Yankees vs. Red Sox: New York Sweep Seals 2009 A.L. East Crown
September 27, 2009 · Doug Rush · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
The magic number was down to one.
One game for the Yankees to clinch the American League East division against the Red Sox.
The game was moved up to originally start at 1 p.m. because of Yom Kippur, but with a rain delay, the game started a little after 2 p.m., so the football fans watching the Giants, Jets, and Patriots at 1 p.m. had an extra hour before doing major channel surfing.
The game started out rocky for Andy Pettitte.
In the top of the first, he got the first two outs, but then loaded the bases for Mike Lowell, who hit a ball that bounced off Pettitte’s foot. Alex Rodriguez was unable to make a play to throw him out, giving Boston an early 1-0 lead.
In the top of the third, with the bases loaded again for Lowell, he bounced into a double play, but scored Jason Bay and put Boston up 2-0.
In the bottom of the third Melky Cabrera drilled a solo home run off of Boston starter Paul Byrd into the right field seats to get the Yankees on the board and cut Boston’s lead to 2-1.
After the rough start, Pettitte settled down and got into a rhythm against the Boston hitters. Pettitte ended up pitching six innings, allowing seven hits and two runs, along with three walks and four strikeouts.
In the bottom of the sixth, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez got on with hits and moved to second and third on a wild pitch. Hideki Matsui provided another clutch hit with a single to right field that drove in both runners to put the Yankees ahead 3-2.
The Yankees’ Brian Bruney entered in the seventh inning and pitched a scoreless inning, then got through the first two batters of the eighth inning. Phil Coke came into the game and struck out David Ortiz to end the eighth.
In the bottom of the eighth, Mark Teixeira took a Daniel Bard fastball and hit one over the right field wall for a solo home run, increasing the Yankees’ lead to 4-2.
Mariano Rivera came into the game for the ninth inning save. With one on and two out, Rivera threw Jacoby Ellsbury a cutter that was hit back to Rivera who threw out Ellsbury to end the game and cement a 4-2 Yankees win.
The Yankees win the American League East division for the first time since 2006. They also win their 100th game of the season and are now eight and a half games ahead of the Red Sox.
Pettitte won his 14th game of the season and improved his record to 14-7, while Rivera got his 44th save of the season.
After the game, the Yankees started a big celebration on the field to the joys of the Yankee faithful crowd in attendance, and continued that celebration in the locker room with champagne and championship t-shirts and hats.
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