Thursday, June 23, 2005
Henn takes in New York
Bernie Williams had a big night on Tuesday, not only hitting the bases-loaded triple that brought the Yankees back from a 10-2 deficit and helped spark a 13-run eighth inning, but also boosting his name higher up in the Bombers' record books.
Williams went 2-for-4 with a double and a triple, driving in five runs in New York's 20-11 win. The two hits tied Williams with Yogi Berra for sixth place on the Yankees' all-time hit list (a first-inning single Wednesday gave Williams sole possession of sixth), while the five RBIs pushed him past Tony Lazzeri for seventh place on the team's RBI list.
"It only means that I've been here for a while," Williams said. "It's great, because those guys have been a great part of this franchise. I'm working my way up there, too."
Williams, who lost his starting job on May 2, has started the past 10 games in center field while Hideki Matsui has been hobbled by a sprained ankle. Entering Wednesday's contest, Williams was 9-for-27 on the homestand, lifting his average to .251.
"He's not what he was 10 years ago, physically, but in key situations, when you think of big games and big at-bats, he takes a back seat to no one," said manager Joe Torre. "He brings a lot of style and grace to an organization that really has had a great history."
Williams said after the game that the stunning comeback against Tampa Bay could serve as a turning point for the Yankees, but Torre wasn't ready to look that far ahead.
"Let's wait and see what happens with the season," the manager said. "I'm glad that guys are thinking that way as opposed to thinking it was an isolated game. You certainly want to have something to build on."
Randy rocked, but OK: Randy Johnson's three-inning outing on Tuesday was his shortest since the 2000 season, but both the left-hander and his manager say that the Big Unit isn't having any health issues.
"Nothing more than not feeling too good about the way he pitched," Torre said. "It's one of those things you can't put a finger on."
Johnson allowed seven runs in three innings, serving up three homers to the Devil Rays, including their first back-to-back shots of the season. Johnson left with a 7-1 deficit, but the Yankees overcame the shaky start.
"You go into the game expecting to win when he pitches, but not when he walks off the mound losing, 7-1," Torre said. "To be able to come back and win a ballgame when he pitches like that, it has to make you feel like you stole one."
Lefty lineup: With southpaw Scott Kazmir on the mound Wednesday, Torre sat both Tony Womack and Jason Giambi, giving Ruben Sierra the start in left field and Russ Johnson a game at first base.
The decision to start Sierra not only got him some at-bats, but also gave Torre an opportunity to rest Womack. Torre said he may do the same thing in the next few days with Gary Sheffield, using Sierra in right field for a game.
"Ruben's starting to swing the bat," Torre said. "We're stretched in our outfield a little. We don't have the depth we'd like to have, especially with Matsui in the DH role."
Matsui, who hasn't played the outfield since spraining his right ankle on June 12, has been lighting it up at DH, batting .485 with five home runs and 15 RBIs in 33 at-bats.
"I still think the weekend is the earliest we can consider," Torre said when asked about a return to the outfield for Matsui. "It's sore. I guess the good reason that it's sore is because he's been on base a lot."
On deck: The Yankees and Devil Rays close out their four-game series at the Stadium on Thursday, as Chien-Ming Wang takes on Mark Hendrickson.
Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/
Williams went 2-for-4 with a double and a triple, driving in five runs in New York's 20-11 win. The two hits tied Williams with Yogi Berra for sixth place on the Yankees' all-time hit list (a first-inning single Wednesday gave Williams sole possession of sixth), while the five RBIs pushed him past Tony Lazzeri for seventh place on the team's RBI list.
"It only means that I've been here for a while," Williams said. "It's great, because those guys have been a great part of this franchise. I'm working my way up there, too."
Williams, who lost his starting job on May 2, has started the past 10 games in center field while Hideki Matsui has been hobbled by a sprained ankle. Entering Wednesday's contest, Williams was 9-for-27 on the homestand, lifting his average to .251.
"He's not what he was 10 years ago, physically, but in key situations, when you think of big games and big at-bats, he takes a back seat to no one," said manager Joe Torre. "He brings a lot of style and grace to an organization that really has had a great history."
Williams said after the game that the stunning comeback against Tampa Bay could serve as a turning point for the Yankees, but Torre wasn't ready to look that far ahead.
"Let's wait and see what happens with the season," the manager said. "I'm glad that guys are thinking that way as opposed to thinking it was an isolated game. You certainly want to have something to build on."
Randy rocked, but OK: Randy Johnson's three-inning outing on Tuesday was his shortest since the 2000 season, but both the left-hander and his manager say that the Big Unit isn't having any health issues.
"Nothing more than not feeling too good about the way he pitched," Torre said. "It's one of those things you can't put a finger on."
Johnson allowed seven runs in three innings, serving up three homers to the Devil Rays, including their first back-to-back shots of the season. Johnson left with a 7-1 deficit, but the Yankees overcame the shaky start.
"You go into the game expecting to win when he pitches, but not when he walks off the mound losing, 7-1," Torre said. "To be able to come back and win a ballgame when he pitches like that, it has to make you feel like you stole one."
Lefty lineup: With southpaw Scott Kazmir on the mound Wednesday, Torre sat both Tony Womack and Jason Giambi, giving Ruben Sierra the start in left field and Russ Johnson a game at first base.
The decision to start Sierra not only got him some at-bats, but also gave Torre an opportunity to rest Womack. Torre said he may do the same thing in the next few days with Gary Sheffield, using Sierra in right field for a game.
"Ruben's starting to swing the bat," Torre said. "We're stretched in our outfield a little. We don't have the depth we'd like to have, especially with Matsui in the DH role."
Matsui, who hasn't played the outfield since spraining his right ankle on June 12, has been lighting it up at DH, batting .485 with five home runs and 15 RBIs in 33 at-bats.
"I still think the weekend is the earliest we can consider," Torre said when asked about a return to the outfield for Matsui. "It's sore. I guess the good reason that it's sore is because he's been on base a lot."
On deck: The Yankees and Devil Rays close out their four-game series at the Stadium on Thursday, as Chien-Ming Wang takes on Mark Hendrickson.
Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/
