Yankees-Tigers: New York Holds Off Ninth-Inning Detroit Rally To Win
April 29, 2009 · Marisa Scolamiero · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
For the past two nights, the Yankees have been led by the young arms of Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain, and the offense has actually started to hit with runners in scoring position.
Detroit struck first against Chamberlain and went up 1-0. However, his teammates picked him up quickly and scored seven runs in the top of the fourth to give him all the cushion he would need.
Chamberlain pitched seven innings, gave up just the one run, walked three, and struck out six. He even managed to get his velocity up to 96 MPH a few times, which is a sign that he is returning to his true form.
However, the most exciting part of the game didn’t roll around until the eighth inning. With Curtis Granderson at the plate, a warning alarm went off in Comerica Park telling fans to exit the stadium and not use the elevators. There were lights flashing around the stadium that indicated there could be a fire of some kind.
Fans started to file out of their seats, while the players remained on the field confused about what was going on. The home plate umpire and the managers scattered to try and find someone who could tell them what they should do.
The sirens and flashing lights went off soon after they first sounded and play was back underway.
The alarm may have been turned off, but it didn’t take long for the Yankees bullpen to raise it once again.
Jonathan Albaladejo started off the ninth inning by walking the first batter. The Yankees were up 8-1, but considering the way they’ve been coughing up the lead lately, it wasn’t comforting to see a runner on base.
The Tigers got one hit after another, and soon it was 8-3 with two outs. Here was an opportunity for Albaladejo to wrap up the game, but he couldn’t get the job done. Girardi had to go the ‘pen again, but for some reason, instead of using the already warmed Dave Robertson, he called on Mariano Rivera.
Rivera hadn’t pitched since he blew the save in Boston on Sunday night, so Girardi was probably looking to get him some work. There were two runners on base, and one out should be no problem for Mo.
Curtis Granderson dug into the batter’s box, and sent Rivera’s pitch deep into the right field bleachers for a three-run home run, to bring the Tigers within two, 8-6. A seven-run lead was down to two.
Luckily, Rivera was able to get the final out, and the Yankees were able to walk away with a series win before they got on a plane to come back to New York.
There were several highlights in the game: the stellar pitching performance by Chamberlain, Nick Swisher’s two home runs from both sides of the plate, and the Yankees getting runs in with guys on base.
Still, the parts that will almost definitely stand out will be the sound of the warning alarm and the Yankees bullpen almost coughing up the lead…again.
Hopefully, the warning bell has gone off for the bullpen and they will get the outs they need to without giving the rest of the team cause to panic.
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