Dodgers Win on a Walk Off

It all ended on a 3-2 pitch with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs with Shawn Kelley on the mound, Mark Ellis at the plate and Andre Ethier on second base after stealing the bag on a bad throw by Chris Stewart. This game could have gone either way but the Yankees offense continues to be sluggish. The Yankees only pounded out five hits and scored two runs, both of which were thanks to Lyle Overbay. Overbay hit a solo home run off Grienke and grounded out with a runner at third to score the Yankees second run. The Yankees had a chance in the sixth inning with Ichiro on second base with one out but the next two hitters failed to drive in what would be the winning run of the game.

What makes this loss even worse is that the Yankees wasted a brilliant starting pitching performance by Andy Pettitte. Pettitte fired seven strong innings, allowing just two runs on a Juan Uribe solo home run in the second inning and a Hanley Ramirez RBI single in first inning. Pettitte didn't walk any batters and struck out three but was able to get help from his defense on several occasions. By the way Pettitte was pitching, he could easily have gone out to begin the eighth inning. However, the Yankees went to David Robertson who also dazzled. Robertson faced the heart of the order in the eighth (Puig, Gonzalez and Ramirez). David struck out Puig on three pitches and went through the core of the Dodgers lineup on nine pitches. Unfortunately for the Yankees, Shawn Kelley allowed a bloop hit in the ninth and the Dodgers walked off on the Yankees who continue to be offensively challenged.

For the final chapter of the Dodgers-Yankees series, both teams will send their best to the mound. The Yankees will send Hiroki Kuroda to pitch against a lethal Dodgers lineup while the Dodgers will counter with ace Clayton Kershaw. The lefty has an ERA under 2 and both starters have ten wins on the season. After falling back another game in the standings, the Yankees almost desperately need a win in Los Angeles tomorrow night.