Russell Martin's Walk-Off Against Oakland A's - Sept 21, 2012

September 21, 2012

     
     Well when it is all said and done, it all comes down to winning and that is what the New York Yankees did tonight in the Bronx.  The hero in extra innings Russell Martin homers to left field in the bottom of the 10^th inning to give the Yankees a 2-1 victory over the red hot Oakland Athletics. Martin’s homerun was just the thing to put a cherry on top especially after Rafael Soriano’s blown save spoiled a brilliant pitching performance by C.C Sabathia.

     It was a pitching duel from the first inning on as Sabathia took the hill against the Oakland Athletics, winners of 9 of their last 13 games and tied with the Baltimore Orioles for the wild card lead.  Sabathia worked through the early innings without much trouble, and his outfield showing some speed thanks to a nice running catch by Ichiro Suzuki in the first inning.  The Yankees would oppose Oakland starter Jarrod Parker who would allow just one run to the Yankees.  That run came in in the bottom of the fourth where Curtis Granderson's sac-fly would give the Yankees a 1-0 lead.  C.C Sabathia, just brilliant going 8 strong innings with just 3 hits and 11 strikeouts.  All was set for the win only except when Yankee closer Rafael Soriano came in in the top of the 9th and surrendered a 1 Out, pinch-hit, game-tying homerun to Brandon Moss.  That long-ball was crushed deep into the second deck in right and the game was knotted at 1-1, spoiling an impressive start by C.C Sabathia.  The game goes to extra innings and in the bottom of the 10th, Russell Martin comes to the plate and delivers a deep drive to left-field off of Oakland reliever Sean Doolittle which sends the Yankees home for a 2-1 victory, the Yankees win their 6th straight.

     Russell Martin was all pumped up in the clubhouse after the game, "We have a day game tomorrow and I was trying to get out of here as quickly as possible", a humorous Martin said.  For Martin that was his 19th long ball of the season.  It certainly took Rafael Soriano off the hook who was very pleased and happy for his teammate picking him up.  David Robertson would win in relief.  After the excitement, C.C Sabathia had much to feel happy for despite his win being spoiled, "We haven't had a lot of walk-offs here since 2009, so it was great".  What was much more outstanding was Sabathia's pitching performance in this game, especially losing his last three starts, "We always need a start like this especially in a tight race.  It feels great", Sabathia said.  Sabathia on 6 days rest had all his pitches working for him including a mid 90s fastball, and slider which was his strikeout pitch.  His change-up also caught the corners of the plate which posed effective.  With 6 days of rest between starts in his career, Sabathia is 2-0 with a 0.42 ERA.

     The Yankees remain a game ahead in the AL East with Baltimore beating the Boston Red Sox 4-2 at Fenway.

B.C Sports,
Brian C.