It was a fun exciting night at the Yard that felt like a playoff game, but in the end, the Yankees emerged victorious – again – against the Orioles, 9-6. New York used the longball – five in total, including two by Jorge Posada – to defeat Baltimore and send them to their 79th loss, plus eliminating them from winning the division (which was a foregone conclusion anyway).
The Orioles kept pace with the Yankees as they had a 6-5 lead in the fifth inning thanks to Luke Scott’s 21st homer, but the Yankees tied the game in the sixth inning thanks an Alex Rodriguez RBI-single.
New York put the game away in the top of the seventh inning as they crossed home three times thanks to a two-run homer by Nick Swisher (his 23rd) and a solo shot by Eric Hinske (his 6th) all off of Oriole reliever Chris Ray (who took the loss).
With a 9-6 lead, the Yankee bullpen took care of the rest, and the legendary Mariano Rivera got his 38th save. Damaso Marte earned the win for the Yankees on the evening.
Baltimore starting pitcher David Hernandez didn’t factor in the decision, but he gave up four hits – the problem with three of them were home runs. He struck out seven, but walked six, and showed that he could use his stuff to get guys out; however, he missed a few spots and left pitches high in the zone, but the Yankees made him pay.
New York’s A.J. Burnett started the game on the mound, and he was not sharp at all. He was tagged for six runs – all earned – in 5 1/3 innings of work and gave up 11 hits. He caused a brief incident as he gave up a solo homer to Felix Pie in the first inning, and Burnett looked to say something out of his mouth – whether out of frustration (like he did against the Red Sox a few weeks ago). That got the attention of the Orioles and after Pie got to the bench, he seemed to be displeased with Burnett’s actions, and the MASN broadcast showed coach Dave Jauss barking at the mound.
After the game, Burnett denied that he was angry at Pie, but rather at himself.
Nevertheless, the Yankees got their revenge as Robinson Cano hit a two-run homer off Hernandez and in the third inning, Jorge Posada went deep – hitting a solo home run over the right field porch – to take a 3-1 lead. The Orioles tied the game at three in the bottom of the third as Melvin Mora hit a two-run double, plated both Nick Markakis and Nolan Reimold.
Posada would help the Yankees take a 5-3 lead as he hit his second homer of the game – an opposite field shot – that plated himself and Mark Teixiera.
A scary incident in the game took place as Adam Jones left the game with a sprained ankle. The X-Rays came back negative, but much like last season – he’s out in the final month of the season due to injury, therefore, I would not be surprised if he’s not back until the final weeks of the season or misses it all together.
