Last night the Yankees took game 2 of the World Series by the score of 3-1. The Yankees were opposed by Pedro Martinez, and while he pitched well, he did not pitch as well as Burnett did for the Yankees. A.J. went 7 strong innings allowing only 1 run, while striking out 9 and only walking 2 batters. A.J. really showed his worth last night, and depending on the situations the Yankees may consider starting him on short rest for game 5. On the offensive side Mark Teixeira got the Yankees on the board by hitting a solo homer in the 4th inning, then in the 6th Hideki Matsui hit another solo homer to give the Yankees 2 runs, and that’s all they would need. However, the Yankees picked up an insurance run in the 7th when Jorge Posada (pinch hitting for Jose Molina) singled to score Brett Gardner (pinch running for Jerry Hairston Jr.). Mariano Rivera came in for the 8th and 9th, and shut the down, albeit with some difficulty. Still, the Yankees won, and evened out the series 1-1 going into Philadelphia for 2 games.
Side Note
As you already know, Joe Girardi opted to put Jerry Hairston Jr. in right field last night in place for the slumping Nick Swisher (4-35 this postseason, a .114 average). I don’t disagree with the move to sit Swisher, but I’m not sure I think Hairston was the best replacement. I understand Jerry had good numbers against Pedro (1o-27), but Eric Hinske is 8-30 against Pedro, and Hinske is generally considered the better hitter out of the duo of Hairston and Hinkse. And if Girardi didn’t want to play Hinske, Gardner was an option as well, but I too probably would have chose Hairston over Gardner. What’s your take?
161st Street 
Burnett was simply amazing and today’s Daily News said it perfectly: “A.J. Out duels Pedro!” Out duel him he did even with one of the cockiest pitchers in baseball opposing him.
Happy Halloween Chris!!! I don’t know if Matsui can play the outfield in Philadelphia without the DH!!! And anyway who is the Yankees starting rightfielder tonight is it Hairston, Swisher, or is it Matsui who can be a power bat or pinch hitter at the end of the game in the N.L. Parks where the pitcher hit!!!
I think Matsui would only play the outfield if the Yankees were desperate late in a game, and I really can’t see him starting a game in the field. But, who knows, if he did start in right field they would have a great offensive outfield, but at the cost of defense.
And Happy Halloween to you too Steven!
I know pitching and defense is very important in the postseason but I am willing to put Swisher back!!! Maybe a day off will relax Swisher and get good at bats and get some hits!!! This is the second World Series game every play on Halloween and we know what happened in 2001 when Derek Jeter hit that walkoff home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks off Byong Yum Kim and he is even in baseball right now!!! Joe Girardi is very secretive about going to three starters or four starters in the World Series!!!! But I am willing to give it to C.C. Sabathia on three days rest!!!
I too am willing to see Swisher back on the field. As for as CC starting on 3 days rest, I heard he is preparing for it.
C.C. Sabathia is pitching game 4 tomorrow on three days of rest and Nick Swisher is back in the lineup tonight but game three right now is in a rain delay!!!!
A-Rod’s back, Swishalicous is back and CC is going for us in Game 4! Who could ask for more? Well, we all could because after Cliff Lee made some of the best players in baseball look like Little Leaguers at the plate we need to hit him and hit him hard and it would be so sweet if we could wrap up number 27 on their turf.
A.J. Burnett is pitching game 5 on three days rest tomorrow night but the Yankees have to win game 4 tonight with C.C. Sabathia!!!!
Hey Chris my blog was featured in a Live Blog with Kim Jones tonight. I’m posting pictures of my questions in a post shortly on http://sweetchinmusic.mlblogs.com . Hopefully CC can put the Yankees one win away from # 27 tonight.
I saw that, pretty cool!
The Yankees need A.J. Burnett to pitch well of a game on three days of rest most likely in order to beat Cliff Lee tonight in game 5 of the World Series with the Yankees leading three games to one and one win away from the Yankees #27 World Series title!!!!!