This is an entertaining game to be sure, but I don't quite know if it qualifies as a classic. One of the primary reasons is that it's hard to think of a memorable "title" for this game. I decided to follow the TiVo suggestion and mention Nady's six RBI, but there are plenty of other ways to describe this game. Here are some highlights and lowlights...you make the call.
• Of course, there's Nady's six RBI, including a three-run blast in the bottom of the 7th off Jose Arredondo that broke a 5-5 tie.
• The following inning however, the ever enigmatic Edwar Ramirez showed fans his best and his worst. Given an 8-5 lead after having trailed by as much as 5-1 in the 6th, Edwar started off strong, striking out Gary Matthews Jr. and Jeff Mathis to start the inning. It looked like the game might be in the bag. However, he went on to walk Reggie Willits, surrender a single to Chone Figgins, then walk Erick Aybar to load the bases for Mark Teixeira. Well, I remember at the time of the game screaming for Girardi to remove Edwar as everyone could see what was coming. Sure enough, Teixeira deposited a 1-0 pitch into the right field stands to wipe away the short lived Yankee lead. So, you could title this game "Edwar Explodes in 8th, but Yankees Bounce Back."
• The Yankees indeed struck back, thanks in good part to the Angels implosion. Three Angels errors partnered with four Yankee hits led to six unearned runs in the bottom of the inning. Since the Angels have given the Yankees fits over the last decade or so, we hear a lot of writers and local talk show hosts (cough, cough, Mike Francesa, cough) bowing at the altar of the "unbeatable" Angels. They have appeared that way to followers of the Yankees perhaps, but this is the late season sloppiness that has plagued the Angels for years. Only in 2002 were they able to pull it together, but other than that, they've been highly overrated. So, you could title this game, "Angels Typical Late Season Sloppiness Hands Game to Yanks in 8th." That title is a little wordy though.
• Jose Veras did manage not to blow a five run lead in the 9th, despite allowing a double to Juan Rivera. Surely, a mostly clean inning by Veras is cause for celebration, but despite being a rarity...it's not particularly memorable. I'm not even going to go there. I just wanted to express my displeasure with Veras and his "great arm."
You know what? I guess it's not so bad to mention Nady's six RBI (to go with a HR and double.) While it's most likely going to fade from memory quickly, it is the centerpiece of the highlights, so why not dedicate a "Yankee Classic" to Xavier Nady? Congratulations Xavier...you've got yourself a Classic named after you. And you know what? It's actually still a fun, watchable game.
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