Around the Horn - 6/6

"I was at a boxing match last night and a hockey game broke out". An oldie, but goodie. Last night a brawl broke out at the Rays-Red Sox baseball game. Sox centerfielder Coco Crisp became a marked man after his questionableslide into 2nd Baseman Aki Iwamura (yeah the same guy Shelley Duncan spiked) the night before (Crisp said it was in retaliation for Jason Bartlett blocking the bag earlier in the game). In the 2nd inning of last night's game Rays starter James Shields drilled Crisp in the leg and made no doubt about it afterwards that it was intentional.

"I think what (Crisp) did (Wednesday) was an absolutely dirty move, bush league and not supposed to be in the professional game of baseball... He’s not a professional player. I lost all respect for him... We’ve been getting stomped around the last 10 years and that’s not going to happen any more," said Shields.

Crisp charged the mound and ducked a haymaker from Shields before landing a punch of his own and was then tackled by Rays catcher Dionner Navarro. While on the ground, Crisp was pounded at by Rays DH Jonny Gomes (yeah, him again) while Shields was buried under another pile.

The Red Sox won the game 7-1 behind Manny Ramirez's 5 RBI, but Ramirez also got into it in the dugout with teammate Kevin Youkilis. The two had to be separated in the dugout 5th inning. Boston may have a big loss though. Jacob Ellsbury rolled on his wrist while making a catch and for the moment is day-to-day.

Chipper Jones slugged his 400th career home run in the Braves 7-5 win over the Marlins. He became just the 3rd switch-hitter, along with Mickey Mantle and Eddie Murray to hit the 400 mark. And in case you haven't noticed, he's still hitting .418.

C.C. Sabathia is definitely not making the most of his pending free agency. He allowed 4 earned runs in 6 innings in the Indians 9-4 loss to the Rangers last night. Sabathia is now 3-8, 4.65 on the season.

Jose Contreras has very quitely put together a solid season. He was on the winning end of the White Sox 6-2 victory over the Royals. The Cuban native is now 6-3, 2.76 and has allowed just 7 earned runs in his last 42 innings. Jim Thome hit career home run #519.

It was a "Land of the Rising Sun" showdown in LA last night when the Cubs met the Dodgers. Tied 2-2 in the 9th, Kusoke Fukodome singled in the game winning run against Takaski Saito.

The Cardinals and Nationals split a twinbill. Todd Wellmeyer went to 7-1 in the Cardinals 4-1 win in the opener. After blowing a 6-0 lead in the nightcap, the Nationals came back from a 1-run deficit on the 10th, winning it on Elijah Dukes' 2-run walk-off home run.

Scott Schoenweis had a night against the Padres he'd like to forget. With the game tied 1-1 in the bottom of the 9th, the lefty hit Pete McAnulty to force in the winning run. Hard to pin that one on Willie Randolph.

Cole Hamels beat Homer Bailey and the Reds 5-0 in a complete game effort. Most of the post-game discussion though centered on reigning MVP Jimmy Rollins, who was pulled from the game by manager Charlie Manuel after not running out a pop up.

Garrett Olson improved to 5-1 and George Sherrill be came the majors 2nd closer with 20 saves in the Orioles 3-2 win over the Twins. Adam Jones' home run was the decisive blow.

Jason Michaels' 3-run home run propelled the Pirates over the Astros 4-3. Paul Maholm won his 3rd straight start.

In case you missed it, here's the Rays-Sox fisticuffs.

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Pettitte Gets Yankees Off on Wrong Foot

The Yankees don't know what to expect from their number 4 and 5 starters and from veteran Mike Mussina, but they knew they could count on Chien-Ming Wang and Andy Pettitte to give them quality starts. So far Pettitte has let manager Joe Girardi down in that respect.

Pettitte started out the season well, going 3-1, 2.45 through his first four starts. But since then he's pitched poorly in 3 of 4 outings and has allowed 16 earned runs in 21.1 innings. Those 3 poor outings have all resulted in Yankees losses. Last night it was the Tampa Rays sending Pettitte to an early shower in a 7-1 win at Tropicana Field.

The Yankees offense was flat as well as Rays starter Matt Garza dominated them through 7 innings. Pettitte looked sharp to start the game, but Jonny Gomes continued to be a thorn in his side this season. The Rays outfielder hit a game winning blast against Pettitte at Yankee Stadium back on April 5. This time Gomes ran the Rays into the early lead with a 2-out single in the 2nd inning and a stolen base. Former Yankees prospect Dionner Navarro had the first of his three hits on the night with a bloop RBI single to center field to give the Rays a 1-0 lead.

