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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The New York Yankees took a little
longer than they wanted to reach a goal set by manager Joe Torre. | |
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height=90 align=right alt="Mike Sweeney"> | Sweeney |
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height=90 align=right alt="Bernie Williams"> | Williams |
Bernie Williams hit an RBI single in the 14th inning as New York
overcame Mike Sweeney's straight steal of home to beat the Kansas
City Royals 3-2 Wednesday night and move a season-high 30 games
over .500. "It puts up with the elite, 30-plus,'' Torre said. "Being 30
games over .500 is in rarified air. It is one of those stepping
stones, you need to add to a pennant race. You look up and see
Boston kicking Seattle.'' The Yankees maintained a five-game lead over the Boston Red Sox
in the AL East. Alfonso Soriano singled with one out in the 14th off Blake Stein
(0-3) and moved to third on Jason Giambi's two-out single. Williams
followed with a single to right field as the Yankees won for the
16th time in their final at-bat. |
Yankees pursuing soon-to-be
free agent slugger Matsui?
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TOKYO -- Yankees assistant general manager Jean
Afterman was in attendance at Tokyo Dome Wednesday night watching Yomiuri Giants power hitter Hideki Matsui, who hit a mammoth home run in his team's loss.Japan's sports newspapers were awash with speculation Thursday
about the potential transfer of Matsui, an outfielder, to the Yankees. "Yankee assistant GM Afterman checks out Matsui homer," read a
headline in the Sankei Sports daily. Afterman watched the game from
a private box and was not available for comment. Matsui, who will become a free agent at the end of this season,
belted a 511-foot homer into the right-field bleachers in the fourth
inning of a 10-7 loss to the Yakult Swallows. The 28-year-old outfielder, who turned down a multiyear deal
with Japan's most popular team last December, leads the Central
League with 31 homers. While Matsui has refused to comment on his future plans, many in
Japanese baseball speculate that his decision to sign a one-year
contract with the Giants is an indication of his desire to follow in the major-league footsteps of Ichiro Suzuki and Tsuyoshi Shinjo. The Yankees and the Giants are reportedly discussing a
cooperative agreement after the AL team terminated a similar
arrangement with the Pacific League's Nippon Ham Fighters in June.
-- Associated Press |
"You've got to be able to lean on your teammates, but sometimes
you've got to tell yourself if the opportunity comes to be the one
to put an end to do it,'' Williams said. "The opportunity came
with two outs with me and I was able to do it.'' Ramiro Mendoza (8-3) allowed one hit in three innings for the
win and Mariano Rivera got three outs for his 26th save in 30
opportunities. Sweeney, known more his bat than his speed, had the most
exciting play of the game when he stole home with two outs in the
sixth to give the Royals a 2-1 lead. "I thought he would run if the ball was in the dirt,'' Royals
manager Tony Pena said. "When I saw him coming, I said, 'Oh my,
God.''' Carlos Beltran and Sweeney led off the sixth with doubles off
Andy Pettitte to tie the score at 1. Joe Randa's sacrifice bunt
moved Sweeney to third. With two outs and a 1-2 count on lefty Aaron Guiel, Sweeney
surprised the left-handed Pettitte, who was holding the ball on the
mound, by taking off and sliding in ahead of the throw home. "I don't think speed is part of my game, but deception,''
Sweeney said. It was only Sweeney's fifth steal of the season and 35th of his
career. He became the fifth Royal to have a straight steal of home
and first since Freddie Patek on June 18, 1977, against Minnesota.
The only other Kansas City players to do it were George Brett, Amos
Otis and Dave Nelson. "I'm sure the last guy on the list was faster than me,''
Sweeney said. It was the second time this season the Yankees have allowed a
straight steal of home. The Mets' Roger Cedeno did it against Ted
Lilly on June 29. "I'm glad it didn't cost us the game,'' Torre said. The Yankees took advantage of shortstop Neifi Perez's 15th error
to tie the score in the seventh. With one out, Raul Mondesi singled
and Rondell White hit a grounder to Perez, who bounced a throw past
Kit Pellow at first base. Mondesi went to third on the throwing
error and scored on Shane Spencer's sacrifice fly. Royals starter Paul Byrd, going for his 15th victory, held the
Yankees to one earned run over nine innings to lower his ERA to
3.45. Byrd allowed eight hits and no walks. Pettitte, who had won his previous three starts, allowed two
runs and seven hits in eight innings. Mike Stanton, Steve Karsay, Mendoza and Rivera combined on six
scoreless innings of relief. Giambi hit his 29th homer in the first inning to give the
Yankees a 1-0 lead. "That was not really a mistake,'' Byrd said. "That pitch was
where I wanted it. I jammed him a little. It didn't make a good
sound. It's a credit to him, how strong he is.'' Kansas City had baserunners in each of the first four innings
but couldn't score against Pettitte. Game notes
White is in a 0-for-27 slump, the longest drought of his
career. White went 0-for-5 and stranded five runners, three in
scoring position ... The Yankees lead the majors with 178 home
runs. ... The Royals top the AL with 113 stolen bases. ... Guiel
went 0-for-6 to snap his career-best nine-game hitting streak. ...
The Royals have committed 100 errors, which is second highest in
the league.
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