Final
Jeter, Yankees beat Oakland to cap 9-1 homestand
Jul 26, 2009 - 10:18 PM By MIKE FITZPATRICK AP Baseball WriterNEW YORK(AP) -- Phil Hughes slipped on a sport jacket and grabbed his suitcase. A few lockers down, Derek Jeter checked his phone for last-minute messages.
Fresh off their best homestand in five years, the first-place New York Yankees packed up in their plush new clubhouse Sunday and got ready to take this winning show on the road.
Jeter hit a go-ahead single, Mariano Rivera earned a four-out save and New York beat the Oakland Athletics 7-5 to complete a 9-1 homestand.
"Our pitching staff deserves most of the credit," Jeter said. "I think everyone in here feels good about this team."
Robinson Cano had an early three-run double and the Yankees got a strong effort from the bullpen, increasing their AL East lead to 2 1/2 games over Boston, which lost 6-2 at home to Baltimore.
New York bolted from the All-Star break with a stellar homestand that included seven games against last-place teams (Baltimore and Oakland) and three vs. AL Central-leading Detroit.
It was the most wins for the Yankees on a homestand since going 10-2 in June 2004. New York's .900 winning percentage was its best this decade on a homestand of at least nine games.
"Pretty awesome," reliever Brian Bruney said.
After winning for the 22nd time in 28 games, the Yankees hit the road for 19 of their next 26.
"We're right where we want to be," Hughes said. "We have to go on the road and expect to win. We want to go out there and win every single game. And really, with the guys in this room, we don't feel like there's any reason why we shouldn't."
Hughes provided more spotless relief - with help from Bruney and Rivera.
Brought in to protect a two-run lead in the seventh, Hughes struck out three of his first four batters before running into trouble in the eighth. The right-hander issued a one-out walk before Daric Barton's double put runners on second and third.
Bruney, who has often struggled since returning from the disabled list, got the ball in a pressure situation for the first time in a while. He came through, too, striking out Mark Ellis.
"I think it's a big stepping stone for him," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Brian is a guy who has no fear."
Girardi then went to Rivera, who retired pinch-hitter Nomar Garciaparra on a comebacker. That preserved Hughes' scoreless streak, up to 23 1-3 innings. He has not allowed a run in his past 16 appearances.
The 39-year-old Rivera fanned two in a perfect ninth, converting his 25th consecutive save and 29th in 30 chances this season. It was No. 511 of his career.
"His game hasn't changed much in a long while. Same guy, same results," Oakland manager Bob Geren said. "The way he's pitching now looks like he could go on forever."
Phil Coke (2-3) got the win despite giving up a go-ahead homer in the sixth to Ellis, who had three RBIs.
Oakland starter Dallas Braden (7-9) was done in by a career-high six walks. He allowed seven runs and 10 hits in 5 2-3 innings.
"Extremely poor," Braden said. "Embarrassing performance."
New York was clinging to a 4-3 lead in the sixth when Barton beat out a potential double-play ball, extending the inning. Coke then threw a low breaking ball that Ellis pulled into the left-field seats for his fourth homer, putting Oakland ahead.
That didn't last long.
Melky Cabrera drew a one-out walk in the bottom half, Cody Ransom hit his second double and Jeter punched a two-run single to center.
Braden picked off Jeter at first, but Johnny Damon doubled and scored on Mark Teixeira's single to make it 7-5.
"It's pretty much a blueprint on how to get your team to hate you," Braden said. "It was a total team effort to get us the lead and then I went out and gave it back. Then a total team effort to get us the lead back, then I went out and gave it away again."
Sergio Mitre made his second start for the Yankees in place of injured Chien-Ming Wang. Helped by three double-play grounders, Mitre was pulled with a 4-3 lead after a leadoff single in the sixth.
