Final
Rodriguez backs Wright as Yankees top Indians
Apr 18, 2007 - 5:48 AM BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- While rookie Chase Wright was successful in his first appearance on a major league mound, it was the same old story for red-hot Alex Rodriguez.Battling dank and blustery conditions, Wright tossed five effective innings and Rodriguez continued his torrid April with three more RBI as the Yankees posted an 10-3 victory over the Cleveland Indians.
Jorge Posada belted his 200th career homer for New York, which bounced back from a disappointing loss at Oakland on Sunday. Legendary closer Mariano Rivera allowed a walk-off three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth.
But on Wednesday, Rodriguez put the game out of reach early, blasting a soaring two-run homer off Jake Westbrook in the second inning which careened off the protective net just short of New York's bullpen in left-center field.
"I feel like I am in a good place right now," Rodriguez said. "I have felt like that for about seven weeks going back to Tampa (spring training). You have periods where you do well, but I don't know whether it has ever been the first two weeks of April."
The star third baseman, who leads the majors with eight homers and 21 RBI, highlighted a six-run frame. After Jason Giambi singled, Posada followed with a two-run shot of his own to make it 8-1.
"I'm really happy I got (200th homer) out of the way," Posada said. "Sometimes, you're looking too hard to get it. I got a fastball out and over the plate and drove it."
The Yankees made the lead stand up thanks to Wright (1-0), who allowed three runs, five hits and three walks while striking out three in his major league debut.
"I think I showed I can get these hitters out and compete at this level," Wright said. "I came here (Monday) when nobody was (at Yankee Stadium) and just kind of looked around to be more comfortable here.
"There was a tarp over the mound, but I stood out there anyway. It was amazing. I had to make sure I kept my eyes down on Jorge's mitt. I have to work on fastball command and first-pitch strikes. I have some work to do."
The 24-year-old lefthander was called up from Class AA Trenton on Tuesday, two days after the Yankees placed veteran starters Mike Mussina (left hamstring) and Carl Pavano (right forearm) on the disabled list.
"I think he did a good job of bearing down and not giving in to the fight," New York coach Joe Torre said. "I certainly like what we saw tonight. Even in the first inning with the 3-2 pitch to (Grady) Sizemore, it was close. He was around the plate and continued to make his pitches, even though he wasn't throwing strikes.
"He wasn't afraid to throw the off-speed pitches, whether it be the curveball or the changeup. I don't think he was cold. He probably was the only one not cold. That would be my guess. I think he had that blood rushing."
Wright's teammates were impressed.
"He has good command. We saw it in the spring," Posada said. "He keeps the changeup down and has great arm speed on it. He sells it well."
"It was exciting. (Wright) had a lot of energy," Rodriguez said. "He was surprisingly relaxed before the game, which is unusual for a young pitcher. It's nice to give a young pitcher a three- or four-run cushion. Once we got ahead, he got a lot of swings and misses and poor swings. The key for him was getting ahead and attacking hitters."
Westbrook (0-2) was completely ineffective, yielding eight runs, eight hits, two walks and three homers in 1 2/3 innings for the Indians. The righthander has allowed 18 runs - 17 earned - and 20 hits in 12 2/3 frames this season.
"I don't think there's anything to worry about," Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said. "I know Jake is disappointed. I think today he was just missing early. The balls were just going off the plate then he came back in the middle.
"He was up a little bit, and they got to him. In the (second) inning, he got two outs with no runs in, but he wasn't able to get through it. It was one of those days."
- AL
FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CLEVELAND 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 5 3
NY YANKEES 2 6 0 0 0 0 2 0 x 10 10 0 (FINAL)
BATTERIES: CLE - JAKE WESTBROOK, JASON DAVIS (2ND), FERNANDO CABRERA (5TH),
ROBERTO HERNANDEZ (7TH), TOM MASTNY (8TH) AND VICTOR MARTINEZ
NYY - CHASE WRIGHT, BRIAN BRUNEY (6TH
Apr 17 10:20 PM - AL
AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
FIELDER'S CHOICE BY JOHNNY DAMON SCORED ROBINSON CANO.
ERROR BY JOSH BARFIELD ALLOWED MELKY CABRERA TO SCORE.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, J DAMON ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 3
NY YANKEES 10 BOTTOM, 7TH
DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: D JETER (.314, 1-FOR-4)
Apr 17 10:00 PM - AL
AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
FIELDER'S CHOICE BY JOHNNY DAMON SCORED ROBINSON CANO.
ERROR BY JOSH BARFIELD ALLOWED MELKY CABRERA TO SCORE.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, J DAMON ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 3
NY YANKEES 10 BOTTOM, 7TH
DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: D JETER (.314, 1-FOR-4)
Guardians vs. YankeesApr 17 10:00 PM - AL
AT NY YANKEES - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: R Hernandez relieved F Cabrera.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 3
NY YANKEES 8 BOTTOM, 7TH
DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J Posada (.372, 1-FOR-2, HR, 3 RBI)
Apr 17 9:42 PM - AL
AT NY YANKEES - PITCHING CHANGE
CLE: ROBERTO HERNANDEZ (0-1, 9.00) STARTING THE 7TH
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 3, NY YANKEES 8
DUE UP FOR NYYANKEES: J POSADA (.372, 1-FOR-2, HR, 3 RBI)
Apr 17 9:42 PM - AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CLEVELAND 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 3 5 1
NY YANKEES 2 6 0 0 0 0 8 10 0 (BOT 7)
CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - FERNANDO CABRERA
NYY - MIKE MYERS
DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J POSADA (.372, 1-FOR-2, SF, HR, 3 RBI)
R CANO (.292, 0-FOR-3)
M CABRERA (.178, 0-FOR-3)
Apr 17 9:40 PM - AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CLEVELAND 1 0 1 1 3 4 1
NY YANKEES 2 6 0 0 8 9 0 (TOP 5)
CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - JASON DAVIS
NYY - CHASE WRIGHT
DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: J MICHAELS (.357, 0-FOR-1, BB)
T HAFNER (.229, 1-FOR-2, HR, RBI)
V MARTINEZ (.429, 0-FOR-2, RBI)
Apr 17 8:55 PM - AL
AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY ANDY MARTE SCORED CASEY BLAKE.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A MARTE ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 3
NY YANKEES 8 TOP, 4TH
DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: G SIZEMORE (.313, 0-FOR-1, BB)
Guardians vs. YankeesApr 17 8:41 PM - AL
AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY TRAVIS HAFNER (2) TO RIGHT WITH 1 OUT IN
THE 3RD OFF CHASE WRIGHT.
