WS Game 2 - AJ Comes Up Huge in Win

AJ Burnett may have earned his "true" Yankee title tonight, winning his first postseason game in Game 2 of the World Series with the Bombers down one game to none. AJ tossed 7 brilliant innings, striking out 9 Phillies in the Yanks 3-1 victory. Burnett allowed a run in the 2nd inning on an RBI single to Matt Stairs, but should have surrendered no runs. ARod should have knocked it down, if not field it cleanly, to bail AJ out of the inning after Raul Ibanez sliced a 2-out double into the LF stands. AJ though, was dealing, as he started 22 out of 26 batters with first pitch strikes. He only walked 2, one intentionally. This was the AJ the Yanks envisioned when they signed him to a 5 year, $82.5M contract.

As well as AJ pitched, Pedro Martinez was nearly just as brilliant. He pitched 6+ innings, allowing 6 hits and all 3 Yankee runs while striking out 8. Pedro allowed his 3rd run in the 7th, and probably shouldn't have came out for the start of the 7th after tossing 99 pitches through 6. Like CC Sabathia last night, Pedro only made 2 real mistakes - solo HRs to Mark Teixeira and Hideki Matsui. Chan Ho Park allowed the 3rd run to score on a Jorge Posada pinch-hit, RBI single in the 7th.

The Yanks had a chance to do some real damage in the 7th, but the usually reliable and clutch Derek Jeter pulled one helluva bonehead play. With 2 strikes, including one which he took right down the middle, he attempted to bunt, fouling it off and striking out for the 3rd time. Johnny Damon then ripped a liner at Ryan Howard that was ruled caught, though replays showed it hit the dirt, and Posada was doubled up to end the threat.

Joe Girardi didn't waste any time in bringing in Mariano Rivera for the 2-inning save. Mo got into a little trouble in the 8th, putting runners on 1st and 2nd with the dangerous and greasy-haired Chase Utley coming to the plate. Mo got him to bounce into a double play, although replays appeared to show Utley beat the relay throw to first. A makeup call? If it was, thank you, Brian Gorman, first base umpire.

Mo wasn't done with the theatrics though. After striking out Howard to saddle him with the Golden Sombrero, he retired Jayson Werth on a soft liner to Robinson Cano before allowing Raul Ibanez to lace a double to left center. That brought up the ancient Matt Stairs. The Canadian Clubber, however, struck out as the Yanks tied up the series.

Thoughts:

- ARod is now 0-8 with 6 Ks. Let's hope this is just an aberration.

- Tex and Godzilla: Thanks for showing up again.

- Replacement Jerry Hairston went 1-3 and now has half the hits of Nick Swisher in 30 less at bats. Did Hairston earn another start against lefty Cole Hamels in Game 3?

- There's been much debate about Jose Molina catching in the place of Jorge Posada, but you cannot argue with AJ Burnett's results with him behind the dish. Molina also nailed Werth at first base on a pick off in the 5th inning, saving Burnett some valuable pitches. He also walked against Pedro and his spot in the order allowed Posada to come in and knock in a huge insurance run. Girardi looks like part genius for at least a day.

- 8 strikeouts against Pedro? Really?

- Johnny Damon went 0-4. He looks terrible this postseason despite his 2 dingers against the Angels.

- How is it the Yanks have walked Jimmy Rollins twice and he always seems to be in a full count when this guy's OBP was .296 this season? Can they please bear down on this guy and keep him off the base paths in front of Utley and Howard.

- Shane Victorino, you look like an idiot with the little league batting helmet.

- It's just a 5-game series now, with 3 games in Philly.

Yankees Postseason Record: 8-3

World Series: Tied 1-1