The Pennant Race - 9/26

The Mets may very well have saved their season last night. Heavy rains could have an affect on this weekend's series with the Marlins, but the Mets would have been in even deeper water, or something else, had they not won last night's game with the Cubs. Trailing 6-3, the Mets rallied back and then won the game in the bottom of the 9th when Carlos Beltran's line drive ticked off the end of the glove of a diving Micah Hoffpauir at 1st base. Jose Reyes raced home with the winning run in a 7-6 victory. It overshadowed a big game by Hoffpauir, who was playing in just his 31st big league game. The rookie homered twice, doubled, and drove in 5 runs.

The Mets bullpen, for once, was key, holding the Cubs over the final 2.2 innings after a shaky start from Pedro Martinez. It kept the Shea inhabitants in a tie with the Milwaukee Brewers, who also won in dramatic fashion, for the wildcard lead, and moved them to within one game of the idle Phillies in the NL East. Martinez left to a standing ovation, which he admittedly realized could be his last.

Knowing that the Mets had already won, the Brewers were locked in a 1-1 battle with the Pirates. The key to the 10th inning win came down to one at-bat. With two men aboard and two outs, Dale Sveum sent up Craig Counsell to pinch-hit for Bill Hall. Rookie Jesse Chavez walked him, meaning he had to face Ryan Braun. Moments later Bernie Brewer was going nuts, as was the rest of Miller Park, as Braun hit a walk off grand slam. Kudos to the Brewers pitchers, all eight of them, that held the Pirates to one run.

Bullpens were huge in the White Sox-Twins game last night as well. The White Sox built up a 6-1 and looked like they would remain in first place in the AL Central, but the Twins rallied against the Chicago pen, while their own relievers shut down the White Sox after the 4th inning.

An RBI triple by Carlos Gomez and a run scoring double by Denard Span cut the White Sox lead in half in the fourth. Down 6-4 in the eighth inning, the two struck again. Gomez's RBI single off of Bobby Jenks narrowed the deficit to a run, and moments later Span tripled to score Gomez and knot the game at 6-6. In the 10th, Nick Punto drew a one out walk, moved to second on Gomez's ground out, and advanced to third on Jenks' wild pitch. After Span was intentionally walked, Alexi Casilla singled home Punto with the game winner and vaulted the Twins into first place by a half-game.

The Dodgers clinched the NL West when the Cardinals pounded the Diamondbacks 12-3 Thursday afternoon, but held off celebrating until after they lost last night's game with the Padres, 7-5. Joe Torre and Manny Ramirez made the difference with this bunch, which took advantage of a collapsing Dbacks squad.

The Red Sox moved back to within 2 games of the Rays with a 6-1 win over the Indians. Jon Lester and three relievers combined on a 2-hitter and Kevin Youkilis hit his 28th home run. Meanwhile, the Rays fell to the Tigers, 7-5, as Scott Kazmir was tagged for four of the five home runs Detroit hit. Rookie Armando Galarraga won his 13th game for the Tigers.


News and Notes

The Padres clung to their slim playoff hopes with an 8-6 win over the Reds. Roy Oswalt won his 17th game. Oswalt went 8-2, 1.70 in his last 10 starts.

Vlad Guerrero's 3-run home run yesterday gave him at least 90 RBI for the 10th time in his career.

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Yankee Fail to Weather the White Sox

Things were going swimmingly for the Yankees last night. They held a 3-0 lead and Phil Hughes had allowed just 1 hit in 2 innings of work. Then the rains came and washed away the Yankees hopes of winning a fourth straight game.

Joe Crede singled home Carlos Quentin with the winning run with one out in the 9th against Joba Chamberlain. The Yankees had overcome a 6-3 deficit on Melky Cabrera's 2-run home run in the 6th and an RBI single by Morgan Ensberg in the 7th. But after breezing through the 8th inning with a pair of strike outs, Chamberlain ran into trouble in the 9th.

First A.J. Pierzynski narrowly missed hitting one out of the ball park when he flied to the warning track in center. Then Quentin drilled one to left that hit the base of the left field wall for a double. When Chamberlain left a pitch up in the zone to Crede, the White Sox 3rd Baseman lined it to center to easily score Quentin ahead of Cabrera's throw.

