So Close!

Tonight's game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia was a very good pitching duel between Colorado's Jorge De La Rosa and the Phillies' Cole Hamels.  The game, unfortunately, turned on a wild pitch from De La Rosa in the 8th inning that moved 2B Wilson Valdez to third base, where SS Jimmy Rollins drove him in with a sacrifice fly to right field.  That drove in the final run in a 2-1 loss for the Rockies.  Not much to share here, except that Jason Giambi has done very little, make that, he's done nothing this season to justify his spot on the roster.  If he's so good in the clubhouse, make room for him as a coach, and bring up either Charlie Blackmon or Josh Fields from Colorado Springs.  Somebody who can possibly provide a bat off the bench that can put the ball in play in crucial late-game situations.

I switched channels from the Rockies-Phillies game when it was over, to the Yankees game in progress against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yard, just in time to see Mariano Rivera blow a save in the 9th inning.  He allowed two hits and a sacrifice fly, after Bartolo Colon threw eight innings of 3-hit, shutout ball at the O's.

The game is now going to the 12th inning, as the Orioles left the bases loaded in the bottom of the 11th as Yankee reliever Boone Logan came into the game with the bases loaded and only one out.  He struck out 1B Luke Scott and retired C Matt Wieters on a flyout to right.

Now, on to the 13th inning, score still tied at 1-1.  Orioles left the bases loaded again in the 12th, as the Yankees keep dodging bullets.  In the top of the 13th, Yankees get runners on first and third, no outs, and don't score.  When you're scuffling, key hits don't happen.  Orioles retired in the bottom of the inning.  On to the 14th inning.  A combined 26 runners left on base so far. 

Both Yankees and Orioles fail to score in the 14th. On to the 6th inning of bonus baseball.

Robinson Cano drives in Mark Teixeira with a double to the right-centerfield gap and A-Rod scores as RF Nick Markakis bobbles the ball.  The very next batter Dickerson is beaned by a 91 mph fastball from Oriole pitcher Mike Gonzalez.  He cracked the forehead portion of the batting helmet, as Dickerson lay on the ground for a scary few minutes.  He wanted to stay in the game, after he got new headgear, but manager Joe Girardi took him out as a safety precaution.  The home plate umpire immediately ejected Gozalez, the last pitcher in the Orioles' bullpen.  Tomorrow's starter, Jeremy Guthrie had to enter the game, and surrendered a sacrifice fly to Brett Gardner, making the score Yankees 4, Orioles 1.  On to the bottom of the 15th.  Let's see if rookie pitcher Hector Noesi can hold on for his first win in the major leagues.

Crap, Noesi is doing his best Rafael Betancourt impression, as he gives up a single to Markakis, walks Brandon Snyder, a line-drive out to Luke Scott, and a weird single by Matt Wieters.  Wieters grounded a base-hit towards right field, but it clanked runner Snyder on the leg.  The rule is, the runner is out on the interference rule, Wieters is granted a single, all other runners cannot advance.  J.J. Hardy flies out to right field to end a wacky game.  Yankees win, thuhhhhhh Yankees win!

Hopefully, the Rockies can salvage a split of the two-game series with the Phillies tomorrow.  Jhoulis Chacin should out-duel Joe Blanton.  Stay tuned.....