Clemens was off in the top of the first inning although Jose Offerman lined out to left to begin. Jeff Frye singled before Trot Nixon walked. Nomar Garciaparra walked to load the bases but Carl Everett popped up to second. Brian Daubach popped up to third to end the inning, what a waste. The Yankees wasted no time getting to Pedro in the bottom of the first inning as Chuck Knoblauch doubled to left to begin. Derek Jeter whiffed but Paul O'Neil singled Knoblauch to third. Bernie Williams was plunked to load the bases but Tino Martinez whiffed. Jorge Posada walked home Knoblauch to give the Yankees the lead. Ricky Ledee popped up to third to end the inning but the Yankees were up 1-0.
Ramiro Mendoza came in to pitch the top of the second inning with Clemens done with a groin injury and Darren Lewis flied out to center to begin. Jason Varitek and Wilton Veras both grounded out to second to end the inning. Pedro settled down in the bottom of the second as Shane Spencer grounded out to short to begin. Scott Brosius grounded out to short and Knoblauch whiffed to end the inning.
Offerman drew a walk to start the top of the third but was erased on the Frye force. Nixon lined out to right before Nomar grounded out to short to end the inning. Pedro froze Jeter for strike three to start the bottom of the third before O'Neill singled to center. O'Neill got himself picked up before Williams grounded out to second to end the inning.
Everett singled to left to start the top of the fourth but Daubach whiffed. Lewis flied out to center but Varitek beat out an infield single. Veras grounded into a force to end the inning. Tino Martinez singled to start the bottom of the fourth but Posada hit into a double play. Ledee grounded out to first to end the inning.
The Sox threatened in the top of the fifth but Offerman flied out to right to begin. Frye also flied out to right but Nixon and Nomar stroked back to back singles. Everett whiffed to end the inning to end the rally. Pedro got Spencer to ground out to third to begin the bottom of the fifth but Brosius doubled to right. Knoblauch whiffed and Jeter grounded out to short to end the inning.
The Sox failed to get a clutch hit again in the top of the sixth. Daubach whiffed to start but Lewis singled to right. Varitek lined out to center but Veras singled Lewis to third. Offerman grounded into a force to end the inning, another waste. Pedro returned for one last inning in the bottom of the sixth and O'Neill greeted him with a double to left to begin. Williams took strike three before O'Neill moved to third on the Martinez grounder. Posada walked before Ledee looked at strike three to end the inning. That was it for Pedro who only lasted 6 innings but only gave up one run.
In essence this was a pitcher's duel between Pedro and Mendoza and the Sox finally cracked him in the top of the seventh. Frye grounded out to third and Nixon whiffed but Nomar stepped up and belted his 6th home run of the season to tie the game. Everett singled to left but Ledee booted the ball and Carl ended up on second. Daubach was intentionally walked and that was it for Mendoza. You want to know why the Yankees have won 3 out of the last 4 world series? Mendoza matched Pedro Martinez up to this point. Jason Grimsley came in and Everett stole third but Lewis grounded into a force to end the inning. The Sox tied it up 1-1 but once again couldn't get the clutch hit to go-ahead.
Tim Wakefield came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Spencer greeted him with a double to right. Brosius whiffed before a passed ball moved Spencer to second. Knoblauch whiffed and Jeter lined out to second to end the inning.
Varitek grounded out to first to open the top of the eighth but Veras drew a walk. Offerman banged into a double play to end the inning but Offerman insisted he was never tagged. Offerman screamed at the umpire and got the heave ho. The Yankees took command in the bottom of the eighth with Mike Stanley now playing first. O'Neill grounded out to first before Williams flied out to right. Martinez then blasted a solo home run to give the Yankees the lead. Posada whiffed to end the inning but the Yankees led 2-1.
Mariano Rivera came on to close out the top of the ninth but Frye singled to center. Nixon then took strike three and Frye was thrown out trying to steal to end the rally. Nomar grounded back to the mound to end the game. The Yankees had taken the game and first place 2-1.
Jackass of the Night is Tim Wakefield. He served up the go-ahead homer to Martinez in the bottom of the eighth.
The Good:
Jeff Frye was 2 for 5
Nomar Garciaparra was 2 for 4 with a walk and a home run.
Carl Everett was 2 for 4 with a stolen base.
Wilton Veras was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Pedro Martinez tossed 6 innings of 1 run ball. He allowed 6 hits, walked 2 and struck out 7.
The Bad:
None
The Ugly:
Jose Offerman was 0 for 4 but walked.
Trot Nixon was just 1 for 4 but walked.
Brian Daubach was 0 for 3 but walked.
Darren Lewis was just 1 for 4.
Jason Varitek was just 1 for 4.
Honorable Mention:
Mike Stanley played first in the bottom of the eighth
Final Thoughts:
This one was a kick in the ass considering the circumstances. If you told me before the game the Yankees would score just 2 runs and Roger Clemens would be out after the first inning I would have asked how big did the Sox win. The Yankees are the repeat champs because of guys like Ramiro Mendoza, Jason Grimsley and Mariano Rivera. The Sox had their chances offensively all day but couldn't get a clutch hit when it counted. After the Sox pulled yesterday out of their ass, today seemed like it was going to be a good win, oh well. The loss dropped the Sox to 34-27, 1 game behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow the Sox look to regain a share of first place when Jeff Fassero goes one on one with Andy Pettite. The game begins at 7:00 PM at Yankee Stadium.
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