Robinson Cano's single in 9th gives Yankees 1-0 win over O's
Robinson Cano's bases-loaded single with two outs in the last of the ninth gave the Yankees a 1-0, walk-off win over the Orioles Saturday afternoon. New York has taken the first two games of this series.
What was frustrating for the O's is how they helped the Yankees to the win. First, Jim Miller hit Derek Jeter leading off the 9th. Pinch runner Brett Gardner stole second and Bobby Abreu walked. Alex Rodriguez then hit a potential double play ball, but a hasty throw by SS Juan Castro was off first base and the O's got just one out on that play.
Three hitters later, the game extended by the double play not turned, Cano was up vs. Jamie Walker and hit the first pitch into center field for the win. Gardner crossed the plate with the game's only run.
The O's went 0-4 with runners in scoring position in losing by one run for the fourth game in a row. The O's had just one hit in the last three innings vs. New York's bullpen.
Brian Burres gave up just three hits over seven innings. He threw 91 pitches and lowered his ERA to 5.98. Jim Miller took the loss and Mariano Rivera got the victory.
Balt 0-6-1
NYY 1-4-0
Postgame Notes
The O's offense is really struggling.....They have been held to two runs or less in four of the last five games and in 10 of the last 16......They have scored a total of four runs the last three games.....This was the fourth time this year the O's were shutout, all four on the road, but first since May 23rd. They were blanked three times in a ten-game span in May.
O's shutout in 2008:
May 11: at KC 4 O's 0
May 21: at NYY 8 O's 0
May 23: at TB 2 O's 0
September 20: at NYY 1 O's 0
Brian Burres came up with an excellent start, giving up just three hits over seven innings. He threw 91 pitches and got 15 outs on pop ups or fly outs. In three career starts at Yankee Stadium, he has an ERA of 1.23, allowing 3ER over 22 innings.
In two games in this series, the NY pen has pitched 7 shutout innings, giving up just three hits with eight strikeouts.......Brian Roberts double in the first was his 51st, setting a new club record......He has four doubles his last five games.....Roberts is batting .368 with hits in nine of his last 10 games......Kevin Millar's single in the 7th ended an 0-20 stretch......Oscar Salazar went 2-4 and is hitting .391 during a seven-game batting streak....Aubrey Huff went hitless, 0-4, for just the second time in his last 19 contests.
The O's fall to 4-13 in September and 7-10 vs. New York........NY is 7-2 on this homestand and is 9-4 in its last 13 games at home.....The Yankees regular-season Yankee Stadium record is now 4,132--2,430--17.
Steve Melewski's Live GameBlog
Just a Thought (Hope)
As we go to the 9th at 0-0, the O's have hit so many hard shots right at someone today it seems they are due to win this game on a bloop hit.
Burres Was Brilliant
Gomer Pyle (for our older fans) might say "surprise, surprise." Brian Burres pitched a gem today but leaves after seven innings in a game tied at 0-0. He threw 91 pitches and retired 11 of the last 12 batters he faced. In his previous two starts he had allowed 12ER over 10 frames.
Burres' line: 7IP, 3H, 0R, 0BB, 2K.......91 pitches.
Burres, three career starts, Yankee Stadium: 22IP, 17h, 3R-ER.....1.23 ERA.
Frustration on Offense
An O's offense that has scored two runs or less in 9 of the last 15 games can't come up with a clutch hit today. In the 5th-7th innings they left six men on base. Roberts ended the 5th and Jones the 7th by scorching liners right at the defense with two men on. Just tough luck there. The O's record in one-run games has been so dismal lately it would be nice to see this club pull out a close game like this with some late heroics.
Burres' Outing
Brian Burres has two hit the Yankees through six and the game is tied, 0-0 in the 7th. Burres has thrown just 75 pitches and retired the last 8 batters in a row. He has gotten 13 of 18 outs in the air with either a fly out or pop up. Each team is 0-3 with runners in scoring position. Brian Bruney has come on for Aceves to start the O's seventh.
Most Career Seasons, 35 or more Homers
12 - Babe Ruth, Alex Rodriguez
11 - Hank Aaron, Mike Schmidt
Nothing-Nothing So Far
The O's and Yankees are 0-0 through four today. Brian Burres has allowed just two hits, throwing 54 pitches. He just pitched out of a two on, one out jam in the fourth. Adam Jones made a great diving catch in short center to rob Chad Moeller in the third. Aceves has given up three hits on 49 pitches to date. The O's had a double and single in the first, but a double play kept them off the board. Roberts, Markakis and Salazar have hits.
Tragic Number
The number is down to two for the Yankees to be eliminated from the playoff race for the first time since 1993. So it's possible New York could be eliminated even before Sunday's Yankee Stadium finale. Or that they could be eliminated for good with a loss in the finale. Any combination of Red Sox wins and/or Yankees losses equaling two ends New York's playoff run.
