Recap: NY Yankees vs. Baltimore
Sports Network | September 19, 2008
Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - Brett Gardner doubled in a run and robbed the Orioles of a home run with a spectacular catch in center, as the Yankees edged Baltimore, 3-2, in the opening game of the final series to be held at fabled Yankee Stadium.
The current Yankee Stadium, a building that was initially constructed in 1923 and has played host to 37 different World Series, will be demolished at the conclusion of this season as the Yankees move across the street to a new state-of-the-art facility.
Robinson Cano hit a solo home run and Johnny Damon had a pair of hits and scored a run. Carl Pavano (4-1) started and tossed five innings, allowing two runs and six hits while walking one and striking out a pair of batters in his sixth start of the season. Mariano Rivera survived the ninth inning for his 37th save of the season, as New York took the first of three meetings with Baltimore.
After beginning this final 10-game homestand with two victories in three tests with AL East leader Tampa Bay, New York took three of four from the current AL-Central, front-running Chicago White Sox.
Radhames Liz (6-6) went 6 1/3 innings but allowed all three New York runs on eight hits and three walks, with one strikeout, in taking the loss. Aubrey Huff and Lou Montanez had an RBI apiece for Baltimore, which has secured last place in the AL East after dropping 15 of its last 19 contests.
The Yanks moved ahead 3-2 in the fifth. Damon singled through the right side with one down and stole second. Derek Jeter put runners on the corners with a single and a wild pitch by Liz allowed Damon to cross home.
A host of Yankees' relievers allowed the score to stand up over the final four innings with Joba Chamberlain striking out the side in the eighth and Rivera working through a rocky ninth. A single by Montanez with two away was followed by a pinch-hit dribbler down the left field line from Oscar Salazar. Montanez, the tying run, moved to third, but Rivera got Roberts to pop out to the catcher to preserve the win.
The O's put a run on the board in each of its first two innings as Brian Roberts smacked his 50th double of the season to lead off the game, moved to third on a sacrifice and scored on a Huff single to second. Nick Markakis, who walked and also advanced on the sacrifice, was gunned down at the plate by Gardner trying to score behind Roberts.
Adam Jones started the next frame with a single, stole second, advanced to third on a Ramon Hernandez single and came home on a Montanez sacrifice fly.
New York tied things up in the third. Cano hit a solo homer to right-center leading off and Ivan Rodriguez followed with a single, stole second and scored on a double from Gardner.
Baltimore looked to take the lead in the fourth, as Luke Scott led off with a deep blast to center, but Gardner got on his horse and used a perfectly timed leap at the wall to rob Scott of a home run.
The Yankees lead the season series 9-7...At 46-33, the Yankees have recorded their 17th consecutive winning record at home, good for the longest current streak of any team in the Majors and the longest such streak for any franchise since a 21-year stretch for the Yankees from 1969-89 (including two years at Shea Stadium, 1974-75)...The Orioles placed pitcher Daniel Cabrera on the 15-day disabled list on Friday. The move, which was retroactive to September 14, was made due to the pitcher suffering from a right medial elbow sprain...It was the Yankees 56th sellout of the year...Cano's home run was his 14th of the season and first in his last 64 at-bats dating back to August 30 vs. Toronto.
