Yankees take Game One in Baltimore with a big ninth inning

The New York Yankees defeated the Baltimore Orioles by the score of 7-2 on Sunday night. The game took place at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. It was Game one of the ALDS and the playoffs for the Yankees. CC Sabathia started for the Yankees and was brilliant, Dave Robertson got the final out of the game. The Yankees offense had some chances and couldn’t capitalize until the ninth inning. Russell Martin had the game winning hit which was a homer and Robinson Cano hit a two run double to pile it on. Jason Hammel started for the Orioles and pitched ok in his first start since September 11^th. The Orioles bullpen didn’t do such a good job especially Jim Johnson their closer. The Orioles offense was led by Chris Davis and Nate McClouth. 
Sabathia pitched 8 2/3 innings giving up two runs on seven hits with a walk and seven strikeouts. Robertson pitched 1/3 of an inning striking out the only batter that he faced. Hammel pitched 5 2/3 innings giving up four hits and two runs with four walks and five strikeouts. Patton pitched 1/3 of an inning giving up a hit and two walks, Darren O’Day pitched a perfect inning with a strikeout and Brian Matusz pitched an inning giving up a walk and striking out two. Johnson pitched 1/3 of an inning giving up five hits and five runs with four of them being earned. Johnson had a strikeout and Tommy Hunter pitched 2/3 of an inning retiring both batters that he faced.

Derek Jeter had two hits, Ichiro Suzuki had two hits and two RBI and Alex Rodriguez drew a walk. Cano had a hit and two RBI, Nick Swisher had a hit, an RBI and drew two walks and Mark Teixeira had two hits, an RBI and drew a walk. Curtis Granderson drew a walk, Martin had a hit, an RBI and drew a walk and Raul Ibanez had a hit and drew a walk. Suzuki and Cano each hit a double and Martin hit a homerun. The Yankees were 3-8 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base. Suzuki was caught stealing and Jeter committed an error.

McClouth had a hit and two RBI, J.J. Hardy had a hit and Mark Reynolds had a hit and drew a walk. Davis had two hits, Lew Ford had a hit and Robert Andino had a hit. Hardy hit a double, The Orioles were 2-8 with runners in scoring position and left six men on base. Hardy committed an error and Davis had an outfield assist.

The Yankees took a 1-0 lead two batters into the game. Jeter had a leadoff single and Suzuki drove him in with a double. The Orioles took a 2-1 lead in the third inning on a McClouth two run single. The Yankees tied the game in the fourth on a Teixeira RBI single. The Yankees scored five runs in the ninth to break the game open and win it 7-2. Martin hit a solo homerun to give the Yankees a 3-2 lead, Ibanez, Jeter and Suzuki singled all in a row to make it 4-2 Yankees. Cano hit a two run double and Swisher hit a sacrifice fly to finish the scoring. 7-2 was the final score as the Yankees got to the Orioles bullpen. Johnson was terrible as the closer and he didn’t pitch well in the wild card playoff game also.

The Yankees have a 1-0 lead in the best of five ALDS series. The two teams will play game two on Monday night in Baltimore and then the rest of the series with shift to New York for games 3 and then four and five if needed. Andy Pettitte will start the game tomorrow for the Yankees. The Orioles finally lost a close game late, could this affect their psyche? We will have to see as this series goes on. The first pitch for Game two is at 8:07PM.