Bombers Beat Boston on Blunder

The Yankees’ bullpen bounced back from Sunday’s defeat in Boston to preserve a 6-4 victory Tuesday night. New York was the team coming back in game two of the three game set with the Red Sox. Shortstop Marco Scutaro’s eighth inning throwing error kept the inning alive and keyed the Bombers’ go-ahead run. Scutaro fielded a routine ground ball by Derek Jeter and flicked it beyond the reach of first baseman, Kevin Youkilis to load the bases for the Bombers. Nick Johnson, known for his keen eye, walked on a 3-1 count to break a 4-4 tie with Hideki Okajima on the hill for Boston. The reliever couldn’t salvage an almost inescapable bases-loaded jam and Jorge Posada scored on the base-on-balls. Robinson Cano capped off the ninth inning with a solo shot for the two run decision. It was Cano’s first bomb of the season and the Yankees’ first appearance in the win column. Another first for New York: Marino Rivera’s first save and 527th of his career.
New York fell behind in the first inning on Youkilis’ sacrifice fly off A.J. Burnett. The Yankee hurler went five innings and allowed seven hits, while fanning five. The defending champions gave Burnett little run support until a three-run fifth frame. The score remained deadlocked at 1-1 following a Nick Swisher RBI double off Boston starter, Jon Lester in the second inning. Lester matched Burnett by throwing four innings and giving up five runs in his season debut at Fenway. Burnett was the victim of Victor Martinez’ first dinger of the young season, a two-run shot in the third. New York loaded the bases with no outs as they trailed 3-1 in the fifth. Curtis Granderson and Jeter scored before Cano’s sacrifice fly gave the Yankees their first lead of the night. Mark Teixeira crossed the plate for the 4-3 Yankee advantage as lefty Lester was yanked from the mound. In the bottom of the fifth, Jacoby Ellsbury hammered a hotshot to Jeter, who crisply grabbed the liner with a vertical leap. Jeter robbed Adrian Beltre of an extra-base hit in the sixth in a strong defensive showing for New York. Last year’s Yankee-killer, Martinez, belted a game-tying double to center in the bottom of the fifth and the game remained knotted until Scutaro’s gaffe paved the way for New York run production in the eighth. Jeter made a throwing error in the sixth, but the damage wasn’t nearly as costly as Scutaro’s blunder.
Joe Girardi’s bullpen was sure-handed and steady in setting down the Red Sox in relief roles. Alfredo Aceves trotted to the mound after Burnett’s exit. Aceves fired two scoreless innings to pick up the win. Joba Chamberlain, Dave Robertson and Damaso Marte combined for a one-hit outing out of the pen, and Rivera clamped down the win in the ninth. The Red Sox went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position and failed to hold the early lead, keep the game tied or capitalize late. Martinez led the way with three RBIs and two hits in the loss. Manny Delcarmen threw a scoreless sixth inning and Daniel Bard managed a hitless seventh for Terry Francona’s Sox. Okajima was charged with the loss two nights after snagging the win. Chamberlain’s slider and heater were equally impressive as the big setup man struck out two Boston batters. The Yankees were patient at the plate and made Lester work.

Parting Points: NJ’s Martin Brodeur notched his 600th career win last night.

Congrats to the UConn Huskies on a second straight NCAA championship. Did you ever doubt them?

Song of the day- “Yesterday” by Toni Braxton