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 2, NY YANKEES 8
DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: V MARTINEZ (.462, 0-FOR-1, RBI)
Guardians vs. YankeesApr 17 8:21 PM - AL
AT NY YANKEES - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Davis relieved J Westbrook.
SITUATION: 6 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 1
NY YANKEES 8 BOTTOM, 2ND
DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: R Cano (.304, 0-FOR-1)
Apr 17 8:09 PM - AL
AT NY YANKEES - PITCHING CHANGE
CLE: JASON DAVIS (0-0, 3.37) IN THE 2ND
SITUATION: 6 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 1, NY YANKEES 8
DUE UP FOR NYYANKEES: R CANO (.304, 0-FOR-1)
Apr 17 8:09 PM - AL
AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY JORGE POSADA (2) TO RIGHT WITH 2 OUT IN
THE 2ND OFF JAKE WESTBROOK SCORED JASON GIAMBI.
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 1, NY YANKEES 8
DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: R CANO (.304, 0-FOR-1)
Apr 17 8:08 PM - AL
AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY JORGE POSADA (2) TO RIGHT WITH 2 OUT IN
THE 2ND OFF JAKE WESTBROOK SCORED JASON GIAMBI.
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 1, NY YANKEES 8
DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: R CANO (.304, 0-FOR-1)
Guardians vs. YankeesApr 17 8:08 PM - AL
AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY ALEX RODRIGUEZ (8) TO LEFT WITH 2 OUT
IN THE 2ND OFF JAKE WESTBROOK SCORED BOBBY ABREU.
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 1, NY YANKEES 6
DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J GIAMBI (.205, 0-FOR-0, BB)
Apr 17 8:04 PM - AL
AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY ALEX RODRIGUEZ (8) TO LEFT WITH 2 OUT
IN THE 2ND OFF JAKE WESTBROOK SCORED BOBBY ABREU.
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 1, NY YANKEES 6
DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J GIAMBI (.205, 0-FOR-0, BB)
Guardians vs. YankeesApr 17 8:04 PM - AL
AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY BOBBY ABREU SCORED JOHNNY DAMON.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, B ABREU ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 1
NY YANKEES 4 BOTTOM, 2ND
DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: A RODRIGUEZ (.386, 1-FOR-1, RBI)
Apr 17 8:00 PM - AL
AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY BOBBY ABREU SCORED JOHNNY DAMON.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, B ABREU ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 1
NY YANKEES 4 BOTTOM, 2ND
DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: A RODRIGUEZ (.386, 1-FOR-1, RBI)
Guardians vs. YankeesApr 17 8:00 PM - AL
AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY DOUG MIENTKIEWICZ (1) TO RIGHT WITH 1 OUT
IN THE 2ND OFF JAKE WESTBROOK.
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 1, NY YANKEES 3
DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J DAMON (.290, 0-FOR-0, BB)
Apr 17 7:54 PM - AL
AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY DOUG MIENTKIEWICZ (1) TO RIGHT WITH 1 OUT
IN THE 2ND OFF JAKE WESTBROOK.
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 1, NY YANKEES 3
DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J DAMON (.290, 0-FOR-0, BB)
Guardians vs. YankeesApr 17 7:54 PM - AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CLEVELAND 1 0 1 1 0
NY YANKEES 2 2 2 0 (BOT 2)
CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - JAKE WESTBROOK
NYY - CHASE WRIGHT
DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: M CABRERA (.190, 0 HR, 4 RBI)
D MIENTKIEWICZ (.138, 0 HR, 1 RBI)
J DAMON (.290,
Apr 17 7:49 PM - AL
AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY JORGE POSADA SCORED DEREK JETER.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, J GIAMBI ON FIRST, A RODRIGUEZ ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 1
NY YANKEES 2 BOTTOM, 1ST
DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: R CANO (.311, 0 HR, 5 RBI)
Guardians vs. YankeesApr 17 7:37 PM - AL
AT NY YANKEES - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY ALEX RODRIGUEZ SCORED JOHNNY DAMON.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A RODRIGUEZ ON FIRST, D JETER ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 1
NY YANKEES 1 BOTTOM, 1ST
DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J GIAMBI (.205, 2 HR, 8 RBI)
Guardians vs. YankeesApr 17 7:30 PM - AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CLEVELAND 1 1 0 0
NY YANKEES 0 0 0 (BOT 1)
CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - JAKE WESTBROOK
NYY - CHASE WRIGHT
DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J DAMON (.290, 1 HR, 3 RBI)
D JETER (.319, 0 HR, 3 RBI)
B ABREU (.261, 1 HR, 8 RBI)
Guardians vs. YankeesApr 17 7:20 PM
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