Two collisions at home plate involving New York Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli were the only highlights of the team's 10th inning loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday.
The spirited Cervelli almost single-handedly won the game by blocking the plate to save game-tying runs in consecutive innings before Scott Proctor surrendered a walk and two singles, the last which gave the Orioles a 5-4 win in Camden Yards.
Cervelli's heroics were in vain and probably left the catcher in a lot of pain.
The Yankees were clinging to a 4-3 lead in the seventh inning when centerfielder Curtis Granderson fielded Vladimir Guerrero's hit and threw a strike to second baseman Robinson Cano, who fired a perfect throw to Cervelli at the plate. Cervelli didn't budge as he was bulldozed by Nick Markakis, ala Rose-Fosse. The catcher went flying, but held on to the ball to preserve the lead.
In the following inning, Granderson caught the ball and cut down Mark Reynolds at the plate, in an almost identical play, with another great tag by Cervelli. Robert Andino followed with an RBI single to tie the game at 4.
Andino would deliver the decisive hit in the 10th, singling home Nolan Reimold from second base with one out.
Yankees starter Ivan Nova (15-4) kept his consecutive win streak of eight straight starts intact but got a no-decision. He didn't have his best stuff but was able to get out of trouble in the fourth and fifth innings and left the game in the sixth, after allowing five hits and three runs. He threw 97 pitches.
The Yankees appeared to have the momentum with Cervelli's two clutch plays but couldn't hang on.
It's a sure bet the Yankees are glad they won't see the Orioles anymore this season. The last two series were marred by weather, scheduling and home-run controversies including an 11 p.m. (?) start time after a four-hour rain delay on Tuesday night and playing in a monsoon on Wednesday. They might want to change their name to the Baltimore Ducks.
Now they lose two in a row to the pesky club.
Showing posts with label Francisco Cervelli. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Francisco Cervelli. Show all posts
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Sabathia Gets Monkey Off His Back & Girardi Goes Ape As Yanks Beat Sox
It was like old times at Fenway Park on Tuesday night as tempers rose and benches emptied during the New York Yankees 5-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox. Batters from both sides were plunked and Yankees manager Joe Girardi was ejected.
The good news for the Yankees was that CC Sabathia finally won a game against their division rivals. The victory pulled the Yankees to within a half-game behind the AL East leaders.
It was Sabathia's first win this season against the Sox after losing his first four. The victory was no thing of beauty, but it had to look like Miss America to the Yankees ace.
Sabathia (18-7) scattered ten hits and struck out the same amount through 6 1/3 innings. He threw 128 pitches-- the most ever in one game as a Yankee-- and was lucky the Sox stranded 16 runners.
The Yank's bullpen wasn't perfect either, but were good enough to preserve the big guy's long-awaited win.
Boone Logan bailed out Sabathia by relieving him with two men on and one out in the seventh. Logan struck out two after loading the bases.
Rafael Soriano threw a scoreless eighth and Mariano Rivera wrapped up the game in the ninth.
The real excitement was centered around Red Sox starter John Lackey (12-10) and his penchant for hitting opposing batters. He now leads the league with 17.
While Sabathia did hit Jacoby Ellsbury to lead off the first, it was Lackey who was retaliating throughout the game.
In the first, Lackey bopped Curtis Granderson, who started towards first base, but was called back by the home plate umpire Ed Rapuano.
It was in the seventh, when Francisco Cervelli added a little spice to the game after Lackey's brush-back hit the Yankees player.
Cervelli, who sent a home-run ball sailing out of Fenway in his previous at bat, probably ticked off Lackey, who couldn't have liked the way the Yankees backup catcher clapped his hands as he emphatically hopped on home plate after circling the bases.
After Cervelli got popped, he started to rush the mound before being held back by Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltamacchia. Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild rushed in and was tossed out of the game by third base umpire Mark Wegner.
In the ninth, Girardi took offense when a Saltamacchia's check-swing stopped a Rivera cutter on his arm. This time the batter was awarded first. Girardi stormed out and was hopping mad. He was quickly sent to the showers by Wegman after arguing that the Red Sox batter had swung into Rivera's pitch.
It's good to see a little fire in the old rivalry. They'll do it again tomorrow night.
The good news for the Yankees was that CC Sabathia finally won a game against their division rivals. The victory pulled the Yankees to within a half-game behind the AL East leaders.
It was Sabathia's first win this season against the Sox after losing his first four. The victory was no thing of beauty, but it had to look like Miss America to the Yankees ace.
Sabathia (18-7) scattered ten hits and struck out the same amount through 6 1/3 innings. He threw 128 pitches-- the most ever in one game as a Yankee-- and was lucky the Sox stranded 16 runners.
The Yank's bullpen wasn't perfect either, but were good enough to preserve the big guy's long-awaited win.