The loss was Chamberlain's first in 27 major league appearances. He might not have been used for 2 innings or even in the 8th inning, had the Yankees bullpen not been shorted. Brian Bruney twisted his foot when he stumbled en route to covering 1st Base on Tuesday night. He was in a walking boot yesterday, which had everyone wondering why he wasn't placed on the DL and another reliever called up. That scenario is likely to take place before tonight's game in Cleveland.

The Yankees took advantage of White Sox starter Gavin Floyd's control problems in the 3rd inning. Jason Giambi lead off with a single, the first of his two hits on the night, and moved to 2nd on a wild pitch. Floyd then walked Cabera and Johnny Damon, retiring Jose Molina in between, to load the bases with one out. Derek Jeter's sac fly to right brought home Giambi with the game's first run and the hot hitting Bobby Abreu plated two more with a double up the gap in left-center field. But by the time Enbserg grounded out to end the inning, the rain was coming down in buckets and the umpires stopped play.

hen play resumed some 50 minutes later, Hughes was shut down for the night and Joe Girardi brought in Ross Ohlendorf, who has become the unofficial long man out of the pen. Ohlendorf retired the White Sox in order in the 3rd, but ran into big trouble one inning later.

With one out the White Sox put two men aboard on a single by Orlando Cabrera and a walk to Jim Thome. Paul Konerko and Jermaine Dye followed with consecutive singles to cut the lead to 3-2, and then Pierzynski doubled to right-center to tie the game. Dye moved to 3rd on the play and scored ahead of Ensberg's throw on a Quentin grounder. Alexi Ramirez drove in the 5th run of the inning with an RBI double.

LaTroy Hawkins proved that no matter what no matter what number he wears, he was an ill advised signing. Thome took him deep in the 5th for his 6th home run of the year and the 513th of his career, moving him past Ernie Banks and Eddie Matthews on the all-time list.

The Yankees had a chance to take the lead in the top of the 9th on singles by Derek Jeter and Hideki Matsui with one out. Ozzie Guillen immediately sent for his closer Bobby Jenks (we're not sure which is stranger, how out of shape he looks or that blonde goatee) to face pinch-hitter Jorge Posada. The move worked as Posada bounced into an inning ending double play.

-On a side note, we get a good laugh every time Posada hits a potential double play ball. Why? Because Michael Kay says, "They'll try to get two." Have you ever seen Posada beat the throw to first? We didn't think so.
News and Notes

Bobby Abreu's two RBI gave him 1,000 for his career.

Joba Chamberlain took the loss somewhat in stride. “I’m not perfect every night,” said Chamberlain, who was the subject of much attention this week when team co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner said he should be starting instead of relieving. “I give up hits and that’s the way it’s going to be. I let my team down.”

In addition to Bruney, Kyle Farnsworth was felled by the wet grounds. Farnsworth slipped down to one knee on his final pitch of the night and felt a twinge in his elbow afterwards. He'll be re-evaluated today.

Jermaine Dye left the game for the White Sox after the 6th inning with a strained groin. He'll sit in tonight's with the Orioles.

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, DH	3	1	0	0	2	1	0	.244
Jeter, SS	4	0	1	1	0	0	1	.275
Abreu, RF	5	1	2	2	0	2	2	.299
Matsui, LF	3	0	1	0	2	0	1	.324
Ensberg, 3B	4	0	1	1	0	1	2	.300
a-Posada, PH	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	.298
Gonzalez, 3B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.333
Cano, 2B	3	0	0	0	1	1	0	.159
Giambi, 1B	4	2	2	0	0	0	3	.161
Cabrera, CF	3	2	2	2	1	0	0	.309
Molina, C	4	0	0	0	0	0	3	.300
Totals	34	6	9	6	6	5	14
a-Grounded into a double play for Ensberg in the 9th.
BATTING 2B: Abreu (4, Floyd), Giambi (3, Floyd). HR: Cabrera (4, 6th inning off Floyd, 1 on, 2 out). TB: Jeter; Abreu 3; Matsui; Ensberg; Giambi 3; Cabrera 5. RBI: Jeter (13), Abreu 2 (16), Cabrera 2 (10), Ensberg (2). 2-out RBI: Abreu 2; Cabrera 2; Ensberg. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Ensberg; Matsui; Giambi 2. SF: Jeter. GIDP: Posada. Team LOB: 8. BASERUNNING SB: Damon (4, 2nd base off Floyd/Pierzynski). FIELDING DP: (Cano-Jeter-Giambi).

