Jul 20, 2008

Yankees outlast A's on hit by pitch in 12th inning

By MIKE FITZPATRICK

The Associated Press

Jose Molina was hit by Lenny DiNardo's pitch with the bases loaded in the 12th inning, and the New York Yankees outlasted the Oakland Athletics for a 4-3 victory Saturday.

Robinson Cano had four hits and David Robertson earned his first major league win as New York pulled out a tight game that lasted 4 hours, 45 minutes in 93-degree heat.

The Yankees, who stranded a whopping 21 runners, were down to their final out in the ninth when Cano doubled off Huston Street. Wilson Betemit tied it with an opposite-field single on an 0-2 pitch, handing Street his fifth blown save in 22 chances.

Long after Joba Chamberlain was lifted, Ryan Sweeney put Oakland ahead 3-2 with an RBI single off Mariano Rivera in the ninth. The All-Star closer struck out three straight batters with a runner on second to keep it a one-run game.

Yankees pitchers had 18 strikeouts in all, their most since fanning 19 on April 29, 2001, in a 17-inning game at Toronto.

The 21 runners left on base by New York were its most since stranding 22 on July 20, 1998, in a 17-inning game against Detroit. The three runners on the bases when the game ended Saturday count in the Yankees' total.

The A's stole second base twice in the ninth, taking advantage of Jorge Posada's sore hand. The 36-year-old catcher, hit by a foul ball in the eighth, missed 32 games this season with tendinitis in his right rotator cuff and has been relegated to part-time duty behind the plate. He is 3-for-37 throwing out base stealers.

Posada was replaced on defense in the 10th by Molina, who wound up with two chances to win it. He grounded out with two on to end the bottom half, then sent the Yankees home happy in the 12th.

The last time New York won on a game-ending hit by pitch, it was Clete Boyer who was plunked on July 15, 1965, against the Washington Senators.

Edwar Ramirez struck out four in two shutout innings and Robertson (1-0) worked a scoreless 12th with help from Brett Gardner. The left fielder tracked down Carlos Gonzalez's leadoff drive and held on after slamming into the fence.

Derek Jeter singled leading off the bottom half against DiNardo (1-2), recalled from the minors Friday. Jeter went to second on Bobby Abreu's tapper to the mound, and Alex Rodriguez was intentionally walked.

DiNardo then walked Richie Sexson, loading the bases, before hitting Molina on his right knee with a 1-2 delivery.

Molina carried his bat all the way to first base, where he was mobbed by teammates after New York's season-best sixth consecutive win at home. The Yankees also improved to an AL-best 41-1 when leading after six innings.

Oakland, which stranded 14 runners, dropped its fourth straight overall and fell to 7-3 in extra innings.

Throwing 100 mph fastballs on a sweltering afternoon, Chamberlain struck out eight in six innings and left with a 2-1 lead. Still, he wound up with his seventh no-decision in nine major league starts.

The A's tied it on Jose Veras' bases-loaded wild pitch with two outs in the seventh.

The Yankees went ahead 2-0 with four consecutive hits to start the second against Sean Gallagher, making his second start for Oakland after coming over from the Chicago Cubs this month in a trade for Rich Harden.

Cano singled and went to third on Betemit's double before Melky Cabrera knocked in a run with a single. Gardner then hit a comebacker that glanced off Gallagher's glove and through the vacated hole at shortstop, allowing the speedy rookie to hustle to second for an RBI double.

Gallagher limited the damage, however, using a sharp breaking ball to strike out Jeter, Abreu and Rodriguez in succession.

Notes:@ Yankees OF-DH Johnny Damon (sprained left shoulder) took batting practice with his teammates on the field and hopes to come off the disabled list Sunday. ... Gonzalez batted cleanup for the first time. He entered 13-for-35 (.371) with runners in scoring position. 'Just looking for the right combination,' manager Bob Geren said. ... All-Star RHP Justin Duchscherer has a throat infection but remains scheduled to start Sunday for Oakland against Andy Pettitte. Geren said he gave Duchscherer the option of not coming to the ballpark Saturday so he could rest. ... Oakland RHP Brad Ziegler worked a hitless eighth. He has not allowed a run in his first 21 2-3 major league innings, an Athletics record.

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