
Looking back at today's game, there seem to be many, many points that could've changed the outcome. The first came in the top of the first when Derek Jeter, on second base courtesy of a walk and a balk, inexplicably tried to steal third base with no outs and was thrown out. Joe Girardi argued and was tossed, but the question remained: why try to steal there? With an out not yet recorded in the game, were the Yankees really so desperate for a run that they thought they needed to steal third base, thus violating the axiom, "Never make the first or third out at third base"? That out seemed to relieve Blue Jays starter Ricky Romero of some anxiety, for after Nick Swisher (who was at the plate when Jeter went) singled, he then gave up only 4 hits and a walk in the next 4.2 innings, allowing only one run on a solo home run to new (but not that new) Yankee Eric Hinske in his first game in pinstripes.
For the Yankees, Andy Pettitte labored after a breezy first inning. He gave up a walk and two singles in the second to give up the first run of the game, and then surrendered three more when Alex Rios homered with Vernon Wells and Aaron Hill on base in the third. After that, Pettitte continued to battle, albeit with better results. He did managed back-to-back 1-2-3 innings in the fourth and fifth, but walked two batters in the sixth before ending the frame without allowing another run. After six, it was 4-1 Blue Jays and Pettitte went out for the seventh. He allowed a homer to John McDonald to begin the seventh, making it 5-1, and a walk to Marco Scutaro before ceding to Brian Bruney. Of course, Bruney didn't have it either, giving up a pair of one-out doubled to give the Blue Jays a 7-1 lead. He couldn't escape the seventh either, and Dave Robertson (who pitched a scoreless eighth as well) was needed to finally end the frame. With Bruney's struggles, Pettitte ended up allowing 6 ER in 6 IP on 5 hits and 5 BB.
Bruney's failure to close out the seventh ended up being very pivotal as the Yankees tried to rally, for the thing about the Yankee hitters is that they never say die. Down by six, the bats sprang to life against a tiring Ricky Romero. Romero loaded the bases with two singles (one to Hinske for his second hit in pinstripes) and a walk, setting the table for Nick Swisher, who was already 2 for 2 on the day. Romero was pulled in favor of Brandon League, who immediately surrendered a 2-run single to Nick Swisher. Yet another big moment was upon the Yankees as, down by three, their three and four hitters with both up. But League suddenly was sharp, striking out Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez back-to-back on six pitches to escape the jam.
The Yanks weren't done, though. Jeremy Accardo began the eighth and following a Robinson Cano double, he plunked two straight batters to load the bases with two outs. Derek Jeter managed to work a walk, pushing in another run, and brining up Nick Swisher, the day's hero so far. Here was yet another potential turning point. Unfortunately, Swish uncharacteristic hacked at the first pitch, flying out to Vernon Wells to leave the bases loaded.
The ninth inning again saw the Yankees rally. A-Rod and Teixeira quickly went down for their last at-bats of the day (combined, they went 1 for 9). But Jorge Posada singled and Cano doubled to put two runners in scoring position. Pinch hitter Hideki Matsui came in and looped a single into centerfield to make it a one-run game. Suddenly, Eric Hinske, already with two hits on the day, came to the plate as the go-ahead run. Here was a turning point if there ever was one. But Hinske seemed a bit over eager, fouling off a low 3-1 pitch before swinging and missing at a high and away (hanging) curveball to end the game. It probably would've been a more frustrating game had the Yanks not already won the first three, but the Yanks have been doing well of late, and they can't win them all. Instead, they'll go to Minnesota next, where they face a team against whom they're 4-0.
(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)