Yankees 8 Red Sox 7: Stunning Comeback Silences Fenway

After years of watching baseball, it never ceases to amaze me how quickly a game and emotions can turn. Last night’s game was another reminder. The Yankees defeated Boston by an 8-7 score at Fenway Park due to a stunning 6 run 8th inning that wiped out a 7-2 hole. New York’s attack was like lightning. All 6 runs were scored before the team recorded an out in the inning against Hideki Okajima and Jonathan Papelbon.

Jason Giambi ignited the rally with a leadoff homer against Okajima. Jason was one of the posterboys for perspectives changing in a hurry. He was set to go down as one of the goats and to be blasted in this space despite the pair of walks he drew at the plate. Giambi’s play in the field was atrocious. He cost the team 3 combined runs by failing to field a routine grounder and dropping a throw by Bobby Abreu that would have resulted in a 9-3 double play. Both gaffes extended innings. His teammates picked him up, though, and made sure that everybody would remember what he did with the bat to help turn the tide. Even when Robinson Cano followed with another home to make the score 7-4, it was tough to believe the Yankees could come back. Okajima clearly had nothing. Anybody could see that after he gave up the first pair of homers to lefties in his Major League career. Still, Boston had the game well in hand. Nobody was on base, and Okajima essentially had a blank slate.

Melky Cabrera was up next. Even with an outfield assist on the night to nail David Ortiz at the plate on a horrible send by Boston’s third base coach, Melky’s most memorable moment had come on a baserunning gaffe. He had grounded into a double play in the 4th with men on the corners, 1 out, and his team trailing 2-1. Even worse was that he would have beaten the throw to first and let the tying run score had he run through the bag. However, he inexplicably slid feet first, slowing himself down. Somebody needs to teach Melky that slides slow the runner down. They are only good to make when one is trying to avoid a tag or disrupt somebody throwing after a force at second. When one is going to first base, one needs to run through it. However, nobody will remember because of what transpired after he worked a walk.

Johnny Damon was one of the few Yankees having a good night. He had a pair of infield hits and an RBI. It was going to be a footnote, though. Nobody would care about the leadoff hitter’s good game. The team suffering a critical loss was most important. Damon knocked Okajima out of the game with a double to left. Men were on second and third with no outs. The score was still 7-4, and Jonathan Papelbon was coming into the game.

Derek Jeter stepped up to the plate. Perhaps nobody stood out as a bigger goat entering the at bat. Derek had made an error in the 1st. He bobbled a ball later in the game, costing his team a double play. He failed to hold his tag as Jacoby Ellsbury overslid second base in the 4th inning, keeping the door open for Boston to break the game open with 3 runs. He also struck out on a full count pitch out of the zone with the bases loaded to end the 5th and Boston in front 5-2. Derek was the game’s key hitter. If Papelbon could keep both runners on base from scoring, he would have an easy 9th inning with a multi-run lead. Jeter made sure that would not happen right off the bat by serving a 2 run single into right. The Yankees maintained their momentum against one of the game’s best relievers. Bobby Abreu fed off this with a game-tying triple, and Alex Rodriguez singled him home for a stunning 8-7 lead.

Andy Pettitte’s rough night instantly became a footnote. The lefty had no command, only lasting 4 innings while giving up 5 runs. The Red Sox made him work all night. They grinded him by taking pitch after pitch outside the strike zone. When a pitcher is off, he needs some luck. Unfortunately for Andy, he could not have had worse luck. Jeter and Giambi were awful behind him defensively. He was being squeezed at the plate as well. Boston also had some bloop hits and another that was deflected by Pettitte’s reflexes away from defenders. Now nobody cares about Andy showing that he is in fact human in a big game just how people now view Brian Bruney’s 1.1 shutout innings for a win as critical when they would have viewed it as meaningless. Luis Vizcaino and Mariano Rivera would have never gotten the chance to combine for 2 shutout innings without the comeback either to close out the game.

This was more than just a win. It was a sign that this team can realistically win a championship this season. The Yankees can carry this with them for the rest of the year. They can call on this experience when things look bleak in October. If they can overcome a 5 run deficit off a pair of the game’s best relievers without recording an out, they will have confidence in any situation. This was a complete team effort. Guys were picking others up. Jeter, Giambi, and Cabrera helped avenge themselves, but if the other guys did not follow suit, none of it would have mattered. Those three would have been goats. Looking into that dugout, one could see guys who desperately wanted each other to succeed and had fun playing together. They were playing not only for themselves but they had that extra edge because they wanted to help their teammates succeed. Games like these build that camaraderie. This sent a message that even if the Red Sox win the division, it is a one year loan. It also sent a message that the Yankees are not just a collection of talent unlike in years past. This is an elite team.

The Yanks now will look to build on this by sending Chien-Ming Wang to the mound against Boston’s ace, Josh Beckett. The Yanks have a golden opportunity to send Boston into a spiral of doubt. Last night was a devastating loss for the Sox, regardless of what the standings suggest. If that game was not important, Terry Francona would have never rushed Papelbon into the game for a 6 out save. The Red Sox were desperate for a win, and they failed to get one. Losing to the Yanks was a dagger. Wang can help stick that dagger a little bit deeper.