Friday, July 21, 2006
Johnson, Yanks fall in finale
07/19/2006
NEW YORK -- In the top of the eighth inning, pitching coach Ron Guidry came to the top of the dugout steps and began waving a white towel to get the attention of someone in the bullpen.
The bullpen phone was off the hook and 42-year-old Randy Johnson was well over the 100-pitch count.
But the technical difficulties weren't what allowed Johnson to rack up 129 pitches on Wednesday against the Mariners -- his highest count since 2002.
It was Johnson's desire to stay in the game until he won it.
Unfortunately for Johnson and the Yankees, that didn't happen. They fell, 3-2, to Seattle in the series finale when Johnson allowed a game-winning sacrifice fly later in the eighth. But Johnson still wasn't finished even after falling behind.
He had thrown 123 pitches when Joe Torre walked to the hill following the sacrifice fly. Torre only had one question: "Are you all right?"
"When I was halfway to the mound I saw the eyes and I knew he was in there," Torre said. "He had pitched his heart out to that point. I just wanted to make sure he had something left in the tank."
Even surprising to catcher Kelly Stinnett, Johnson did. After determining Johnson was fine to still pitch, the only issue was who he'd pitch to. Richie Sexson, who earlier hit a solo homer off Johnson, was due next. Johnson didn't budge, blowing a high fastball past the Mariners slugger to end the inning and his day.
Johnson was hit with the loss, the Yankees' first since the All-Star break and Johnson's eighth of the season. But the lefty's tenacity was "vintage" according to Torre.
Johnson finished having allowed three runs, two of which were earned, in eight full innings. He also struck out a season-high 11 batters while only walking one.
"It seemed like he was stronger in the last inning than he was earlier in the game," Stinnett said. "So maybe it was good to stretch him out a little bit."
Seattle starter Gil Meche was just as impressive, tossing a perfect game through four innings. But unlike Johnson, Meche waned as the game went on. Meche was cruising until the sixth when he allowed the Yankees' first run on a Derek Jeter RBI single. He threw 36 pitches in the inning.
The Yankees tied the game in the seventh when Andy Phillips doubled to right-center field, bringing Alex Rodriguez home from first on a close play at the plate.
Mariners catcher Rene Rivera leapt up to argue the call, turning his back to the field, so Andy Phillips broke for third base. He reached without a throw but third base umpire Andy Fletcher said Phillips had to return to second base because Fletcher had called time before Phillips left the bag.
In something not seen often in baseball, both managers came out to argue different plays at the same time. Neither ruling was changed, leaving the score tied and Phillips on second with no outs.
Pinch-hitter Miguel Cario's sacrifice bunt moved Phillips to third with one out. But Seattle brought in reliever Mark Lowe, who struck out Bernie Williams and got a long flyout by Stinnett to end the inning.
"That was the most ridiculous call I've ever seen," Rodriguez said. "It changes the whole scenario. It's a big momentum change, too. You put a lot of pressure on Bernie Williams to get that run in against a kid that's very capable. It's just an awful call."
Like the Yankees did a night before when they benefited from a not-so-close call at first base, the Mariners capitalized. Ichiro led off by tapping a ball in front of home plate, but he beat Stinnett's throw. Ichiro then stole second and advanced to third on the play due to a throwing error by Stinnett. Raul Ibanez drove in the eventual game-winner with his sacrifice fly.
Johnson didn't speak with print reporters after the game, but his coach and teammates spoke for him.
Asked if Wednesday's Johnson reminded him of the one he played with in Seattle, Rodriguez confidently said, "No." That was 10 years ago, he said, and things have changed.
But after Wednesday's game there's no question Johnson's competitive fire to stay in the game until he's on top is still there -- even when it doesn't work out that way.
Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/
NEW YORK -- In the top of the eighth inning, pitching coach Ron Guidry came to the top of the dugout steps and began waving a white towel to get the attention of someone in the bullpen.
The bullpen phone was off the hook and 42-year-old Randy Johnson was well over the 100-pitch count.
But the technical difficulties weren't what allowed Johnson to rack up 129 pitches on Wednesday against the Mariners -- his highest count since 2002.
It was Johnson's desire to stay in the game until he won it.
Unfortunately for Johnson and the Yankees, that didn't happen. They fell, 3-2, to Seattle in the series finale when Johnson allowed a game-winning sacrifice fly later in the eighth. But Johnson still wasn't finished even after falling behind.
He had thrown 123 pitches when Joe Torre walked to the hill following the sacrifice fly. Torre only had one question: "Are you all right?"
"When I was halfway to the mound I saw the eyes and I knew he was in there," Torre said. "He had pitched his heart out to that point. I just wanted to make sure he had something left in the tank."
Even surprising to catcher Kelly Stinnett, Johnson did. After determining Johnson was fine to still pitch, the only issue was who he'd pitch to. Richie Sexson, who earlier hit a solo homer off Johnson, was due next. Johnson didn't budge, blowing a high fastball past the Mariners slugger to end the inning and his day.
Johnson was hit with the loss, the Yankees' first since the All-Star break and Johnson's eighth of the season. But the lefty's tenacity was "vintage" according to Torre.
Johnson finished having allowed three runs, two of which were earned, in eight full innings. He also struck out a season-high 11 batters while only walking one.
"It seemed like he was stronger in the last inning than he was earlier in the game," Stinnett said. "So maybe it was good to stretch him out a little bit."
Seattle starter Gil Meche was just as impressive, tossing a perfect game through four innings. But unlike Johnson, Meche waned as the game went on. Meche was cruising until the sixth when he allowed the Yankees' first run on a Derek Jeter RBI single. He threw 36 pitches in the inning.
The Yankees tied the game in the seventh when Andy Phillips doubled to right-center field, bringing Alex Rodriguez home from first on a close play at the plate.
Mariners catcher Rene Rivera leapt up to argue the call, turning his back to the field, so Andy Phillips broke for third base. He reached without a throw but third base umpire Andy Fletcher said Phillips had to return to second base because Fletcher had called time before Phillips left the bag.
In something not seen often in baseball, both managers came out to argue different plays at the same time. Neither ruling was changed, leaving the score tied and Phillips on second with no outs.
Pinch-hitter Miguel Cario's sacrifice bunt moved Phillips to third with one out. But Seattle brought in reliever Mark Lowe, who struck out Bernie Williams and got a long flyout by Stinnett to end the inning.
"That was the most ridiculous call I've ever seen," Rodriguez said. "It changes the whole scenario. It's a big momentum change, too. You put a lot of pressure on Bernie Williams to get that run in against a kid that's very capable. It's just an awful call."
Like the Yankees did a night before when they benefited from a not-so-close call at first base, the Mariners capitalized. Ichiro led off by tapping a ball in front of home plate, but he beat Stinnett's throw. Ichiro then stole second and advanced to third on the play due to a throwing error by Stinnett. Raul Ibanez drove in the eventual game-winner with his sacrifice fly.
Johnson didn't speak with print reporters after the game, but his coach and teammates spoke for him.
Asked if Wednesday's Johnson reminded him of the one he played with in Seattle, Rodriguez confidently said, "No." That was 10 years ago, he said, and things have changed.
But after Wednesday's game there's no question Johnson's competitive fire to stay in the game until he's on top is still there -- even when it doesn't work out that way.
Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/
