There is usually a turning point in a season when a team is struggling and they have that one game or moment where everything turns around
For the Yankees, that “moment” came this afternoon in the eighth inning against the Seattle Mariners.
Trailing 5-2 going into the second to last frame of the game, the team put together their most impressive comeback of the season, scoring four runs in the inning to take the lead and hold on for a 6-5 win.
It was strange because as the game was going on, I was never concerned that they were going to lose this game. When they were trailing 3-1 in the fifth, there was a quiet confidence. When the game was 5-2 in the eighth, I still had a feeling the game was not over.
There was a game last year when I had the exact thought pattern. The game was in Chicago in June, and the Yanks had won two games in a row from the White Sox and were showing signs of turning things around. Bobby Abreu, who had been struggling all year delivered a two run double, and Alex Rodriguez capped off a six run ninth inning with a grand slam. Right then, I knew all the bad moments of the previous 50 plus games had been put aside and good days were ahead.
On Sunday afternoon, once Derek Jeter walked and John McLaren walked to the mound to bring in Arthur “Mr. Gasoline” Rhodes, the game was there for the taking. Abreu (remember him) double into the right centerfield gap to make it 5-3. On came the closer J.J Putz to get six outs for the save.
That was not going to happen on this day.
Perhaps suffering from a lingering injury, Putz’ velocity was noticeably down. Rodriguez worked a 9-pitch walk. After Giambi was called out on a borderline strike three from the ump, Hideki Matsui hit a chopper to the left of the pitchers mound. Putz made a diving attempt to stop the ball, and his throw to first that went over Richie Sexson 6-7 frame into foul territory scoring a run to make it a 5-4 game. Robinson Cano tied the game with a sacrifice fly, followed by Jose Molina’s lead changing run scoring double.
Yankees now lead 6-5. Enter Mariano. Game over.
It was the teams first come from behind victory after trailing by two runs or more. The win was their fifth in a row to get them back to .500 at 25-25. No team outside of the Red Sox and Angels has established themselves. For all of the drama that has taken place, they only Boston by three games in the loss column.
How is this possible?
And things are only set to get better. The offense is finally starting to hit and Jorge Posada is set to return in several weeks. The starting pitching is making improvements. The bullpen has been spectacular. The schedule is there to make plenty of noise in the month of June. If that can happen, the team will position themselves for a very good summer.
The 2008 season can officially begin.
For the Yankees, that “moment” came this afternoon in the eighth inning against the Seattle Mariners.
Trailing 5-2 going into the second to last frame of the game, the team put together their most impressive comeback of the season, scoring four runs in the inning to take the lead and hold on for a 6-5 win.
It was strange because as the game was going on, I was never concerned that they were going to lose this game. When they were trailing 3-1 in the fifth, there was a quiet confidence. When the game was 5-2 in the eighth, I still had a feeling the game was not over.
There was a game last year when I had the exact thought pattern. The game was in Chicago in June, and the Yanks had won two games in a row from the White Sox and were showing signs of turning things around. Bobby Abreu, who had been struggling all year delivered a two run double, and Alex Rodriguez capped off a six run ninth inning with a grand slam. Right then, I knew all the bad moments of the previous 50 plus games had been put aside and good days were ahead.
On Sunday afternoon, once Derek Jeter walked and John McLaren walked to the mound to bring in Arthur “Mr. Gasoline” Rhodes, the game was there for the taking. Abreu (remember him) double into the right centerfield gap to make it 5-3. On came the closer J.J Putz to get six outs for the save.
That was not going to happen on this day.
Perhaps suffering from a lingering injury, Putz’ velocity was noticeably down. Rodriguez worked a 9-pitch walk. After Giambi was called out on a borderline strike three from the ump, Hideki Matsui hit a chopper to the left of the pitchers mound. Putz made a diving attempt to stop the ball, and his throw to first that went over Richie Sexson 6-7 frame into foul territory scoring a run to make it a 5-4 game. Robinson Cano tied the game with a sacrifice fly, followed by Jose Molina’s lead changing run scoring double.
Yankees now lead 6-5. Enter Mariano. Game over.
It was the teams first come from behind victory after trailing by two runs or more. The win was their fifth in a row to get them back to .500 at 25-25. No team outside of the Red Sox and Angels has established themselves. For all of the drama that has taken place, they only Boston by three games in the loss column.
How is this possible?
And things are only set to get better. The offense is finally starting to hit and Jorge Posada is set to return in several weeks. The starting pitching is making improvements. The bullpen has been spectacular. The schedule is there to make plenty of noise in the month of June. If that can happen, the team will position themselves for a very good summer.
The 2008 season can officially begin.
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