July 25, 2008
Joba Holds Sox in Check, Yanks Take Opener
New York 4, Boston 1
Two contenders for Cy Young met up at Fenway Park and didn't disappoint, as the Yankees held on to took the opener of the three game series 4-1.
Chamberlain has pitched well all season, making himself a double threat for both the American League Rookie of the Year and Cy Young awards. In his one previous appearance against the Sox, Chamberlain pitched seven innings, allowing one run on two hits to secure an identical 4-1 victory.
This time around, Chamberlain went seven strong, allowing three hits while striking out 8. Mastuzaka, not to be outdone, threw eight innings, allowing one run on four hits and a walk. Matsuzaka struck out seven Yankees in suffering the loss.
The game was scoreless until the top of the 4th when Alex Rodriguez slapped a one-out single to left. After advancing to second when Matsuzaka drilled Jason Giambi with a fastball, Rodriguez scored the opening run on a Robinson Cano line drive that fell in front of Coco Crisp in centerfield. Matsuzaka managed to retire both Hideki Matsui and Bobby Abreu on fly outs before the Yankees could add any more runs.
Chamberlain made the one run lead hold up, as neither team could slap together enough hits to get another runner home. In the bottom of the fifth, the Sox managed to get a runner to third with one out, but Julio Lugo grounded into an inning end double play to end the threat.
In the ninth, clinging to the one run lead, New York managed to add some insurance when Lee Grnkiewicz started the inning off by hitting Jason Giambi. After lifting Giambi for a pinch runner, Cano and Matsui loaded the bases with a pair of singles. A sacrifice fly by Bobby Abreu put the Yankees ahead by two before a one-out single by Wilson Betemit scored Cano and ended Okajima's night. Manny Delcaremn came in in relief and allowed a RBI-single to Melky Cabrera before shutting the dorr on Jorge Posada to end the Yankees effort.
Mike Lowell got the Sox on the board in the bottom of the ninth, when, facing Mariano Rivera, he slapped a single through the infield to score Manny Ramirez from second. With J.D. Drew and Lowell on base, the Sox brought the tying run to the plate twice, but Rivera struck out Dustin Pedroia and Jason Varitek on four pitches apiece to hold onto the lead.
W: Chamberlain (15-7) L: Matsuzaka (13-6) SV: Rivera (32)
Player of the Game: Joba Chamberlain (7.0 IP, 3 Hs, BB, 8 Ks, 107 PI)
Around the League:
...Los Angeles Dodgers released CF Andruw Jones (.204 avg., 7 HRs, 28 RBIs)...
Mariner delivers Jewsbury warning
Assistant general manager Paul Mariner is concerned at jack Jewsbury's growing unease at the club.
Mariner feels that the central midfielder is on the verge of confronting the club over an improved contract after appearing in twelve of the club's first thirteen matches.