. Give me a real manager.
I must agree with JB! Tito made a short-sighted and obviously bad call sitting Lester for Oki - thus changing the match-up in the Yankees' favor.
I hope Tito took responsibility for this one inside the club house.
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