Game 10: Indians 10, Yankees 2
by APV on Apr 16, 2009 6:29 PM EDT
in Game Recaps
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PrintEach victory and each loss over the course of the season contributes equally to the win and loss column. But not all wins and not all losses are created equally. Today’s victory was big. Not just because this is a team that desperately needed to notch its first back-to-back victory. Not just because the Indians were facing the most successful pitcher Cleveland has developed over the past 50 years, making his home debut for the Yankees. Not just because the victory involved the first quality start for the pitching staff, coming from the necessary staff ace, Cliff Lee. Not just because it featured big hits from offensive cornerstones Grady, Victor and Jhonny. Not just because it was the Yankees. This victory was huge, because this victory is permanent. This game will be preserved in the print, digital media, and neural synapses of New York and Cleveland baseball communities for a long, long time. Cleveland went into New York today and claimed prima nocta, and that is something that no Steinbrenner and no ghosts of Yankees legends past can ever take back.
And the game itself was good, until the 7th, when it became great. Although neither Lee nor Sabathia was working very efficiently, they matched zeros until the 4th. Jhonny Peralta led off the inning with a double, but the scoring opportunity appeared lost after he was thrown out at home. The very next AB, though, Kelly Shoppach took an 0-2 pitch from Sabathia and nearly hit a HR, settling for an RBI double as Johnny Damon’s feeble throwing arm allowed Francisco to score the first run in the new stadium. The Yankees came back in the 5th and tied it up with a Jorge Posada HR. A Trevor Crowe single with two outs in the 6th ended Sabathia’s day after 122 pitches and turned over the tie game to the Yankees bullpen. Lee made it through the 6th before he also gave way to the bullpen.
And in the 7th, things got fun. DeRosa lead off the inning with a walk, followed by a Victor double. Jhonny Peralta hit his second scorching double to RF to give the Tribe a two-run lead. A hit batsman and botched fielding effort on a Francisco bunt loaded the bases for Kelly Shoppach, who again came through with a clutch RBI-hit. After a Graffanino popout, Crowe did what a rookie should do, not get out, inducing a bases loaded walk. It was 5-1 at this point, one out, bases loaded, but the game still felt too close for a team that hasn’t had anything come easy so far. And then Grady hit a grand slam, the first in the new stadium's history. Victor’s HR an out later was an afterthought at this point — fans were leaving their $1000 seats in the 7th inning, and Cleveland had won.
| Higest WPA | Lowest WPA |
| C. Lee .220 | G. Sizemore -0.85 |
| K. Shoppach .142 | T. Graffanino -0.73 |
| J. Peralta .132 | S. Choo -0.54 |
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Best part?
Victor’s HR an out later was an afterthought at this point – fans were leaving their $1000 seats in the7th inning and Cleveland had won.
not that it makes any difference, but how in the world has johnny damon avoided making any kind of progress on that pathetic excuse for an arm after all these years? it’s pretty impressive, actually, b/c you’d figure his arm would improve just by accident after playing baseball, like, 250 days a year. it’s gotta be close to the worst arm in history.
i think he’s actually a righty.
Just watched the 7th inning. Even knowing exactly what was going to happen, it was sweet. Victor absolutely teed off on his home run, great to see.
Hopefully today gets this team on a bit of a roll, and the Yankees have to wait to beat the As to get their first home win.
Il faut d'abord durer.
Yeah, me too to all of this.
I love baseball.
by NickFantana on Apr 16, 2009 11:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Yanks are on pace to go 0-81 at home.
Ben Francisco: An Outfielder only on baseball cards and roster sheets.
by westbrook on Apr 16, 2009 8:05 PM EDT reply actions 4 recs
I love thinking about how happy CC was beating the Yankees in the ‘07 ALDS. The A-Rod strikeout. Now he will never be part of days like today. I wonder if he’ll have that sinking feeling in his stomach that he made a huge mistake. Probably not, but still.
He might, but then he’ll just go eat a solid gold burrito. Y’know, to give himself a different feeling in his stomach.
by Logodaedalus on Apr 16, 2009 8:26 PM EDT up reply actions
History repeats itself
The first game the Indians ever played at Yankee Stadium was a Tribe rout, with the Indians’ center fielder becoming the first player to hit a grand slam in the new ballpark. Right? It’s now happened twice. In 1923, CF Tris Speaker hit the OLD Yankee Stadium’s first slam, leading the Tribe to a 13-3 win in their first game there. Today, CF Grady does the same for our boys in a 10-2 rout. I was stuck listening to the Yankee announcers, but I was wondering if any announcers on the Indians side picked this up?
by yank4848 on Apr 16, 2009 8:27 PM EDT reply actions 8 recs
I just looked and couldn’t find confirmation of this anywhere online. So, rec for being the result that kept coming up on google.
Ben Francisco: An Outfielder only on baseball cards and roster sheets.
cool. I couldn’t remember the name of that site.
Actually, though: there’s no proof there that it was a grand slam. There’s hints in the box that O’Neill, Jamieson and Wambsomething were probably the three runners on. Two of those 4 RBI could have even been on bases loaded walks :P.
Ben Francisco: An Outfielder only on baseball cards and roster sheets.
