Hey all, Katie here blogging tonight, for what promises to be a fine pitching duel. Yankees ace Chien- Ming Wang (6-0, 3.00) faces Cleveland's Cliff Lee (5-0, 0.96) in game two of a three game series between the Yankees and the Tribe. One interesting stat: Derek Jeter has a .471 average against Lee. Feel free to get the comments going....just keep 'em clean! I'll be back after top of the first!
Top 1st
Not a great start for Wang. He walks the lead-off man and gives up a hit the next batter. He's gonna have to sharpen up to battle with Lee tonight. With runners in the corners, Martinez' sac fly scores Sizemore and the Indians are the first to draw blood. 1-0
Bottom 1st
Lee has given up only two (two!) walks in 37 2/3 innings. Jeez. 1-2-3 inning for him. Yankees are gonna need to make him work.
1-0 Cleveland
Top 2nd
Wang gives up another walk, but strikes out Marte with a runner in scoring position.
1-0 Cleveland
Bottom 2nd
Matsui manages a single on a pop-up to short, but he Yankees can't get anything going.
1-0 Cleveland
Top 3rd
Nice 1-2-3 inning for Wang. The Yankees are going to need more of that outta of him tonight to compete with Lee.
1-0 Cleveland
Bottom 3rd
Lee with a 1-2-3 of his own. No sign of budge from him yet.
1-0 Cleveland
Top 4th
Peralta grounds one past a diving Jeter to reach first. With two outs, Blake, batting only .200, comes up clutch with an RBI base hit. Molina with a good effort on the swipe tag, but Peralta's run puts the Tribe up two.
2-0 Cleveland
Bottom 4th
Another 1-2-3 for Lee. Strong through 4.
2-0 Cleveland
Top 5th
Marte singles on a line to left and Sizemore walks. Last night's hero Dellucci drives in an RBI. Tribe up three now. Molina throws a bullet to third and beats Sizemore attempting to steal third.
3-0 Cleveland
Bottom 5th
Yankees manage to string together back-to-back hits, but with two on and two outs Molina flies out to right.
3-0 Indians
Top 6th
1-2-3 for Wang. At least he's giving the Yankees some longevity here.
3-0 Cleveland
Bottom 6th
With 2 outs, Abreu legs out the throw to first on his grounder for an infield single. Good hustle. Duncan then slips one down the left field line for a double. Matsui strike out swinging though, leaving the Yanks still scoreless.
3-0 Cleveland
Top 7th
A 5-pitch inning for Wang, who retires the Indians in order. Nice throw by Cano for the third out.
3-0
Bottom 7th
With 2 outs, Ensberg hits a nice dribbler that remains in the grass for a base hit, but Molina strikes out during the next at-bat. Yankees still scoreless through 7. Ouch.
3-0 Cleveland
Top 8th
Farnsworth in for Wang. Second night in a row for him, and he has a solid inning, preventing any insurance runs on Cleveland's part.
3-0 Cleveland
Bottom 8th
Lee is out. No runs, no walks, and 7 K's for him tonight. Perez in to relieve. Jeter strikes out on a check-swing and he is NOT happy with the call. Rare to see Jeter argue a call. Next at-bat and Abreu slaps a double to left, but Shelley Duncan's hits a bleeder to right for the third out.
3-0 Cleveland
Top 9th
Albaladejo in for Farnsworth. With bases loaded, Molina bails Albie outta trouble with a great double play to end the inning. Molina has to be a bright spot for Yanks fans tonight-he's played great defensively in Posada's place.
3-0 Cleveland
Bottom 9th
Betancourt in for Perez, and the Yankees go down in order. Nothing new. Great pitching from the Indians tonight.
3-0 Cleveland Final