Yankees vs Orioles: Russell Martin, CC Sabathia Power Game 1 ALDS Victory
October 8, 2012 · Doug Rush · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
It took almost two hours to start Game 1 of the ALDS .
But after the rain delay was over and the tarps came off the field, the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles took the field at Camden Yards to get their long-awaited series underway.
Both teams battled and had good starting pitching, but in the end, it was the Yankees who were able to get the clutch hits, winning Game 1 by a score of 7-2.
In the top of the first inning, Ichiro Suzuki hit an RBI double off Orioles starter Jason Hammel, which scored Derek Jeter and put the Yankees ahead 1-0.
The Orioles were able to get on the board and take the lead in the bottom of the third when Nate McLouth hit a two-run single off CC Sabathia, scoring Chris Davis and Lew Ford.
The Yankees were able to respond quickly in the top of the fourth inning when Mark Teixeira hit a drive off the wall in right field, scoring Alex Rodriguez and knotting the score 2-2. Teixeira was called out at second trying to stretch a single into a double.
After that, it was a lot of back and forth with both teams nearly taking the lead in different innings.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Orioles had first and third with one out against Sabathia and the Yankees ace got out of it with a strikeout and a pop out.
The Yankees had runners on second and third with one out in the top of the seventh when Ichiro hit the ball to second basemen Robert Andino, who threw home and got Russell Martin out at the plate.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, J.J. Hardy started out by hitting a leadoff double and that’s when you had to think this was where Baltimore would take advantage.
Instead, Sabathia buckled down and struck out Adam Jones, got Matt Wieters to pop out to first and got Mark Reynolds to ground out to short to end the inning and strand Hardy at second.
That inning showed just how gritty and tough Sabathia was on the mound by not backing away and not giving in to the Orioles hitters.
In the top of the ninth inning, the Orioles turned to their closer in Jim Johnson, who has been spectacular all season.
The Yankees finally figured him out.
Martin lead off the inning by launching a go-ahead solo home run to left field and put the Yankees ahead 3-2.
After Raul Ibanez and Derek Jeter both reached on singles to set up first and third with no outs, Ichiro hit an infield single to score Eduardo Nunez, making it 4-2.
After A-Rod struck out, Robinson Cano came up and hit an two-run double to left field which scored Jeter and Ichiro and made it 6-2. Cano would advance to third on a throwing error.
Tommy Hunter took the ball from Johnson and Nick Swisher greeted him with a long fly to the outfield which scored Cano, making it 7-2 Yankees.
Sabathia got through the first two batters of the ninth inning before allowing a double to Ford, which prompted Joe Girardi to take out his lefty and put in David Robertson to finish the game.
Robertson struck out Ryan Flaherty to send the Yankees to an impressive Game 1 victory at soggy Camden Yards.
Sabathia was absolutely brilliant for the Yankees, going 8.2 innings, allowing two runs on eight hits, with one walk and seven strikeouts.
Hammel pitched well for the Orioles, as did the other Baltimore relievers until Johnson came into the game.
Johnson lasted one-third of an inning, allowed five runs on five hits for the loss.
The two teams will play Game 2 on Monday night. Andy Pettitte will make the start for the Yankees while Wei-Yin Chen will start for the Orioles.
The Yankees needed a really big hit from someone to help them take the lead, and Martin was the guy who broke it open for the Bombers and opened the floodgates in the ninth inning.
Even with the offense, it all came back to pitching and they got a gem from Sabathia. Now it’ll be up to Pettitte to continue the trend of good pitching.
One game down, 10 more to go until No. 28.
Stay tuned, Yankees Universe.
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