As for the game, what a disaster. Brian Rose wasn't ready for prime time and the Yankees smacked around John "Way Back" Wasdin to take the middle game of this three game series, 8-3 at Yankee Stadium.
Jason Grimsley got the spot start tonight and in the top of the first inning, Jeff Frye struck out to begin the game. Trot Nixon struck out and Brian Daubach flied out to end the inning. At first Brian Rose started well in the bottom of the first inning. Ricky Ledee and Derek Jeter flied out before Paul O'Neil grounded out to end the inning.
Grimsley cruised in the top of the second inning. The returning Nomar Garciaparra flied out before both Carl Everett and Troy O'Leary grounded out to end the inning. The Yankees got their first hit in the bottom of the second. Bernie Williams singled and stole second but Tino Martinez and Jorge Posada flied out. Shane Spencer struck out to end the inning.
The Sox struck first in the top of the third. John Valentin cracked his first home run of the year to lead off and Jason Varitek followed with a single. Jason was erased on the force by Darren Lewis but Frye doubled Lewis to third. A wild pitch by Grimsley scored Lewis and moved Frye to third. Nixon then suicide squeezed Frye home to make it 3-0. Daubach was hit and Nomar walked to load the bases....but the Sox let Grimsley off the ropes when Everett grounded out to end the inning. The Yankees answered in the bottom of the third. Brosius grounded out and Bellinger flied out, but Ledee was hit with a pitch. Rose fell apart giving up back to back singles to Jeter and O'Neil to cut the lead 3-1. Williams was hit with the pitch to load the bases but Rose recovered to get Martinez to ground out to end the inning.
Grimsley cruised in the top of the fourth. O'Leary popped up, Valentin flied out and Varitek looked at strike three to end the inning. The Yankees struck again in the bottom of the fourth. Posada looked at strike three but Spencer crushed a solo home run to cut the lead 3-2. Brosius flied out and Bellinger grounded out to end the inning.
The Sox once again failed to crack Grimsley in the top of the fifth. Lewis and Frye grounded out and Nixon flied out to end the inning. The Yankees tied the game instantly in the bottom of the fifth when Ledee homered. Jeter singled to chase Rose and Jimy Williams brought in Rheal Cormier. Jeter moved to second on a groundout by O'Neill. Jeter swiped second but Williams looked at strike three. Martinez lined out to end the inning with the game tied 3-3.
The vaunted Yankee bullpen took over in the top of the sixth. Old friend Mike Stanton got the ball although Daubach greeted him with a single. Nomar struck out but Everett singled. O'Leary popped up and Valentin flied out to end the inning. John Wasdin poured gas on the fire in the bottom of the inning with Donnie Sadler now in centerfield. Posada blasted a home run to give the Yankees the lead. Spencer and Brosius grounded out but Bellinger singled and stole second. Ledee walked and Jeter singled home Bellinger to chase the incompetent Wasdin. Tim Young replaced him and got tagged for the first time all year when he allowed a 3 run blast to O'Neil to give the Yankees a commanding 8-3 lead. Williams struck out to end the inning, what a disaster.
The Sox failed to answer against Stanton in the top of the seventh. Varitek and Sadler struck out but Frye and Nixon singled. Daubach whiffed to end the inning. Young returned for the bottom of the seventh and got Martinez to hit one up the elevator shaft. Posada singled but was doubled off first on a line drive to Nixon to end the inning.
Stanton returned for the top of the eighth and continued to shut down the Sox. Nomar singled but Everett popped up. O'Leary singled but Valentin flied out. Varitek popped up to end the inning. Tim Wakefield replaced Young in the bottom of the eighth. Brosius grounded out but Bellinger walked. Ledee banged into a double play to end the inning.
Mariano Rivera got the ball for the top of the ninth just to get some work in. Sadler and Frye flied out but Nixon walked. Daubach grounded out to end the game. The Yankees had won 8-3.
Jackass of the night is once again John "Way Back" Wasdin. He gave up 4 runs in just 2/3 of an inning, putting the game out of reach.
The Good:
Jeff Frye was 2 for 5 with a run scored. Trot Nixon was 1 for 3 with a walk and an rbi. Nomar Garciaparra was 1 for 3 with a walk in his return. Rheal Cormier pitched a scoreless 5th inning. Tim Wakefield pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
The Bad:
Donnie Sadler was 0 for 2 coming in for Lewis. Brian Rose stunk again, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits, 2 homers in just 4 innings while striking out 2.
The Ugly
Brian Daubach, Carl Everett, Troy O'Leary and Jason Varitek were all just 1 for 4. John Valentin was just 1 for 4 but made the hit count as it was a home run. Darren Lewis was 0 for 2 but scored a run. Tim Young was finally tagged for a run, giving up a 3 run blast to O'Neil. He did pitch a scoreless 7th inning though.
Final Thoughts:
If John Wasdin wasn't on this team, would the Sox have more wins? It sure feels like it. That's not to say Brian Rose was good, he wasn't...but pouring gas on the fire is not what you need against the Yankees. Its good to have Garciaparra back and Jeff Frye is putting his money where his mouth is after bitching about playing time earlier in the week. Tomorrow night is the big monster match between Pedro Martinez and Roger Clemens. Clemens stunk the last time they hooked up in Game 3 of the 99 LCS so for a baseball fan's sake, hopefully Clemens is better to give the fans their money's worth. The loss dropped the Sox to 27-18, tied with the Yankees for first place in the AL East.
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