Players of the Day for Friday, October 16, 2009
NY Yankees 4 LA Angels 1
C.C. Sabathia was brilliant in the opening game of the ALCS, working over the Angels' batters in less-than-ideal chilly temperatures at Yankee Stadium Friday night. Limiting the punchless and error-prone Angels to 4 hits and 1 measly earned run over 8 spectacular innings, Sabathia was everything a money pitcher could want to be: cool, confident, in control, dominant, and nearly impossible to figure out.
The big man had everything working his way, especially having the lead, which the Yankees got when Alex Rodriguez drove in Derek Jeter with one out in the first inning on a sac fly, and the Angels infielders botched a sure third out when Chome Figgins and Erick Aybar played "you got, no, I got it," allowing Hideki Matsui's high pop up to fall harmlessly between them as Johnny Damon scampered home from second base with run number two.
Sabathia, who struck out 7 and issued just one free pass, had the Angels in his pocket all night. Only two Angels reached second base, and just one, Vlaidimir Guerrero, made it to third. He scored after doubling with one out in the 4th inning, moving to third on Juan Rivera's ground out and trotted home on Kendry Morales' two-out single, but that was all the offense the Angels could muster.
As Sabathia was cruising, the Yankees added single runs in the 5th and 6th innings. After setting down the side in order in the 8th, Sabathia, who looked as though he could have easily finished the game, relinquished the mound to Mr. Sandman, Mariano Rivera, who issued one walk, but otherwise recorded the final three outs without much fuss.
The Angels committed three errors in the game, which was unusual for them, a very solid fielding team, but the Yankees looked every bit as good as they had all season, taking a 1-0 lead in the series into Saturday, when A.J. Burnett will go up the hill against the Angels' Joe Saunders. Game time is set for 7:57 pm in the Bronx, but the weather is supposed to deteriorate with cold winds and rain in the forecast.
LA Dodgers 2 Philadelphia Phillies 1
The Dodgers got a gift in game 2 of their NLDS series with the Cardinals and were handed another one in game 2 of the NLCS. After Pedro Martinez dazzled the Dodgers on 2 hits over 7 innings, leaving with a 1-0 lead, the Phillie bullpen could not get out of the 8th inning before surrendering 2 runs, the lead and the game.
The 8th frame debacle was highlighted by a Chase Utley throwing error to first on a sure double-play ball that would have left Juan Pierre on third base with two outs and the lead still intact. Instead, Pierre trotted home with the game-tying run and Russell Martin, who had grounded to short and forced out Ronnie Belliard, stood at first with just one out. After Jim Thome singled Martin over to third, Rafael Furcal walked, loading the bases, but Matt kemp struck out swinging at a 3-2 pitch. J.A. Happ, the 4th Phillies pitcher of the inning, walked Andre Ethier, forcing in Russell with the game winner.
Chad Durbin, the 5th pitcher of the inning, got Manny Ramirez to pop out on one pitch with the bases still loaded to end the threat, but by then, the Dodgers had done enough damage and their relievers mopped up the final 3 outs in the Phillies' half of the 9th.
Overlooked in all of the 8th inning frenzy, was the fact that the Dodgers were only in a position to win thanks to
Vicente Padilla, who nearly matched Martinez pitch-for-pitch, giving up a solo homer to - who else - Ryan Howard, and limiting Philadelphia to just the one run on 4 hits over seven superb innings. It was Padilla's second straight strong outing, fanning 7 and walking just one. Padilla pitched the NLDS clincher on Sunday in St. Louis, beating the Cardinals with 7 innings of scoreless ball.
Padilla was acquired from the Texas Rangers off waivers in August and is now 5-0 with the Dodgers. He did not get a decision, though he certainly earned one, as did Martinez.
Game 3 is set for 8:07 pm Sunday night in Philadelphia, Hideki Kuroda starts for the Dodgers against Philly's ace, Cliff Lee.
American League
Alex Rodriguez had only one hit in the Yankees' 5-1 victory over Toronto, but it was a momentous one.
With two outs in the bottom of the first, Rodriguez lifted a Shawn Marcum fast ball high to dead center field, over the wall and into Monument Park, his 17th home run of the season and 600th of his career, making him the youngest player to ever hit 600 homers, joining six others who have reached the milestone.
A-Rod had struggled after hitting number 599. He went two weeks and 46 at-bats before belting another big one, but it came three years to the day that he hit #500, also in the first inning, and also in Yankee Stadium, but in the old stadium, which was replaced following the 2008 season.
Rodriguez joins the illustrious group of Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Ken Griffy Jr. and Sammy Sosa as the only players in major league history to have hit 600 home runs. Next up for A-Rod will be passing Sosa (609) and Griffey (630) on his way to Mays (660) and the 700-club, of Ruth (714), Aaron (755) and Bonds (762).
Leading all active players, Rodriguez need not worry about being passed along the way. Jim Thome is next with 577, but he is 39 years old and may have only another year left to play. Manny Ramirez, 38, follows him with 554, but then the list becomes very slim. Chipper Jones has 435 and may retire after this season. Vladimir Guerrero should continue to be productive for the next three to four years, as he is just 35, and has 428.
The most feared hitter in the group has got to be 30-year-old Albert Pujols, In his 10th major league season, Pujols has 27 on the year and 393 lifetime, producing at a rate of roughly 40 per year, a pace that would put him at 600 at the age of 35, some time around 2015. By then, Rodriguez would be 40 and likely over the 700 mark.
National League
The LA Dodgers are clinging to 4th place in the NL West, 7 games behind the division leading-padres, but they've been getting exceptional pitching over the past two weeks. Their staff has held the opposition to two runs or less in 9 of their last 14 games, winning 7 of those contests.
The most recent stellar performance was recorded by Vicente Padilla, who carried a no-hitter into the 7th inning and eventually finished with a complete game, 9-0, whitewash of San Diego.
Padilla allowed back-to-back singles with one out in the 7th frame, to Ryan Ludwick and Chase Headley, but got out of the inning by inducing a ground ball double play from catcher Yorvit Torrealba.
Padilla walked two but fanned nine, throwing 77 of 105 pitches for strikes, improving his record to 5-3 on the year.
The LA win was the second straight over San Diego after losing the opener of their four-game set. San Francisco remained within one game of the Padres, losing 6-1 at Colorado.