Rays phenom Evan Longoria doubled off the top of the right field wall to start the 4th and came home on Gomes' single to left. Navarro sacrificed him to 2nd and Gomes then stole 3rd Base as Eric Hinske walked. Jason Bartlett then provided the back breaker with a 2-run triple for a 4-0 lead. He would come home on Aki Iwamura's RBI single before Pettitte eventually wriggled his way out of the inning.

Garza meanwhile did not allow a Yankee to reach 2nd Base until the 6th inning when he allowed singles to Alberto Gonzalez and Derek Jeter. But Garza, who had already gotten Jose Molina to bounce into a pair of double plays, induced an around the horn double play from Bobby Abreu to end the inning.

The Rays tacked on a pair of runs against Chris Britton and Jose Veras before the Yankees finally scored a meaningless run in the 8th inning against the Rays bullpen.

News and Notes

Derek Jeter is 6-16 with 2 walks over the last 4 games, but just 2 runs scored. To exemplify the Yankees inability to score runs, consider that one of those runs came on his own home run.

Since his 17-game hitting streak ended, Hideki Matsui is just 1-11.

Alberto Gonzalez was 2-3 last night, is hitting .310, and has reached base in 9 of the 10 games he's had had at least one plate appearance. He definitely merits playing time over Morgan Ensberg.

		Final		1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		R		H		E
		NY Yankees	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	6	0
		Tampa Bay	0	1	0	4	1	0	1	0	X	7	13	0
WP: M. Garza (2-1) LP: A. Pettitte (3-4)

NY Yankees
	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	LOB	Season Avg
J. Damon lf	4	0	0	1	0	0	2	.274
D. Jeter ss	3	0	1	0	1	0	0	.309
B. Abreu rf	4	0	0	0	0	2	3	.295
H. Matsui dh	3	0	0	0	1	3	0	.323
J. Giambi 1b	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	.177
M. Cabrera cf	4	0	1	0	0	0	1	.270
R. Cano 2b	3	0	1	0	0	0	2	.188
J. Molina c	3	1	1	0	0	0	2	.214
A. Gonzalez 3b	3	0	2	0	0	0	0	.310
Totals	30	1	6	1	2	5	11

Batting 2B - J Molina (8, G Glover). RBI - J Damon (17). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Abreu 1. GIDP - J Molina 2, B Abreu. Team LOB - 5.

Tampa Bay
	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	LOB	Season Avg
A. Iwamura 2b	5	0	2	1	0	2	0	.258
C. Crawford lf	4	0	1	0	1	2	2	.288
B.J. Upton cf	4	0	1	0	1	0	2	.295
C. Pena 1b	5	0	1	0	0	1	5	.209
E. Longoria 3b	4	2	2	0	1	2	2	.223
J. Gomes dh	4	3	2	1	0	0	1	.225
D. Navarro c	3	0	3	2	0	0	0	.362
E. Hinske rf	3	1	0	1	1	0	3	.257
G. Gross rf	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.205
J. Bartlett ss	4	1	1	2	0	0	2	.248
Totals	36	7	13	7	4	7	17

Batting 2B - E Longoria (4, A Pettitte). 3B - J Bartlett (1, A Pettitte). S - D Navarro. RBI - D Navarro 2 (12), J Gomes (10), J Bartlett 2 (8), A Iwamura (12), E Hinske (17). 2-out RBI - D Navarro. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Pena 2, J Bartlett 1, E Longoria 1. Team LOB - 10.

Base Running SB - J Gomes 2 (4, 2nd base off A Pettitte/J Molina, 3rd base off A Pettitte/J Molina). Fielding DP - 3 (J Bartlett-A Iwamura-C Pena 2, E Longoria-A Iwamura-C Pena).

NY Yankees
	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	Season ERA
A. Pettitte (L, 3-4)	4.0	8	5	5	2	5	0	4.40
C. Britton	2.0	1	1	1	2	0	0	1.93
J. Veras	1.2	4	1	1	0	1	0	2.45
E. Ramirez	0.1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0.00
Tampa Bay
	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	Season ERA
M. Garza (W, 2-1)	7.0	5	0	0	1	3	0	3.86
G. Glover	1.0	1	1	1	1	1	0	2.31
T. Miller	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	4.76

WP - J Veras.

HBP - J Giambi (by M Garza).

Pitches-strikes - A Pettitte 81-50; C Britton 33-19; J Veras 31-22; E Ramirez 4-4; M Garza 108-68; G Glover 28-20; T Miller 8-7.

