Game 2 is in the book and what a game it was. It was an epic October pitchers duel between the Yankees rock Andy Pettite and the up and coming super star in Fausto Carmona.
Pettite went 6.1 innings, didn't allow a run but allowed a hit in every single inning he pitched. In fact, in the 11 innings tonight, the Indians got the leadoff guy on 8 times. Pettite was lights out with runners in scoring position however. The Indians got a leadoff double from Jason Michaels and left him stranded. They got a leadoff triple from Sizemore and couldn't move him 90 feet. That was the story of the night. In the 7th, Peralta doubled off the very top of the center field fence and after a walk, Cleveland had 1st and 2nd 1 out. Joba Chamberlain came in however and shut the door.
On the mould for the Tribe, with a masterful performance was Fausto Carmona. He limited the Yankees to only 3 hits in 9 innings pitched including 18 ground ball outs. The sinker was simply working, ask ARod who continued his playoff woes with an 0-4 night and 3 k's vs Carmona. Fausto made one mistake, and that was a hanging slider to Melki Cabrera who hit a solo homer. Fausto Carmona may be the best pitcher in the game right now and he proved it tonight, taking his team on his back.
The Indians finally scratched the tying run across in the 8th inning when Bugs took over the stadium. With Off brand bug spray getting an hour long free advertisement, the big invested infield got into the head of Joba Chamberlain. He walked Sizemore to lead off the inning. 2 wild pitches later, Grady Sizemore scored to tie the game.
What more can be said about Cleveland's rookie left handed releiver Rafael Perez? 2 more perfect innings tonight and 4 perfect innings in the series so far. In fact, Indians pitching has limited the Yankee bats to only 4 runs and 8 hits in 20 innings through 2 games.
In the bottom of the 11th, the Indians big money guys came up big for the win. Lofton forced the leadoff walk off Luis Vizcaino who relieved Mariano Rivera after 2 scoress innings including getting out of a bases loaded jam in the 10th. Franklin Gutierrez singled after failing to get down back to back bunt attempts and Casey Blake laid a perfect bunt to move the runners. Finally after an intentional walk to Sizemore, the Indians had the bases loaded and one out. After Cabrera popped out, the man who just signed the big contract extension came through with a full count line drive into the gap in right to give the Indians their biggest win since this millenium and got them a win in a game they had to have.
Game 3 is Sunday evening and will pair up Roger Clemens who has struggled at times this season and who hasn't pitched since mid September and Jake Westbrook who has a solid 3.44 era this year since the all star break. Westbrook has one start vs. the Yanks this year in the April sweep in the Bronx and got shelled. This game could be high scoring espcially since the Yankee offense is due for an offensive explosion.
Quick Hits from Game 2
- The play by play guy calls every single pitcher that came into the game a "flame thrower." A flame thrower must throw at least 96. Rafael Perez is not a flame thrower. He throws 91.
- Genious move for the Indians to pump massive amounts of annoying insects into the stadium with Chamberlain on the hill. It clearly got into his head.
- Torre should have had a lefty reliever ready for Hafner in the 11th. I don't know if they have any lefty relievers but keepin the righty in there to face pronk with the game on the line seems questionable.
- Posada visited the mound like 65 times during the game and was wearing 5 pounds of white out on his finger nails.
- Carmona-Cy Young? That sinker that breaks low and in to righties is an unhittable pitch.
- Sabres lost 6-4...on pace for the 15 seed in the east...I called that.
- Peralta hit the farthest non homerun I have ever seen.
Game 3 Sunday: Westbrook vs Clemens
Game 4 Monday: Byrd vs Mussina (I hope Sabathia pitches on 3 days rest somehow so then Carmona will be ready for a potential game 5, but I don't know if that is possible. Paul Byrd gave up 7 runs in the 2nd inning last time he faced the Yankees). If necessary
Game 5 Wednesday: Sabathia or Carmona vs. Pettite or Wang. If necessary
Tim Wakefield is a flame thrower.
ReplyDeleteactually tim wakefield relys on a sick knuckball which has been effective since arriving with the red sox you are a douche
ReplyDeleteactually i said it as a joke. i never criticized wakefield in any way, he's a really good pitcher (and he pretty much owns the d-rays). but the original post was about how the tbs commentator kept saying every pitcher was a flame thrower, even when they didn't throw very hard at all. my comment was just a joke off that.
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