Pedro got the ball in the top of the first inning and Chuck Knoblauch led off by flying out to the right field warning track to start. Derek Jeter grounded back to the mound and David Justice struck out swinging to end the inning. Mussina got the ball in the bottom of the first and Jose Offerman led off by getting rung up on a check swing strike three to start. Trot Nixon took strike three right down the middle and Carl Everett struck out swinging to end the inning.
Bernie Williams walked to start the top of the second inning but Tino Martinez banged into a double play. Paul O'Neill stroked a single to center but Jorge Posada struck out swinging on a nasty changeup to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the second as Manny Ramirez hit a dribbler off the glove of Scott Brosius for an error to start. Troy O'Leary doubled off the centerfield wall but Shea Hillenbrand popped up to Martinez in foul territory. Brian Daubach hit a ground rule double into the bullpen to put the Sox on top. John Valentin hit a ball deep to center to move Daubach to third but Jason Varitek struck out swinging on a high fastball to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.
Pedro cruised in the top of the third as Brosius struck out swinging to start. Alfonso Soriano struck out swinging on a high fastball and Knoblauch popped up to left to end the inning. The Sox got another run in the bottom of the third as Offerman ripped a base hit to left to start. Nixon dropped down a sacrifice bunt to mover Offerman to second and Jose scored on a line drive off the Monster by Everett. Unfortunately Everett was thrown out at second trying to stretch a double and Ramirez flied out to the right field warning track to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-0.
Jeter flied out to Nixon in the right field corner to start the top of the fourth as the rain started pouring down. Justice and Williams both struck out swinging to end the inning. O'Leary took strike three to start the bottom of the fourth before Hillenbrand grounded out to third. Daubach took strike three as well to end the inning.
Pedro dominated the top of the fifth as Martinez struck out swinging to start. O'Neill flied out to center and Posada struck out swinging to end the inning. Valentin grounded out to short to start the bottom of the fifth before Varitek took an inside fastball for strike three. Offerman struck out swinging to end the inning.
The Yankees threatened in the top of the sixth as Brosius hit a seeing-eye single at short to start. Soriano somehow spun around to avoid getting hit and the ball clipped the bat into Varitek's glove for strike three. Yankees manager Joe Torre sprinted out of the dugout and DEMANDED the call be changed because how DARE they call something against the Yankees, but home plate umpire Mike Winters told him to scram. Knoblauch hit a routine grounder to Offerman who threw wide of second for an error. Jeter struck out swinging on a high fastball and Justice grounded out to short to end the inning. Nixon popped up to Soriano to start the bottom of the sixth before Everett struck out swinging. Ramirez popped up to right to end the inning.
Williams flied out to left to start the top of the seventh before Martinez was frozen for strike three. O'Neill singled off the Monster but Posada grounded out to first to end the inning. O'Leary hit one up the elevator shaft to start the bottom of the seventh before Hillenbrand grounded out to short. Daubach struck out swinging to end the inning.
Pedro came back for one final inning in the top of the eighth as Brosius grounded out to second to start. Henry Rodriguez pinch hit for Soriano and struck out swinging, but Knoblauch dumped a base hit in front of Everett. Jeter struck out swinging to end the inning. That was it for Pedro who tossed 8 shutout innings and struck out 13 Yankees, he was unhittable.
Luis Sojo took over for Rodriguez to start the bottom of the eighth and Valentin struck out swinging to start. Varitek walked but Offerman flied out to left. Nixon and Everett walked to load the bases but Ramirez popped up to first in foul territory to end the inning. Derek Lowe came in to close out the bottom of the ninth and Justice swung at a ball in the dirt for strike three. Williams blooped a base hit to center but Martinez popped up to left. Williams took second on defensive indifference but O'Neill struck out swinging to end the game. The Sox had won it 3-0.
Sox win
Pedro Hero
Hero of the Night is Pedro Martinez. He tossed 8 shutout innings allowing just 4 hits while striking out 13.
The Good:
Carl Everett was 1 for 3 with a walk and an rbi.
Troy O'Leary was 1 for 3 with a run scored.
Brian Daubach was 1 for 3 with 2 rbis.
Derek Lowe earned his 5th save with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Shea Hillenbrand was 0 for 3.
John Valentin was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
The Ugly:
Jose Offerman was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts and an error but scored a run.
Trot Nixon was 0 for 2 with a strikeout but walked.
Manny Ramirez was 0 for 4 but scored a run.
Jason Varitek was 0 for 2 with 2 strikeouts but walked.
Final Thoughts:
It wasn't as epic as last year's pitcher's duel between Roger Clemens and Pedro in New York but tonight Mike Mussina didn't give an inch. Mussina was almost unhittable after allowing the early runs and Pedro kept pace the whole game. Its a sad state of affairs when only one member of the Sox rotation is feared by New York because if they were to ever meet in the playoffs, the rest of Boston's staff doesn't measure up. That was their problem in 1999 and that would be their problem this year as well. The Sox will get Nomar Garciaparra back at some point but the Sox are gonna need more out of their starters. Obviously you can't expect David Cone, Hideo Nomo and Frank Castillo to pitch like Pedro did tonight, but they need an improvement that's for sure. The Sox did what they had to do tonight to win and get them closer to first place, better than a loss. The win improved the Sox to 28-22, 1/2 game back of the Yankees for first place in the AL East. The Sox now travel to Toronto for a set with the Toronto Blue Jays. Hideo Nomo of the Sox takes on Chris Michalak of the Jays tomorrow night at 7:10 PM at the Skydome.
No comments:
Post a Comment