When Jason Giambi first came to New York, he struggled through April and then in dramatic fashion hit a Grand Slam in the rain against Minnesota in May to win the game. When Matsui came to New York, on opening day it launched a 5th inning grand slam to give the Yankees the 7-3 win. It is August and Alex Rodriguez has yet to have that moment, until last night that is. Alex Rodriguez hit a walk-off two-run home run to complete the comeback and beat the A's 8-6.
In the bottom of the ninth with one runner on and one out, Gary Sheffield (hands down the Yankee MVP) launched an Octavio Dotel pitch into the Left field seats tying the game 6-6. In the Bottom of the 11th it was A-Rod's turn to play hero, hitting, what looked like a lazy fly ball to left field, that carried over the left field wall. The home run may be viewed as the moment that A-Rod officially became a Yankee. He had been mired in a slump this entire season with runners in scoring position, but last night that all changed with his walk-off home run.
On the pitching front, not much changed. Esteban Loaiza gave the Yankees six innings, but gave up five earned runs over those innings. The normally solid bullpen came in and gave up one run. Paul Quantrill allowed one run in his inning of work. Tom Gordon came in and gave up two hits, but managed to get out without allowing a run. Scott Proctor pitched a perfect ninth inning. Mariano Rivera pitched two innings for the win. Rivera made it interesting though, loading the bases in the tenth and giving up a lead off double to Eric Chavez in the eleventh.
Today the Yankees send Kevin Brown (8-1, 3.93) to the hill against Barry Zito (7-7, 4.81) for a 1:05 start at the stadium.
