What a start and what a game!
by David Rocksteady 5/22/09
Steven Spielberg could not have scripted a more exciting first inning. In the Phillies first ever trip to play the Yankees at new Yankees stadium, Jimmy Rollins, our leader, began the evening by hitting the first pitch the Phillies have ever seen at new Yankees Stadium into the right field bleachers for a home run. Not only did it send a message, but it also showed that people were not lying when they said right field is a launching pad.
On the very next pitch, Yankees right-hander A.J. Burnett threw a fastball that hit Chase Utley in the shoulder. It was clear that Burnett intended to hit Utley with the pitch, but it does not appear that Jimmy did anything to provoke him other than the home run itself. Raul Ibanez followed Utley with a single to right field that put runners on first and third with no outs. Burnett would not allow any more runs to score after striking out the next two batters with filthy stuff. Mark Teixeira finished the inning with an incredible diving stop on a ground ball to first.
The excitement was not over. Brett Myers sent a message to the Yankees by throwing a 1-0 fastball behind Derek Jeter. That is the way to play baseball. Someone hits you, so you hit them. No fighting. Problem solved. Finally the first inning finished with a play at the plate. With two outs and Johnny Damon on first, A-Rod hit a double to the left field corner. Ibanez picked it up, hit Jimmy right in the glove, and Rollins delivered a one hop strike to Carloss Ruiz to nail Damon at the plate.
The excitement continued throughout the game. We got to see a home run from Carlos Ruiz, yes Carlos Ruiz! We were also treated to mammoth home runs from Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez. Given that we won the game, we were also treated to home runs from Alex Rodriquez, Derek Jeter, and Mark Teixeira.
What a game! Who knows what tomorrow will bring.
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