The Captain was stuck in an 0-12 slump. Nothing major, but in NY, everything gets magnified as everyone waited with baited breath for Derek Jeter to pick up his quest for Lou Gehrig's all time Yankee hit record. Jeter didn't wait long, bunting for a hit in the first inning. He grounded out in his 2nd at bat, but hit a deep ground-rule double, fittingly, into Monument Park in his next turn at the plate, leaving him 1 behind the Iron Horse. He didn't waste any time to tie him. In his 4th plate appearance, Jeter slapped a single into RF, tying the legend and sending the crowd into a frenzy. The Captain, tying another Yankee Captain, doffed his helmet twice to acknowledge the adoring fans. His teammates came out of the dugout to cheer him and Tampa Bay even applauded from the top steps of their dugout.
Despite all the excitement, the Yanks found themselves losing 2-0 after 7 innings to rookie Jeff Niemann, who pitched brilliantly and deserved a better fate. Tampa Bay's manager, Joe Maddon, appeared to be terrified to take out Niemann, bringing him out again for the 8th. ARod led off with a single, and that was it for Niemann. In a strange move, the overrated and supposed "genius" Maddon brought in righty Lance Cormier to face the lefty hitting Matsui despite having his lefty, Brian Shouse in the bullpen. Matsui is 2-14 lifetime against Shouse. Matsui made them pay with a single, sending ARod to 3B. Nick Swisher then hit a grounder to first and 1B Chris Richard threw the ball into LF trying to force the runner at 2B. ARod scored their 1st run and the Yanks still had runners at the corners with no outs.
The "genius" Maddon finally brought in Shouse to face Robinson Cano. Of course, Cano choked brutally, striking out with the tying run on third. Jorge Posada was coming to the plate to pinch hit for Brett Gardner, who already failed twice to bring in a run from third base. For some strange reason, again, Maddon took out the lefty Shouse and brought in righty, Grant Balfour, to switch Posada around at the plate. 2 things - 1. Posada was 3-3 lifetime against Balfour and 2. Why would you have anyone turn around to bat left-handed at Yankee Stadium? Posada is now 4-4, as he deposited a full count pitch into the RF seats for a 3-run blast, giving the Yanks a 4-2 lead and eventually, the win.
In all the excitement, Joba Chamberlain had another unimpressive 3 inning, 2 run performance. He gave up a homer to Jason Bartlett (under high suspicion) to start the game and gave up another run in the 1st. The Captain appeared to give Joba a lecture on the mound, and wouldn't you know it, Joba responded with 2 Ks and ended up retiring his last 8 batters. The Yankee bullpen was outstanding, tossing 6 hitless innings. Alfredo Aceves tossed 3 innings, Jonathan Albaladejo pitched 2. Brian Bruney, not Mariano Rivera or Phil Hughes, came out in the 9th. He walked Evan Longoria to lead off the inning, but retired the next 2 batters. Joe Girardi brought in Phil Coke for the final out, and he struck out Gabe Kapler to pick up his 2nd save of the season.
But this night belongs to Derek Jeter. And YES' Yankee Classics can continue to be undefeated in their games when they replay this night over and over again when Derek Jeter tied Lou Gehrig, the Iron Horse. Yankee fans and Jeter will have to wait till Friday to break the record and stand alone as the All Time Yankee Hit King.
Yankees Record: 91-50
Photos Courtesy of AP and Yahoo! Sports
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