September 14 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL
Sun Sports
There's a saying and it has to do with baseball being a cruel game or September is the cruelest month, or cruel, cruel summer. Something like that. This was a cruel game if you're a fan of either the Yankees or the Rays.
Tampa starter Erasmo Ramirez was really good. He was so good that he didn't give up a hit, or really any sort of hard contact, until Carlos Beltran ripped a single off of first baseman Richie Shaffer to lead off the top of the eighth inning.
CC Sabathia was good as well (6 2/3 IP, 0 R, 3 H, none of which were hit hard), but after he departed, Tampa snapped a scoreless tie with a two-out run in the bottom of the eighth.
In the top of the ninth, the Yankees were down to their last out and the bases were empty. Rays' closer Brad Boxberger walked Brett Gardner on four pitches and Gardner eventually got a ridiculous jump and stole second without a throw.
Now, when Alex Rodriguez is going to right-center field with line drives, things are good for the New York DH and he did just that for the tying double. Alex was pumped up, but nothing could've prepared anyone for what happened two batters later. Tampa intentionally walked Brian McCann and rookie Slade Heathcott, coming to the plate for the first time since May 27, lined an opposite field, three-run home to left field that gave the Yankees a 4-1 victory.
It's been about a month and a half struggle for the Yankees, who went from seven games up in the AL East to three games (after Monday) back & a slim lead in the wild card race. They've had some great come back wins on the road in 2015, but based on the time of year, Monday was the best victory of the season.
Heathcott home run total views, including replays: 7
[Last update: 9/14 11:52 pm]
No comments:
Post a Comment