Chi White Sox	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Swisher, CF-RF	4	0	1	0	0	0	2	.232
Cabrera, SS	4	1	1	0	0	1	0	.263
Thome, DH	3	2	1	1	1	1	0	.236
Konerko, 1B	4	1	2	1	0	1	0	.203
Dye, RF	3	1	1	1	0	0	1	.316
Uribe, 2B	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	.164
Pierzynski, C	4	1	1	1	0	0	1	.319
Quentin, LF	4	1	1	1	0	2	1	.246
Crede, 3B	4	0	1	1	0	0	2	.293
Ramirez, 2B-CF	3	0	1	1	0	0	0	.167
Totals	34	7	10	7	1	6	7
BATTING 2B: Pierzynski (7, Ohlendorf), Ramirez (2, Ohlendorf), Quentin (2, Chamberlain). HR: Thome (6, 5th inning off Hawkins, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Swisher; Cabrera; Thome 4; Konerko 2; Dye; Pierzynski 2; Quentin 2; Crede; Ramirez 2. RBI: Konerko (16), Dye (9), Pierzynski (12), Quentin (17), Ramirez (1), Thome (18), Crede (21). 2-out RBI: Ramirez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Swisher 2. GIDP: Pierzynski. Team LOB: 3. BASERUNNING CS: Swisher (2, 2nd base by Farnsworth/Molina). FIELDING DP: (Uribe-Cabrera-Konerko).

NY Yankees	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Hughes	2.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	7.85
Ohlendorf	2.0	5	5	5	1	1	0	6.06
Hawkins	2.0	1	1	1	0	1	1	10.03
Farnsworth	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	4.35
Chamberlain (L, 1-1)	1.1	2	1	1	0	2	0	1.93

Chi White Sox	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Floyd	6.0	5	5	5	4	4	1	2.84
Thornton (H, 2)	0.2	1	1	1	1	1	0	5.87
Linebrink (BS, 1)	0.1	1	0	0	1	0	0	2.45
Logan	1.1	2	0	0	0	0	0	3.12
Jenks (W, 1-0)	0.2	0	0	0	0	0	0	1.86

WP: Floyd.
IBB: Matsui (by Floyd).
Pitches-strikes: Hughes 23-15, Ohlendorf 49-33, Hawkins 26-18,
Farnsworth 12-8, Chamberlain 33-23, Floyd 90-49, Thornton 14-6,
Linebrink 14-6, Logan 20-14, Jenks 4-2.
Ground outs-fly outs: Hughes 3-2, Ohlendorf 2-3, Hawkins 3-2,
Farnsworth 0-1, Chamberlain 1-1, Floyd 5-9, Thornton 0-1, Linebrink 0-1,
Logan 2-2, Jenks 2-0.
Batters faced: Hughes 6, Ohlendorf 13, Hawkins 7, Farnsworth 3,
Chamberlain 6, Floyd 27, Thornton 4, Linebrink 3, Logan 6, Jenks 1.
Inherited runners-scored: Linebrink 2-1, Jenks 2-0.
Umpires: HP: Paul Emmel. 1B: Gary Darling. 2B: Jerry Meals. 3B: Bill Miller.
Weather: 64 degrees, cloudy.
Wind: 14 mph, In from CF.
T: 3:05 (1:25 delay).
Att: 27,243.

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The Daily Yankeeland

With Mariano Rivera back in the fold, the Yankees are now looking to strengthen the bridge to Mariano. Though it's a long shot the Yankees have been in contact with the White Sox about closer Bobby Jenks. Since Jenks isn't arbitration eligible until 2009, we don't see the White Sox dealing them unless they can get a very good package in return. Source

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After his announced MVP win, A-Rod held a press conference with reporters. He spoke a little about his pending contract and his love for the Pinstripes.

"There is a privilege in wearing that uniform,'' said Rodriguez, who contacted the team without Scott Boras about negotiating his next contract. "I said from day one that I wanted to be a Yankee. The potential to win championships and set records with the Yankees is exciting.''

Source

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In addition to his in-season Thursday Q&A with Mike and the Mad Dog on WFAN, Joe Girardi will also appear with them once a month in the 0ff-season. Gi Joe's 1st guest spot was last week, but most of the Q&A was what we had already heard since his hiring. He did give some hope to Mo coming back after his meeting with the closer in the Dominican. And of course he was right.

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