Matsui Makes Sure Ejections Don’t Stop Yankees

By BEN SHPIGEL
Published: September 13, 2009

Even teams 40 games over .500 are not immune to frustration. Witness the fifth inning Sunday, when the Yankees — piqued after two consecutive losses and engaged in a tie game loaded with missed opportunities — watched the ejections of their cleanup hitter and manager in quick succession.

“That’s a big bat out of our lineup,” Manager Joe Girardi said of Alex Rodriguez, “and we’re fighting for a lot of different things down the stretch here.”

Their release came in the form of a 13-3 romp over the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees pulled away in the eighth inning with an eight-run rally fueled by Hideki Matsui’s three-run homer. C. C. Sabathia worked seven sturdy innings, improving to 6-0 with a 2.01 earned run average in his last eight starts, and Melky Cabrera drove in four runs to help the Yankees restore order and avoid a three-game sweep.

Such an occurrence, however rare, would have posed no danger to their goals, immediate or long term. At 92-52, they hold comfortable leads over Boston in the American League East and over the Los Angeles Angels, who visit the Stadium on Monday for a makeup game, in the race for home-field advantage throughout the A.L. playoffs.

But the prospect of losing three straight — and to the lowly Orioles, no less — revolted them, which is why a steely-eyed Matsui, through an interpreter, said afterward, “Winning today’s game was pretty important.”

The Yankees battered Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie and a parade of relievers for 20 hits and 12 straight runs, the first two coming in the fourth inning, which ended with Rodriguez striking out looking with the bases loaded. Rodriguez was furious with the call, flipping his bat, and expressed his displeasure with the plate umpire Marty Foster.

As for what happened next, there were conflicting viewpoints. Rodriguez said that he was initially upset with Foster’s call, but that he was more displeased that Foster maintained a conversation with Baltimore catcher Chad Moeller throughout his at-bat. Before the Yankees batted, Rodriguez went into their video room to see the location of the contentious pitch, an outside changeup — “still a ball,” he said — but said he did not discuss it again with Foster. He said he told Foster to “just keep talking to Moeller.”

As for Foster, he said that Rodriguez did not stop challenging him, arguing from third base, then again from the dugout. “I let him go, I let him go, but there has to be an end of it,” Foster told a pool reporter. “I can’t let him argue with me all day.”

Foster tossed Rodriguez, his first ejection since July 24, 2004.

“For him to take it into his own hands, with no warning, I thought was very unprofessional,” Rodriguez said.

Girardi stormed out of the dugout. He did not last long. Girardi tossed his cap and continued to argue just a few inches from Foster. Girardi gestured as if he were throwing out Foster and had to be restrained, an eruption that may earn punishment from the commissioner’s office. They have a history dating to July 6, when Foster ejected Girardi, who was defending Derek Jeter after a close and controversial call at third base.

“I don’t know what his deal is with the Yankees,” Rodriguez said of Foster.

The Yankees’ outburst went on without Rodriguez, with his temporary replacement at third base, Eric Hinske, playing a pivotal role in their go-ahead sixth. Hinske drew a two-out walk to load the bases and bring up Matsui, who ripped a liner into right field that drove in Jeter and Johnny Damon. For Jeter, who had three hits, it was the 100th run he scored this season. That is 12 straight seasons with at least 100 runs. In that category at least, Lou Gehrig (13), still has him beat.

Sabathia overcame a rough start and a mental lapse from Damon to pitch into the seventh inning for the ninth straight time. As indispensable as Sabathia has been this season — his 17 wins lead the A.L. — he is particularly valuable when pitching the day after Yankees losses. They are 5-0 in those last five starts.

“This was tough,” said Sabathia, who only struck out one, his fewest since June 21 at Florida. “I didn’t really have the command and stuff that I’ve had the past about a month and half.”

Even afterward, Damon was apologetic, embarrassed that he forgot how many outs there were in the fourth inning. After catching Jeff Fiorentino’s fly, Damon, believing the inning was over, turned around as if to toss the ball into the stands. He quickly realized his mistake, throwing the ball in to Jeter, but Justin Turner had tagged up from second and scored what was the Orioles’ final run.

“It’s happened to me a few too many times playing this game,” Damon said. “I’m just glad we won.”

News source：http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/14/sports/baseball/14yankees.html?_r=1&ref=baseball