Ground balls-fly balls - A Pettitte 5-2; C Britton 2-4; J Veras 3-1; E Ramirez 0-0; M Garza 7-11; G Glover 2-0; T Miller 0-2.

Batters faced - A Pettitte 22; C Britton 9; J Veras 9; E Ramirez 1; M Garza 25; G Glover 5; T Miller 3.

Game Details

Umpires: HP--Dan Iassogna. 1B--Ron Kulpa. 2B--Rob Drake. 3B--Dale Scott. Time: 3:01. Attendance: 13,932.

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Rays Thump Yankees Again

The Rays Jonny Gomes was having the kind of day you would like to forget. Then one swing changed all that and the Rays had themselves a 6-1 win against Andy Pettitte and the punchless Yankees.

Gomes hit a ball off the top of the right field wall in the 2nd inning and went into a home run trot. Only the ball was still in play and Bobby Abreu easily threw out a befuddled Gomes. The right fielder then lost Hideki Matsui's fly ball in the sun/wind/clear sky for an error. It lead to a bases loaded situation that Rays starter Edwin Jackson was able to escape run-free.

Gomes' sac fly had given the Rays a 2-1 lead in the 3rd and came up with two men on in the 5th. A tiring Pettitte left a pitch up and Gomes hit a drive that just cleared the wall in left (perhaps the Yankees should hire Dave Winfield to teach Hideki Matsui how to leap) for a decisive 3-run home run.

It was decisive because the Yankees continue not to hit with runners in scoring position. They had taken a quick 1-0 lead in the 1st inning on a walk to Johnny Damon and Alex Rodriguez's 2-out RBI double. But Jason Giambi flew out to end the inning.

Singles by Jorge Posada and Shelley Duncan, sandwiched around Gomes' error, loaded the bases in the 2nd, but Damon popped out to shortstop and Derek Jeter struck out. The Yankees put two men on with 2 out in the 3rd, but Posada flew out to deep left to end the frame.

Trailing 6-1 in the 8th, the Yankees finally got a key hit before another rally fell short against reliever Trever Miller. The Bombless Bombers loaded the bases on consecutive singles by Abreu, A-Rod, and Wilson Betemit, who had replaced Jason Giambi as DH. Robinson Cano, just a .228 hitter with the bases loaded, struck out, but Posada delivered a 2-run single up the middle to cut the lead in half. Miller came back to strike out Matsui looking and Al Reyes came on to retire Duncan on an inning ending ground out. Troy Percival recorded his 1st save, retiring the Yankees in order in the 9th.

Pettitte was average in his start of the season. Gomes' base running cost the Rays as Pettitte allowed 2 more hits in the inning. He threw 86 pitches, allowed 8 hits, 5 runs (3 earned due to a Shelley Duncan throwing error), walked 2, and struck out 3.

“There’s no doubt I was rusty,” said Pettitte, who hadn’t pitched since he went six innings in a minor league game last Sunday.

Not as rusty as the Yankees bats.

News and Notes

As we speculated, Jon Albaladejo, who threw 2.2 inninngs on Friday, was sent down to Scranton to make room on the 25-man roster for Pettitte.

Jason Giambi left the game when he felt something pull in his groin. Acting manager Rob Thomson removed him immediately and Giambi was confident he would be able to play today.

Joe Girardi sat out again with a respiratory infection, but believes he'll be back on the bench today.

Brian Bruney pitched a dominant 2 innings, striking out 4 of the 6 batters he faced.

Ross Ohlendorf allowed the final Rays run, a solo home run by Willie Aybar, in his one inning of work.

Tampa Bay	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Iwamura, 2B	5	1	1	0	0	1	0	.278
Crawford, LF	5	1	0	0	0	2	0	.211
Pena, 1B	2	1	0	0	1	2	0	.214
Upton, CF	4	1	1	1	0	1	3	.333
Gomes, RF	3	1	2	4	0	0	0	.500
Haynes, RF	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.222
Aybar, 3B	3	1	1	1	1	0	0	.200
Bartlett, SS	4	0	2	0	0	0	2	.250
Riggans, C	4	0	1	0	0	1	1	.375
Johnson, DH	4	0	1	0	0	1	2	.250
Totals	34	6	9	6	2	8	8
BATTING 2B: Bartlett (1, Pettitte). HR: Gomes (1, 5th inning off Pettitte, 2 on, 1 out), Aybar (1, 8th inning off Ohlendorf, 0 on, 0 out). TB: Iwamura; Upton; Gomes 5; Aybar 4; Bartlett 3; Riggans; Johnson. RBI: Upton (4), Gomes 4 (4), Aybar (1). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Johnson; Bartlett; Riggans. SF: Gomes. Team LOB: 6. BASERUNNING SB: Upton (1, 2nd base off Pettitte/Posada). CS: Johnson (1, 2nd base by Pettitte/Posada). PO: Johnson (1st base by Pettitte). FIELDING E: Gomes (1, fielding).

