Aaron Cook Solid, Red Sox Tie Yankees
By John Green
Through the first three innings of the game the Yankees only scratched out a single. The Yankee’s would get to Cook in the fourth for a pair but the 33 year olds right hander still walked away with a solid outing.
The final line on cook– 4IP,4H,2ER,0BB,2K
Cook now has a 1.93 ERA for the Spring in 9 1/3 innings pitched. Although he got a slow start deliberately because of his shoulder problems, he could still be an option for the rotation as Bobby V doesn’t need a fifth starter until mid April due to the schedule.
Brett Gardner started the top of the fourth with a single to right field, which was followed by a triple off the bat of Curtis Granderson to drive in the first run. Andrew Jones then singled to drive in Granderson for the second run before Cook settled down to retire the final three in a row to end his outing.
Ross Ohlendorf came on in the top of the fifth for the Red Sox only to be greeted by a leadoff double from Brandon Laird. A single and a groundout would advance the runners to second and third for Doug Bernier who singled to drive in a pair, making it 4-0 Yankees.
The Red Sox showed encouraging signs in the late innings. Jason Repko and Pedro Ciriaco hit back to back doubles to produce the first Sox run. Nate Spears followed with a single to drive in Ciriaco. Lars Anderson would then hit a double to center to bring the Sox within a run.
In the bottom of the ninth, Bobby V showed the way Red Sox baseball will be played in 2012. Ryan Sweeney started the inning with a single and was moved to third on Mike Aviles‘ double. Jason Repko put down a good bunt for the suicide squeeze, allowing Ryan Sweeney to score easily from third and tie the game at 4.
The Red Sox wouldn’t have the chance to complete the comeback though. Clayton Mortenson warmed up for the tenth inning but the Sox were waved off by the umpires. Apparently Joe Girardi had no pitchers left. Their travel roster listed seven available pitchers, not sure where they went though.
Bobby V said this after the game..
"The umpire came over and said we couldn’t play. I don’t care about not playing. Why do I have to warm up my pitcher who’s trying to make a team? Come in in a tie game against the Yankees and maybe help him make a team, and instead he has to walk off the mound and take a shower. That’s just not very courteous."
A Couple Notes:
—Mark Melancon pitched a perfect eighth inning, lowering his ERA for the spring to 7.20
–With a 2 for 4 performance at the plate, Ryan Sweeney now has a .158 BA this spring.
—Dustin Pedroia left the game in the third after being hit in the forearm with a pitch. X-Rays were negative and it was determined to be just a bruise but Pedroia will miss Saturday’s game.
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