Sportscenter confirmed Speaker had first slam at old Yankees stadium this morning
by Ryan Kelsey on Apr 17, 2009 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions
It’s a fact. I believe you can check the Yankees website for old YS “firsts”. It’s also in a SABR publication. O’Neill Jamieson and Wambsganss were the runners, and the pitcher was Carl Mays. This was highlight #10 in the Indians Top 10 moments at the old Yankee Stadium (Indians Ink, April 09). Now let’s compile some new stadium moments …..whaddya say a no-hitter by Carl Pavano on Sunday?
by yank4848 on Apr 17, 2009 7:31 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I hear the Tigers are looking for a #5 starter…
Ben Francisco: An Outfielder only on baseball cards and roster sheets.
I listened to the LC game tonite – Perez was outstanding, in total control. I don’t believe he went 2 balls on a batter (watchit now) until the 6th inning.
He featured a live fastball and a dynamite overhand curve, getting K’s looking and swinging with each. Nothing hit hard, worked quickly, pitch count low enough to finish the 7th. Announcer chortling the whole way at how on he was. Two great starts to begin the season as a teenager. Definitely on my radar.
btw, Santo Frias is now in the LC pen, he pitched a scoreless 2 innings with 4 k’s, featuring a very good slider. Final score 3-0.
Final note – Abner Abreu seems completely out of his element so far. He had one game earlier in the week where he killed the ball, but all other games he’s been completely befuddled, striking out in almost every at bat it seems.
And of course, Go Tribe! Awesome win at the new Jhankee Stadium. I was at the game last spring when A-Roid hit the three run homer off Wick to complete the improbable (yet totally expected of course) comeback. Felt like crap afterwards, walking out with my dad, each of us shaking our heads in shock and resignation. Today was good. Very good.
I think you mean ARods walkoff in April of ’07, off Joe Borowski. Yeah, that sucked pretty bad. I remember sitting there, absolutely numb, trying to rationalize just how improbable that comeback was… I could only find consolation in that probably half of the Yankees fans that were there that day had left before the 9th inning and screwed themselves out of seeing a spectacular win of the rarest order. Dumb asses.
They moved him to outfield this spring. He has no plate discipline but tremendous power. The most hopeful projection is Soriano, but even that would come with periods of looking absolutely clueless.
Also, it’s probably the first time he’s played organized baseball north of Florida. Just let him play and hopefully we’ll have something.
Gotta be excited about the first couple of starts from Rondon, De La Cruz, and Perez.
His bat projects to be fine in RF. I’ve been following Tice and Abreu, as the most interesting hitters on the team. Originally they were both listed at 3B, and the represent totally opposite ends of the low-A prospect world (Tice being the drafted college slugger, who’s clock is ticking). I’ve come to think of them as a mismatched buddy team that solves crimes between games.
Anyway, this Abreu’s age 19 season. I love that he’s in LC. Like APV says, the fact that he’s on a full-season team and batting in the top half of the lineup means that the Indians see that potential. Let’s let him stew there for a half-year, at least. The only caution is that he doesn’t get stressed out, but that’s where good coaching comes in.
L’il Abner and J-Man on the case!
I hope they leave him there too – he seems sort of stunned right now, but woke up in one game and went 4 for 5 and sprayed line drives all over the park. Followed by striking out 6 or 7 times in a row, etc.
He does seem to be adapting well to RF, btw. Made a couple of very nice plays when I’ve listened.
Yankee Stadium firsts not established by the Yankees:
- First run
- First RBI
- First Grand Slam
- First win
- First batted-around-in-an-inning
- First double-digit-runs
Yankee Stadium firsts established by the Yankees:
- First rout
- First bullpen implosion
- First cavalcade of boos
- First calls for an OF to come in to pitch
- First tear
So essentially the Indians went to the new stadium yesterday and posted “FIRST!!”
by cleveland teamer on Apr 17, 2009 9:15 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Unabashed Yankee haters will love this article:
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AtVrp6Rn.J0IsSxyIi0M16cRvLYF?slug=jp-yankeestadium041609
Man, even as an unabashed Yankee hater, I think that’s over the top.
Next to the hat wall, where more than 100 styles are available, stood Kelley Rutkowski, a 23-year-old from New Jersey. She already had wrecked her diet for the day with the nachos and was inclined to do similar damage with her credit card, because her seat happened to be in the shade, and she was chilly. She found a hooded sweatshirt adorned with rhinestones. She looked at the price tag: $125. Rutkowski quickly summoned David Sidibe, a young salesman."I literally can’t afford to keep warm at this game," Rutkowski said. "Can I just tell you, David, this is a sin. I’m freaking freezing, and there’s no way I’m spending $125 on a freaking sweatshirt, because that’s how this country got into this mess."
lol
and there’s no way I’m spending $125 on a freaking sweatshirt, because that’s how this country got into this mess."
I always enjoy reading people wax poetic on corporate America while they lack the ability to plan for a mid-April outdoor event by bringing their own sweatshirt.
You know Selig? Ombudsman.
If she would have brought her Snuggie, or Slanket, she could have not only kept warm in the shade, but also have eaten her health-damaging and overpriced nachos at the same time.
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