Tampa Bay IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Jackson (W, 1-0) 6.0 5 1 1 2 4 0 1.50 Wheeler 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Miller 0.2 4 2 2 0 2 0 9.00 Reyes (H, 1) 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 21.60 Percival (S, 1) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00

NY Yankees	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, CF	4	1	0	0	1	0	4	.111
Jeter, SS	5	0	0	0	0	2	5	.211
Abreu, RF	5	1	1	0	0	1	1	.389
Rodriguez, 3B	4	1	2	1	0	1	0	.333
Giambi, DH	1	0	0	0	1	0	1	.083
a-Betemit, PH-DH	2	0	1	0	0	1	0	.333
Cano, 2B	4	0	1	0	0	1	3	.105
Posada, C	4	0	2	2	0	0	2	.200
Matsui, LF	4	0	1	0	0	1	2	.250
Duncan, 1B	4	0	1	0	0	0	3	.200
Totals	37	3	9	3	2	7	21
a-Struck out for Giambi in the 5th.
BATTING 2B: Rodriguez (2, Jackson). TB: Abreu; Rodriguez 3; Betemit; Cano; Posada 2; Matsui; Duncan. RBI: Rodriguez (4), Posada 2 (2). 2-out RBI: Rodriguez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Giambi; Jeter 2; Posada; Duncan. Team LOB: 9. FIELDING E: Duncan (1, throw). Outfield assists: Abreu (Gomes at 2nd base). Pickoffs: Pettitte (Johnson at 1st base).

NY Yankees IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Pettitte (L, 0-1) 5.0 8 5 3 2 3 1 5.40 Bruney 2.0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0.00 Ohlendorf 2.0 1 1 1 0 1 1 2.25

HBP: Pena (by Pettitte), Pena (by Pettitte). Pitches-strikes: Jackson 102-62, Wheeler 7-7, Miller 22-16, Reyes 7-6, Percival 13-10, Pettitte 86-55, Bruney 30-19, Ohlendorf 20-16. Ground outs-fly outs: Jackson 4-10, Wheeler 2-1, Miller 0-0, Reyes 1-0, Percival 0-2, Pettitte 7-3, Bruney 2-0, Ohlendorf 2-3. Batters faced: Jackson 26, Wheeler 3, Miller 6, Reyes 1, Percival 3, Pettitte 26, Bruney 6, Ohlendorf 7. Inherited runners-scored: Reyes 2-0. Umpires: HP: Dana DeMuth. 1B: Ted Barrett. 2B: James Hoye. 3B: Doug Eddings. Weather: 55 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 16 mph, L to R. T: 3:05. Att: 52,247.

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Round 2

Joe Girardi may not have thought there would be carry over from Sunday's home plate collision, but oh yes there was. Shelley Duncan slid spikes high into Rays 2nd Baseman Akinori Iwamura, touching off a bench clearer. Rays right fielder Jonny Gomes tackled Duncan and the benches emptied.

Both Duncan and Gomes, as well as Yankees coaches Bobby Meacham and Kevin Long were ejected from the game.

Yankees starter Heath Phillips was having a rough enough inning, having allowed 2 runs, when he was ejected for hitting the Rays Evan Longoria.

Girardi vehemently argued the call and he probably had a point since the ball barely hit Longoria, and the Rays already had two men on base.

Unfortunately there was no live TV or radio coverage of the game.

Source: PeteAbe


Follow up from Peter Abraham, with clubhouse quotes.

Iwamura has a cut on his thigh from Duncan’s spike. “Duncan himself knows it wasn’t a fair play,” he said.

Johnny Gomes: “It was premeditated on his part. … I know it’s not the Yankee way. You rarely see the Yankees do stuff like that.”

Duncan: “I just went hard into his glove. I was just going in hard. There was no malicious intent.”

From Yankees.com

"I just think [Duncan] tried to inflict pain on Aki," Gomes said. "That just comes second nature. I was taught all the way from T-ball to have a teammate's back.

"It's a baseball field. There's fans and kids watching. I had to let [Duncan] know that's not going to fly."

This clearly isn't over.

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