Jeter tops Ruth in Hits, as Yankees pummel Red Sox and Josh Beckett!
A match, that saw both the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox square off with a win each to their name in the series, began with a limelight cast on the Bronx Stadium as 49,096 fans gathered to see their stars in action. The 4 game set entered its third stage with great anticipation. The Yankees had won their last match and the team was looking to capitalize on their opponents as the Tampa Rays are close in contention for the top place in the Eastern Division of the American League.
The Red Sox however were in the hopes of getting back to their winning ways as they lie in the middle of the Eastern division table. The urge to attain the wildcard berth lies in the range but attaining it would only be possible if performance rises to the level of top contenders. Josh Beckett was their star pitcher to come into the game. With 3 wins and a loss to his name, since his return from the Disabled List (DL), the player was looking to make an impression on the team and take out the poison from the Yankees’ sting.
On the other hand, Dustin Moseley started for the home team. Having played in just two matches of the season with a 50% winning record, Yankees manager, John Garido brought the youngster in to catch up on exposure amongst the senior players.
With the cards set in place and the game set to begin, the Red Sox began the top 1st of the match with hitting duties. However, nothing significant occurred till the Yankees started their engines in the 2nd inning with Lance Berkman scoring off an error by second baseman, Bill Hall. The scoring run for Big Puma, Lance, was the first since his move from the Houston Astros. The run came as Brett Gardner hit a single.
Later on in the innings, skipper Derek Jeter hit a Runs Batted In single for his 2,874th hit, passing Babe Ruth’s career hits total. The smash got him a single to the centre and allowed Gardner to score the second for the team, totalling the score line on 2 for New York and none for Boston.
The visitors however would later respond as Bill Hall, the culprit for the Yankees first run, homered 373 feet high, down the left side of the field, to bring up Boston’s first run on the board in the top 5th. However, the lead was extended immediately in the bottom fifth by the opponents as the number 25 hitter Mark Teixeira banged his 25th homer of the season, 417 feet high to the right. Following that, Alex Rodriguez walked to the first base. When Robinson Cano was hit by Josh’s pitch, Rodriguez stole the second base for a career high 300th time.
The fun continued as Lance Berkman was back in action for the Yankees, as he doubled by hitting to the left, allowing Alex Rodriguez to score. Robinson Cano also followed soon as Gardner was struck out and the catcher, Kevin Cash made an error in throwing. As the third and second bases piled up, Derek Jeter returned to the field to hit a double to the right centre, allowing Berkman and Curtis Granderson. The score after the end of the 5th innings read, 7 New York – 1 Boston.
The match ended for Josh Beckett; with figures of 11 runs, 7 hits, 2 walks, 6 strike outs, 105 pitches and 7 runs. The only other run that came was from the Boston side that were looking to counter the Yankees onslaught. Mike Lowell singled to the short stop and got Adrian Beltre to score for the team. This marked the only other scoring moment of the game as things ended with 7 for the Yankees and 2 for Red Sox.
With that victory, fans would be happy to see the home side on top of the series standing. The expectation to beat their nemesis will be riding high on the Yankees for the last game. However, what did prove well was the team’s ability to get things moving, which will be considered a volatile element in the team’s play. The Red Sox, on the other hand, will look to end their losing run and get the wildcard berth before the Tampa Rays get to that point by the end of the season.
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