October 2, 2012
With Baltimore beating Tampa, and the Yankees lacking any sort of offense in last night's game, Raul Ibanez pinched-hit in the 9th inning and sent a 2-run home-run into the right field seats to tie the game at 3. He would come up again in the bottom of the 12th inning with two on and 2 Outs, Raul Ibanez's single to left-field scored Francisco Cervelli coming home from second-base sent the Yankees on to win it 4-3 against the Boston Red Sox in extra-innings and keep the Yankees one game up on the Baltimore Orioles with the season's final game tonight.
Well indeed the Yankees season would come down to the final several games remaining, and with game 161, the magic number to clinch the American League East is down to one. They are certainly in the driver's seat. The Yankees are also fighting for potential home-field advantage throughout the playoffs of course the only thing to do is win.
With the decision earlier in the week to take Ivan Nova out of the Starting Pitcher's role in last night's game, the Yankees would pitch David Phelps. Phelps would allow two runs in the first inning on an RBI double by Dustin Pedroia scoring Jacoby Ellsbury and a sac-fly by Cody Ross. The Yankees would gain one back against Jon Lester in the 2nd inning on Eduardo Nunez's RBI single misplayed by shortstop Jose Iglesias to allow Curtis Granderson to score. David Phelps in the 5th inning and the Yankees trailed Boston 2-1 the majority of the game. The bullpen secured some quality innings and in the top of the 9th, Rafael Soriano would allow a solo home-run to James Loney which would give Boston a 3-1 lead. Then in the bottom of the ninth with Boston pitcher Andrew Bailey to close it out, Curtis Granderson led off with a single, and Raul Ibanez would pinch-hit for Eduardo Nunez. Ibanez drove one deep to the right field which cleared the wall and sent the Bronx fans roaring in a 3-3 game tying 2-run home-run. Derek Lowe would then pitch 2 exceptional scoreless innings for the eventual win. In the bottom of the 12th against reliever Andrew Miller with no one on, Francisco Cervelli would be the last line of offense from the Yankee bench. Rejoining the team after being banished to the minor leagues, Cervelli worked the count full after a quick 0-2 count, and would draw a walk. Andrew Miller would issue another walk to Curtis Granderson, and that is when Raul Ibanez would came to the plate and would ground one just in the hole between shortstop and third, and Francisco Cervelli would slide home for the winning run. The entire dugout would clear and the Yankee fans would certainly enjoy this one. Paying homage to Raul Ibanez and his late-game heroics again, he would be thanked with a bucket of ice-water on him.
The Yankees are one win away from clinching the American League East and the opportunity comes on the last game of the season tonight. They also have the opportunity to sweep the Red Sox on the final day of the regular season.
B.C Sports
Brian C
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