Boone Logan bailed out Sabathia by relieving him with two men on and one out in the seventh. Logan struck out two after loading the bases.
Rafael Soriano threw a scoreless eighth and Mariano Rivera wrapped up the game in the ninth.
The real excitement was centered around Red Sox starter John Lackey (12-10) and his penchant for hitting opposing batters. He now leads the league with 17.
While Sabathia did hit Jacoby Ellsbury to lead off the first, it was Lackey who was retaliating throughout the game.
In the first, Lackey bopped Curtis Granderson, who started towards first base, but was called back by the home plate umpire Ed Rapuano.
It was in the seventh, when Francisco Cervelli added a little spice to the game after Lackey's brush-back hit the Yankees player.
Cervelli, who sent a home-run ball sailing out of Fenway in his previous at bat, probably ticked off Lackey, who couldn't have liked the way the Yankees backup catcher clapped his hands as he emphatically hopped on home plate after circling the bases.
After Cervelli got popped, he started to rush the mound before being held back by Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltamacchia. Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild rushed in and was tossed out of the game by third base umpire Mark Wegner.
In the ninth, Girardi took offense when a Saltamacchia's check-swing stopped a Rivera cutter on his arm. This time the batter was awarded first. Girardi stormed out and was hopping mad. He was quickly sent to the showers by Wegman after arguing that the Red Sox batter had swung into Rivera's pitch.
It's good to see a little fire in the old rivalry. They'll do it again tomorrow night.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Little Leaguers Make Major League Play at Home Plate
This isn't your daddy's Little League World Series anymore. Besides playing in front of crowds of over 40,000, these kids have skills way beyond their years. Now they are going nine innings too.
On Wednesday night, two Venezuelan teammates combined to make a clutch play in extra innings that would make Nick Swisher and Russell Martin proud.
Mexico was at bat in the top of the seventh inning during a 1-1 game with one out and men on first and second. The Mexican batter looped a long single into right field where the Venezuelan outfielder scooped it up and, while on the run, threw a dart towards the plate where the Mexican player was steaming home from second. The ball skipped once directly into the waiting glove of the plate-blocking Venezuelan catcher, who then did a swipe tag into the runner's ribs for the big out and preserve the deadlocked game.
It was a pretty incredible play for two kids, barely in their teens, in a clutch situation.
While the fantastic play kept the Mexican team from taking the lead, they did finally win the game when Mexico's Bruno Ruiz had a lead-off solo home-run in the top of the ninth. It was the first home-run for Mexico in the tournament.
The good thing was that both teams will still advance in the tournament after playing one entertaining game.
Mexico's 2-1 victory guarantees a slot in the International Championship game. Venezuela can't afford another loss and faces Japan next.
On a major league note, New York Yankees Venezuelan catcher, Francisco Cervelli, had a charitable bet with his Mexican teammate, reliever Luis Ayala, on the outcome of the game. The loser would supply teams back home with baseball cleats and equipment. Cervelli will be buying a lot of shoes tomorrow.
The Yes Network also reported that Yankees closer, Mariano Rivera, watched the match-up in the Yankee Stadium clubhouse and was immersed in the exciting game until the very end.
Bet the kids would love to know that a future Hall-of-Famer was impressed by their abilities as well too.
On Wednesday night, two Venezuelan teammates combined to make a clutch play in extra innings that would make Nick Swisher and Russell Martin proud.
Mexico was at bat in the top of the seventh inning during a 1-1 game with one out and men on first and second. The Mexican batter looped a long single into right field where the Venezuelan outfielder scooped it up and, while on the run, threw a dart towards the plate where the Mexican player was steaming home from second. The ball skipped once directly into the waiting glove of the plate-blocking Venezuelan catcher, who then did a swipe tag into the runner's ribs for the big out and preserve the deadlocked game.
It was a pretty incredible play for two kids, barely in their teens, in a clutch situation.
While the fantastic play kept the Mexican team from taking the lead, they did finally win the game when Mexico's Bruno Ruiz had a lead-off solo home-run in the top of the ninth. It was the first home-run for Mexico in the tournament.
The good thing was that both teams will still advance in the tournament after playing one entertaining game.
Mexico's 2-1 victory guarantees a slot in the International Championship game. Venezuela can't afford another loss and faces Japan next.
On a major league note, New York Yankees Venezuelan catcher, Francisco Cervelli, had a charitable bet with his Mexican teammate, reliever Luis Ayala, on the outcome of the game. The loser would supply teams back home with baseball cleats and equipment. Cervelli will be buying a lot of shoes tomorrow.
The Yes Network also reported that Yankees closer, Mariano Rivera, watched the match-up in the Yankee Stadium clubhouse and was immersed in the exciting game until the very end.
Bet the kids would love to know that a future Hall-of-Famer was impressed by their abilities as well too.
