Teixeira Keeps Yankees Close, Rodriguez Hits Walk-Off Home Run

by Jesse on May 16, 2009 6:58 PM EDT in Game Recaps Comment 10 comments

New York Yankees' Mark Teixeira follows through on an RBI single during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins on Saturday, May 16, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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5 months ago: New York Yankees' Mark Teixeira follows through on an RBI single during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins on Saturday, May 16, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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For the second game in a row, the Twins drop a game to the Yankees that they could have won.

Nick Blackburn didn't pitch poorly. That much has to be said. He gave up a three-run blast early to Mark Teixeira, and with a lead late gave up another run with Tex at the plate, but at all other times was in control. He was mostly efficient, worked his sinking fastball low in the zone, and gave his offense every chance to take it away.

In the short version, Joe Mauer's home run to dead-center field in the fourth and Justin Morneau's solo blast in the eighth gave Minnesota enough to take it home. Morneau's shot tied the game at three and, for a brief moment, enabled the Twins to steal momentum away from a Yankee squad that had hunkered down behind Joba Chamberlain. But that offense wasn't enough, and Brian Buscher's double that plated Michael Cuddyer to give the Twins a 4-3 lead wouldn't be enough, either.

Craig Breslow was tonight's losing pitcher, and rightfully so. After Blackburn's battle, Matt Guerrier came on and retired six Yankees without surrendering a run. But one guy on the offensive side of the ball came up in big situations on Saturday afternoon, and failed to deliver every single time. His name is Brendan Harris.

In the top of the first with the bases empty, Harris struck out looking for what would be the first time in the game. This wasn't a big situation, but it's never a good thing to strike out looking with the bases empty. Either you didn't see the pitch, were expecting something else, or were too tied up to make a move.
With Nick Punto on second base and two out in the top of the third, Harris takes the first pitch he sees and grounds out. In the first leverage situation of the game for the Twins offense, he wasn't able to take advantage.
Top of the fifth with Denard Span on second and two away, trailing 3-2, Harris decides to take a pitch right down the middle of the plate for strike three.
Fast-forward to the top of the seventh, runners on second and third with two out. Harris flies out to center to retire the side, and the Twins still trailed 3-2.
Top of the ninth, tied at four, Harris grounds out for the second notch of the inning.
Top of the eleventh, still tied at four; with two away, Harris ground out again.

It's not as though Harris is soley responsible for the lack of execution on the offensive side of the ball, but he came up in crucial situations and didn't come through. Yes, it happens to everyone, but tonight Harris needed to come through in some leverage situations and he never did.

Teixeira had a fantastic night, driving in the first four Yankee runs while going 4-for-4 with a three-run homer and a double. After forcing extra innings with a line-drive single in the bottom of the eighth when he probably should have been walked, Tex drew a walk to lead off the bottom of the eleventh. With Breslow facing Alex Rodriguez, the same guy everyone wanted Blackburn to face in the eighth instead of Teixeira, it seemed inevitable. Breslow's second slider, low and in, was absolutely jettisoned into the left field stratosphere to end the game.

Another walk-off win for the Yankees, and another fault for the bullpen after a strong showing by Guerrier. There were a pair of situations that the Twins needed to take advantage of and just couldn't muster it: in the top of the seventh with runners on second and third and one out, and in the top of the tenth against Mariano Rivera where Morneau and Jason Kubel reached to lead things off only to be followed by three consecutive outs.

This one falls on both sides.

Duds of the Game
#1: Brendan Harris (0-for-6, 2 K, 4 LOB, -.285 WPA)
#2: Craig Breslow (0.1 IP, BB, HR, 2 R, -.320 WPA)
#3: Michael Cuddyer (0-for-4, BB, R, 6 LOB, -.216 WPA)

Stars of the Game
#3: Brian Buscher (1-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, .227 WPA)
#2: Matt Guerrier (2.0 IP, 1 BB, 1 K, 0 R, .300 WPA)
#1: Justin Morneau (2-for-3, HR, 2 BB, 2 R, RBI, .359 WPA)

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I hate this team

That’s all

stop by Waving the Wheat (http://wavingthewheat.wordpress.com/) and The College Hockey Blog (http://thecollegehockeyblog.wordpress.com/)

by fetch9 on May 16, 2009 9:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The Yankees are a bunch of whining prima donnas

I loved it when Damon got tossed for arguing balls and strikes. I hated it when Tex got all whiny about Gomez running down the line. Do catchers’ complain when they get bowled over? No. (Well, unless you play for the White Sox, but that’s another story.) If you’re going to be on the bag when the runner comes through, you’re going to get hit. Quit whining and play the game you big baby. The whole team is like that, glaring at the ump over every borderline call. It’s just no fun to watch.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on May 16, 2009 11:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I used to hat ethe Yankees and like most their players

Now I hate most their players too, so that’s good. Although, I gotta say, I do like Tex because when he went to NY for the money, he didn’t pull a Captain Cheeseburger or Torii Hunter and say the deal was all about “his team’s desire to win” or “the commitment to fielding a winner,” and all that total insulting garbage. He said “I just signed the biggest number.” I respect that level of honesty.

And this bullpen is a serious problem. Even if our hitting recovers, I don’t think we can be a playoff team unless this bullpen is dealt with, drastically. Don’t MAKE me start ranting about Chad Bradford again…

"You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all."
~ Earl Weaver
"In God we trust. All others must provide evidence."
~ Billy Beane

by AdamOnFirst on May 17, 2009 2:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Back in th 90's...

NY had a bunch of players i could really respect. O’Neill, Bernie, Brosius, Wells, etc.

Then they signed Clemens, A-Rod, etc. Yuck.

by Adam Peterson on May 17, 2009 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, OK. Breslow is a "dud"

but there’s no way he should be asked to get Rogriguez out there—it’s just not part of his skill set. It’s setting him up for failure. Of course, I understand after Friday there weren’t alot if options; it was just an impossible situation. Still, I would have rather used Dickey there then Breslow.

by Eric in Madison on May 17, 2009 8:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs