Skip to content

Jeter, A-Rod, Sabathia fuel Yankees' Game 1 win

Oct 8, 2009, 12:58 AM EST

Leave a comment

Given the circumstances, the only real surprise from Game 1 of the ALDS is that the Twins jumped out to an early lead.
After playing 12 innings to decide the AL Central crown Tuesday night and arriving in New York at around 3:30 a.m. local time for a 6:07 p.m. game, the Twins drew first blood with a pair of third-inning runs before 26-year-old rookie Brian Duensing predictably struggled in his first taste of the playoffs, at Yankee Stadium, against baseball’s best offense (with a bespectacled Jay-Z looking on, no less).
Derek Jeter quickly erased Minnesota’s early lead with a two-run homer in the next half-inning and Nick Swisher’s run-scoring double–with the aid of shoddy throws from both left fielder Delmon Young and shortstop Orlando Cabrera–in the fourth frame gave New York the lead before the Yankees broke the game open in the fifth inning. Jeter drew a leadoff walk and came around to score on Alex Rodriguez’s first postseason hit with runners in scoring position since approximately 1942.
With the Yankees up 4-2 manager Ron Gardenhire gave Duensing a quick hook, pulling the southpaw with two outs despite left-hander Hideki Matsui coming to the plate. Duensing held left-handed batters to just .244/.311/.268 this season, but Gardenhire chose to bring in fellow southpaw Francisco Liriano and his slightly worse .255/.325/.307 mark against lefties. Whether he thought that Duensing was tired after throwing 79 pitches or Liriano was simply a better matchup against Matsui the move didn’t work.
Matsui got ahead of Liriano and homered on a 2-1 pitch, putting the Yankees up 6-2. New York tacked on another run against Liriano in the seventh inning and Minnesota went just 4-for-23 with four singles and one walk after scoring the pair of third-inning runs. Armed with a five-run lead and an off day next on the schedule the Yankees’ bullpen went into full shutdown mode with Phil Hughes, Phil Coke, Joba Chamberlain, and finally Mariano Rivera relieving CC Sabathia after his 6.2 innings of two-run ball.
Sabathia pitched well despite some shaky work behind the plate from Jorge Posada, striking out eight, walking none, and allowing just two extra-base hits after coming into the game with a 7.92 ERA in five previous playoff starts. And once armed with a lead the Yankees’ bullpen trio of Hughes, Chamberlain, and Rivera–with a little Coke mixed in against tough left-handers–is going to be awfully tough to come back on throughout the postseason.
About the only negative from the Yankees’ point of view is that Mark Teixeira went 0-for-4 and hit into a double play, but the rest of New York’s incredibly deep and dangerous lineup picked up the slack and the quintet of pitchers combined for a dozen strikeouts versus just one walk. Sabathia working into the seventh inning before handing things over to Rivera and company is a combination that looks capable of carrying the Yankees deep into October, and he’s now won seven of eight starts versus the Twins.
Luckily for the Twins they have matchups against the far more hittable A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte before Sabathia’s turn in the rotation comes around again in Game 4 and today’s break in the schedule gives them a chance to set up their own rotation after throwing Duensing almost by default. As noted in my ALDS preview Nick Blackburn against Burnett is the Twins’ most favorable matchup of the series and that’s on tap when play resumes tomorrow night for Game 2.

Skip to Comments
More HardballTalk
Back to Homepage
  1. The ability to listen - Oct 8, 2009 at 11:25 AM

    Are you challenged, have you ever listen to McCarver hate on the Yanks. You won’t have to wait too long until the ALCS, if the Yanks make it.

  2. Kryptoid - Oct 8, 2009 at 11:28 AM

    The Yankees fans were pathetic last night…..weakest cheering in a playoff game i have seen. Is it the shock of how much your payed in ticket prices or the Hep B fatigue from Share A Rods Roid Needles day??

  3. bh0673 - Oct 8, 2009 at 11:32 AM

    I don’t know what broadcast any of you Yankees haters listen to but they are mostly anti Yankees, and were very obvious over the years they hated the Yankees, I will say for the first time I am hearing some positive feedback but I attribute it to the fact this is a good Yankee team and they have no choice. One robin does not a spring make and no matter how positive you may think they are toward the Yankees it doesn’t make up for all the years they didn’t.

  4. Church of the Perpetually Outraged - Oct 8, 2009 at 11:37 AM

    this seems rather appropriate
    Mr. Wheezy, what you have just wrote is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever read. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having read it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

  5. bh0673 - Oct 8, 2009 at 11:39 AM

    The ticket prices just in case you don’t take the time to read are actually cheaper then the regulare season prices and are very reasonable. My seats in right field were $6.00 more then the regular season price. I think the national broadcast does mute the sound of the crowd because even in the regular season the corowd is louder on Yes broadcasts then on Fox or MLB but tell you what I will be there tomorrow night so email Saturday and I will tell you if the crowd is really muted or just the sound on TV.

  6. stom - Oct 8, 2009 at 11:39 AM

    The Yankees chose to start their series earlier. They could’ve chosen to play game 1 on Thursday. Its called strategy. Why give your opponent rest?
    I’m sure if the tables were turned and the Yankees had to play a tie breaker the day before, I’m pretty sure the Twins, or any of the other teams, would’ve done the same thing.

  7. JT - Oct 8, 2009 at 11:40 AM

    Bill1021? Is this Bill Buckner? ; )

  8. bh0673 - Oct 8, 2009 at 11:41 AM

    Stom are you sure about that, I am under the impression the game time are controlled by MLB and the west coast games get the late time slot.

  9. Church of the Perpetually Outraged - Oct 8, 2009 at 11:41 AM

    Don’t you understand, this is the CTB comment section. We don’t appreciate any of your fancy “logic” or “reasoning” here!

  10. Church of the Perpetually Outraged - Oct 8, 2009 at 11:44 AM

    What stom meant was the Yankees, by virtue of owning the best record in the AL, had the choice of whether to begin the playoffs on Wednesday (the Wed/Fri/Sun/Mon/Wed schedule) or Thursday (thurs/fri/sun/mon/wed schedule). They choose the first one as it allows you to only use three starting pitchers (and probably because it forced the Twins to play two games in less than 24 hours. MLB sets the time for each game, but the yanks got to choose which day to start on.

  11. Brian - Oct 8, 2009 at 11:44 AM

    BIGBRUCE…and all others who think that A-Rod can’t hit in the post season, read the following article.
    http://riveraveblues.com/2009/10/a-rod-turn-around-playoff-slump-18016/
    Prior to joining the yankees A-rod actually did hit in the playoffs with the Seattle Mariners. And while he didn’t see any playoff games with the Rangers but in his first season with the yankees he actually enjoyed playoff success. From the link
    “Through the first three games of the 2004 ALCS he was 6 for 14 with two doubles and a homer. In Game 4 he launched a two-run homer in the third to give the Yanks an early lead. To that point, life as a Yankee in the postseason was going great for Alex Rodriguez.”
    the problem with gauging Playoff success is that it usually creates a very small sample size, especially if your team is out after the first round. you may only get between 12-20 at bats. Even the best players can slump for this many at-bats, as both Arod and Tex were both apt to do this at times. Even Oh Captain My Captain hit an 0-12 skid this season before becoming the franchises all time hits leader.
    As the link points out, the “A-rod can’t hit in the post season” is simply a narrative that works well for disgruntled fans, especially the disgruntled fans who have very short memories and ave the “What have you done for me lately” attitude that the very demanding yankee fan base has.
    nuff said.

  12. Kryptoid - Oct 8, 2009 at 11:45 AM

    Average Yankees ticket price $75…..average ticket price of the 28 teams with removal of Mets and Yankees….$23…..enjoy the high prices

  13. bh0673 - Oct 8, 2009 at 11:46 AM

    Whoops my bad I thought Stom was referring to the start time no the day, the Yankees chose the 8 day schedual and I think any other team with that choice would do the same it allows you to go with 3 starters in the first round.

  14. YankeeFan01 - Oct 8, 2009 at 11:46 AM

    WOW!! Haters Haters Haters!!!
    U pick your team I pick my team. I root for the Yankees day in and day out…win or lose!!! World Series or not I love those guys and I am from Texas. I take alot of heat for my team!!
    You…the haters, want to point the finger at some massive payroll or a curse or some other hokey pokey reason for the Yankees success. Why don’t you just root for your team and quit the whinning!!?? Take off the lil girl panties put on your big boy pants and MAN UP!!! I love the Yankees and you like whatever cheesey team it is you like. Move on…
    Oops…I stooped to your level there for a second!!
    GO YANKS!!!!!
    Much love from a Gal in Texas…

  15. bh0673 - Oct 8, 2009 at 11:49 AM

    I thought he was referring to the 6:05 start time. I think it was a forgone conclusion they would pick Wednesday I just don’t think it was fair to the fans who had tickets to make them wait. I never doubted game one would be on Wednesday but I sold my tickets just in case.

  16. ED fl - Oct 8, 2009 at 11:51 AM

    The biggest mistake MLB made was trying to deal with FOX. They are notorius for poor and incompetent announcers, sportcasters or whatever. They are as bad as ESPn with the M&M twins Morgan and Miller constant talkers about themselves instead of the current athletes.Lets face it the sports networks have become a welfare outlet for has beens and wannabes. Quit blabbering and call what is going on infront of your eyes [not your wishes.

  17. bh0673 - Oct 8, 2009 at 11:53 AM

    My tickets on the second deck in right field were $45.00 a seat and will be the same next year. Maybe you haven’t gone out on the town in New York lately but even at $75.00 average as you say and that is only skewed because of the over priced premium seats it is still cheaper then most other evenings out in New York. By the way most of the seats are between $5.00 to $40.00.

  18. DadooS - Oct 8, 2009 at 11:53 AM

    For the real baseball fans, the title is “Exhausted Twins Can’t Hold Lead in Game 1″

  19. Elso - Oct 8, 2009 at 11:53 AM

    Excelente Alex Rod.
    http://www.deportesaltiempo.net

  20. bh0673 - Oct 8, 2009 at 11:55 AM

    The highest priced avererage ticket price winner is the Red Sox.

  21. bh0673 - Oct 8, 2009 at 12:00 PM

    Ed how true Buck and McCarver are terrible I can’t understand how anyone can find them even the least bit good and Miller and Morgan are worse. I usually turm off the TV sound and listen the the WCBS radio broadcasts which even with Susyn Waldman’s not stop blabber is still better the the networks, Speaking of that I will say on the last road trip the Yankees took and Kim Jones filled in on the radio she did a great job.

  22. Kryptoid - Oct 8, 2009 at 12:03 PM

    http://teammarketing.com.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/Fan%20Cost%20Index/MLB/MLB%20FCI%2009.pdf
    Since i don’t read

  23. Spike - Oct 8, 2009 at 12:04 PM

    AMEN to all your words. I am a LIFELONG Yankees fan. There is no better team, win or lose. GO YANKEES. and I live in OK. We go to KC,MO for every home game that we can. Great to see the Yankees up there. WHOHOO!!!

  24. #1yankeesfan - Oct 8, 2009 at 12:10 PM

    Hey, just to let you know the SOX SUCK!!!

  25. bh0673 - Oct 8, 2009 at 12:12 PM

    Take the $375 – $1250 premium seats out of the mix though they through everything off however in those seats all your food is included. Then there are the seats right behind home plate on every level but the price includes access to provate clubs or food areas. The bulk of the seats are $5.00 to $40.00 as I said if you are counting number of seats and not price of seats. Oh by the way a big bag of Craker Jack at Yankee stadium is $5.75 in Philadelphia a bag one third the size is $4.00. The price of the food is in line with other venues in the New York Area, everything in the news was written abou the 3500 premium seat prices and the 400.00 average cost for a family to go to a gams but I am a full season ticket holder and I can tell you it isn’t that expensive for the average person to go.

1 2 3 4 5
Leave Comment

You must be logged in to leave a comment. Not a member? Register now!

More HardballTalk
Back to Homepage
Top 10 MLB Player Searches
  1. Y. Cespedes (4098)
  2. R. Oswalt (3547)
  3. A. Gordon (1988)
  4. R. Ibanez (1756)
  5. J. Hamilton (1740)
  1. E. Andrus (1731)
  2. J. Guthrie (1546)
  3. N. Cruz (1521)
  4. H. Kuo (1488)
  5. A. Burnett (1438)
Search player news