New Record
Brian Roberts began today's game with a double. That's his 51st of the season and a new O's single-season record. Roberts and Miguel Tejada shared the record with 50 each. Right after that, Adam Jones bunted into a double play. Aceves the pitcher made a diving catch in front of the mound, then he ran all the way to second base to touch the bag for an unassisted double play. That was bush league by the way.
Play Ball!
The final day game ever at Yankee Stadium is underway as the O's look to even the series today. The way he's been pitching lately it's hard to be confident in Brian Burres, but we've been suprised before. The O's have lost three in a row, all by one run. New York is 8-4 in its last 12 games and 6-2 on this final Yankee Stadium homestand.
Starting Lineups
Orioles
2B Brian Roberts
CF Adam Jones
RF Nick Markakis
3B Aubrey Huff
DH Oscar Salazar
LF Luke Scott
1B Kevin Millar
SS Alex Cintron
C Guillermo Quiroz
P Brian Burres
Yankees
CF Johnny Damon
DH Derek Jeter
RF Bobby Abreu
3B Alex Rodriguez
1B Jason Giambi
LF Xavier Nady
2B Robinson Cano
SS Cody Ransom
C Chad Moeller
P Alfredo Aceves
Game Preview
Orioles (67-85) at NY Yankees (83-71)
Just when the Orioles starting pitching is slowly coming around, the O's offense has hit a lull. The O's have lost three in a row by one run, the last two days losing by 3-2 scores.
The O's have now scored two runs or less in three of the last four games and in 9 of the past 15 contests.
Aubrey Huff and Lou Montanez had RBI's last night as the Orioles and Yankees began the final series ever at Yankee Stadium. The O's have lost five in a row vs. New York and are 7-9 this season vs. the Yankees.
The Yankees bullpen recorded four shutout innings with seven strikeouts on Friday. Over the last ten games, the Yankee pen is 3-0 with 4 saves and an ERA of 1.23.
New York, now 12 games over .500, is 46-33 at home. The Yankees have won six of their last seven and are 19-13 the past 32 games.
Pitching Match-Up
LHP Brian Burres (7-9, 6.32) today will make his 29th appearance of the season, his 22nd as a starter, his 10th start on the road and his 4th of this season vs. New York.
Burres, who was with Triple-A Norfolk from August 1-25, made his last four appearances in relief. He took the loss in his last start, August 31 vs. Tampa. In five innings he gave up nine hits, seven runs and threw 104 pitches.
Burres has made four appearances vs. New York this season, with his first two going much better than his last two.
Burres, 2008, first two games vs. NY: 1-0, 0.68 (1 ER - 13 1/3 IP)
Burres, 2008, last two games vs. NY: 0-0, 21.60 (12ER - 5IP)
Burres gives up a batting average of .308 vs. right-handed hitters and .345 vs. lefties. Since he returned from Triple-A August 25th, he is 0-2, 11.57.
In his 21 starts only this year, he is 7-9, 5.86. In seven relief outings, his ERA is 13.50.
Burres vs. New York:
2008: 1-0, 6.38, four games, three starts
2007: 1-2, 4.50, four games, three starts
Career: 2-2, 5.45 in 11 games, six starts over 39 2/3 with 7 homers allowed
Career, Yankee Stadium: 0-1, 3.38, five games, two starts
RHP Alfredo Aceves (1-0, 1.80) today makes his 5th Major League appearance of the season and his 3rd as a starter. Aceves was signed by the Yankees as a Minor League free agent in March.
In his two starts, he has pitched very well. September 9th he got his first Major League win allowing just one run in seven innings vs. the Angels on the road. Last Monday he took a no decision vs. the White Sox, giving up two runs over six innings.
Aceves, the 5th Mexican-born player to pitch for the Yankees, gives up an average of just .156 vs. right-handed batters, .238 vs. lefties and .077 when pitching with runners in scoring position.
In 20 innings since joining New York, he has given up just 4ER on 15 hits with three walks and 12 strikeouts.
The 25-year-old pitched at three levels of the Minors this year to a record of 8-6, 2.62 in 23 starts. He had an ERA of 2.11 with Tampa in the Florida State League, 1.80 with Trenton in Double-A and was 2-3, 4.12 in ten games, 8 starts with Scranton Wilkes Barre in Triple-A.
Aceves has never pitched vs. the Orioles.
O's Hitters, September of 2008
Castro: 7-33/1/1
Cintron: 5-14/0/3
Hernandez: 13-50/1/5
Huff: 18-55/2/9
Jones: 10-49/2/7
Markakis: 12-53/2/7
Millar: 5-33/1/3
Montanez: 11-40/1/5
Mora: 6-23/0/4
Quiroz: 1-9/0/1
Payton: 4-24/0/0
Roberts: 15-53/0/2
Salazar: 10-35/3/8
Scott: 11-46/2/5
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