May 10, 2007
CONGRATULATIONS WIL NIEVES
Yankees alternate catcher Wil Nieves was in for Jorge Posada this evening. Nieves is a rarity on the offensively productive Yanks, in that he is the only player without a hit this season; or was. In the 4th inning and ahead 2-0 in the count, the hitless Nieves was still game to lay down a sacrifice bunt to move Doug Mientkiewicz from second to third and collect yet another out. But every man has his role, and Mientkiewicz wound up scoring on a single from Jeter later in the inning.
Again in the 6th inning, Nieves was the second Yankee to bat following the team's first baseman. In this case, however, Mientkiewicz had just grounded out and the bases were wide open with no one to advance. On a 1-0 pitch, Wil seized his destiny and swung away, connecting and sending the ball into left field. It should be noted at this point that Nieves hasn't just not hit this season, he hasn't been scored with a hit in five years: since 2002 when he played for the San Diego Padres. OK, so here is Nieves, who hasn't had to run up the first baseline in a game for five years, probably giddy with excitement. And damn if he didn't hit that ball deep. He should just round first and go for the double while he's at it. And second base is where he was met by Texas Ranger Kinsler, who was waiting for him after a strong throw from Wilkerson, the Texas left fielder. In spite of his overexuberance in trying to get to 2nd, Nieves was still credited with a single.
Nieves teammates in the dugout were obviously thrilled that he'd finally gotten a hit for the first time in five years. But they appeared to be howling in laughter at the fact that he was tagged out for trying to stretch that hit into a double. The Yanks were up 6-2 at that point in the game, so they could afford a chuckle at Nieves triumph and expense. They wound up winning the game with that score.
NB: Mike Mussina was on his game, giving up only two runs on three hits with one walk and two strikeouts over six innings. Two asshole fans were arrested in the top of the 9th for running onto the field--in separate incidents--while Mariano Rivera tried to close for the win.
Tagged: hits, yankeesPosted by Lexiphane at May 10, 2007 8:20 AM
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