NOTES: Seven of New York's nine wins on the homestand were by two runs or fewer. ... Wang (strained right shoulder) is scheduled to see Dr. James Andrews early this week. ... Barton was removed for a pinch runner in the eighth because of a mild hamstring strain. He is day to day. ... Slumping 3B Alex Rodriguez was rested, part of his regular program following March hip surgery. Ransom started at third. ... The Yankees put speedy OF Brett Gardner (broken left thumb) on the 15-day DL and recalled reliever Jonathan Albaladejo from Triple-A. ... It was New York's 32nd comeback win this season.
- ** CONFIRMED **
AL
OAKLAND 5
NY YANKEES 7 FINAL
Jul 26 4:25 PM - AL
AT NY YANKEES - PITCHING CHANGE
OAK: CRAIG BRESLOW (3-4, 4.62) IN THE 6TH
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, J POSADA ON FIRST, M TEIXEIRA ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 5, NY YANKEES 7
DUE UP FOR NYYANKEES: H MATSUI (.254, 1-FOR-2, RBI)
Athletics 5, Yankees 7 Bot 6, 0 OutsJul 26 3:16 PM - AL
AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY DEREK JETER SCORED CODY RANSOM AND MELKY CABRERA
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, D JETER ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 5
NY YANKEES 6 BOTTOM,6TH
DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J DAMON (.278, 0-FOR-2, BB)
Athletics 5, Yankees 6 Bot 6, 0 OutsJul 26 3:07 PM - AL
AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY MARK ELLIS (4) TO LEFT CENTER WITH 2 OUT
IN THE 6TH OFF PHIL COKE SCORED DARIC BARTON.
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 5, NY YANKEES 4
DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: E PATTERSON (.083, 0-FOR-2)
Athletics 5, Yankees 4 Top 6, 0 OutsJul 26 2:57 PM - AL
AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY MARK ELLIS SCORED RYAN SWEENEY
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, D BARTON ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 3
NY YANKEES 4 TOP,4TH
DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: E PATTERSON (.091, 0-FOR-1)
Athletics 3, Yankees 4 Top 4, 0 OutsJul 26 2:16 PM - AL
AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY ROBINSON CANO SCORED NICK SWISHER, HIDEKI MATSUI
AND JOHNNY DAMON
SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, R CANO ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 2
NY YANKEES 4 BOTTOM,1ST
DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: M CABRERA (.285, 8 HR, 35 RBI)
Athletics 2, Yankees 4 Bot 1, 0 OutsJul 26 1:41 PM - AL
AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY HIDEKI MATSUI SCORED DEREK JETER
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, H MATSUI ON FIRST, J DAMON ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 2
NY YANKEES 1 BOTTOM,1ST
DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: N SWISHER (.234, 14 HR, 50 RBI)
Athletics 2, Yankees 1 Bot 1, 0 OutsJul 26 1:34 PM - AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
OAKLAND 2 2 4 0
NY YANKEES 0 0 0 (BOT 1)
CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - DALLAS BRADEN
NYY - SERGIO MITRE
DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: D JETER (.319, 11 HR, 41 RBI)
J DAMON (.279, 16 HR, 54 RBI)
M TEIXEIRA (.279, 25 HR, 71 RBI)
Athletics 2, Yankees 0 Bot 1, 0 OutsJul 26 1:23 PM
Related News
- Elephant Rumblings: Post-Christmas lull at full throttle Dec 26
- Top 100 Yankees: #41 Bobby Murcer Dec 26
- Today on Pinstripe Alley - 12/26/23 Dec 26
- NYY News: Yanks in on Yariel Dec 26
- Ask Pinstripe Alley: Yankees mailbag questions request Dec 25
- Today on Pinstripe Alley - 12/25/23 Dec 25
- NYY News: The bill is due Dec 25
- Yankees Social Media Spotlight: Rest in Peace Dec 24
- On family baseball memories and appreciating every game Dec 24
- Twas The Night Before Christmas... Dec 24
- Top 100 Yankees: #42 Brett Gardner Dec 24
- What’s on the Yankees’ Christmas wish lists? Dec 24