Giambi Is Congratulated By Jeter In Second Inning
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Hideki Matsui and Jason Giambi each drove in four runs to lead the Yankees’ offensive assault on the St. Louis Cardinals. An 87-minute rain delay in the middle of the first inning forced Cardinals starter Matt Morris out of the game, and the Yankees went on to win by a final score of 13-4.
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The Yankees jumped all over Matt Morris (7-4) before a powerful storm rolled in. With the bases loaded, Matsui cleared the bases with a double to put the Yankees up 3-0. Just one pitch later, the skies opened up and the umpires called timeout so the tarp could be put out.
When play finally resumed, it would go on without Morris. The Cardinal’s ace had to leave the game with stiffness in his throwing shoulder, a problem that initially pushed his start from Thursday to Friday. Morris has thrown a lot of innings this season, leading the league in complete games.
With Morris gone, Brett Tomko came in and the Yankees continued their barrage. Ruben Sierra capped the scoring in the first with an RBI single, and the Bombers were up 4-0.
In the top of the second, Yankee fans caught site of a familiar homerun swing. Tino Martinez, the former Yankee first baseman, launched a two-run homer into the right field seats to cut the lead in half.
From there however, Andy Pettitte (6-6) cruised. The lefty, who had been struggling, allowed just two runs over seven innings on five hits and a walk. He struck out eight Cardinals en route to the victory while the Yankee offense rallied behind him.
The Yankees hammered Tomko, who was forced to take the beating due to the lack of available arms in the St. Louis bullpen. Tomko was supposed to start on Monday, but the injury to Morris changed that.
After Derek Jeter’s RBI double in the second, Jason Giambi hit the first of two two-run homeruns to right-centerfield. Giambi homered again in the third, this time to left-center.
Matsui added on his fourth RBI with a single in the second. Ruben Sierra homered for the second consecutive day, and Raul Mondesi added a two-run shot in the sixth.
In all, Tomko was charged with nine runs in 5 1/3 innings, but he was spared the loss. Morris was charged with the defeat after throwing just 2/3 of an inning and allowing four runs on two hits and a pair of walks. He faced just seven batters, but threw 33 pitches.
In the ninth, Martinez connected on a second two-run homer off of Jason Anderson to end the scoring at 13-4.
The Yankees will now look to sweep the Cardinals on Sunday. Woody Williams (8-1, 2.33) will try to avoid that when he takes the mound for St. Louis. Mike Mussina (8-4, 3.05) gets the start for the Yankees in what could be a fantastic pitcher’s duel.
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