ANAHEIM, Calif. — Ian Kennedy's 20 friends and family members could scarcely stand to watch while the New York Yankees reliever's first appearance in over a year went from an inspiration to a budding nightmare.
Thanks to a bases-loaded fly ball, Kennedy and the Yankees could enjoy a much-needed series victory that sent them into a big weekend series with plenty of momentum.
A.J. Burnett (North Little Rock, Central Arkansas Christian) struck out 11 in just his second victory since July, and New York won a series in Anaheim for the first time since May 2004 with a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday.
"You need every one, but obviously going to the playoffs, you want to feel good about yourself," Burnett said. "These two teams battle each other. That lineup they have makes you work. It's a good series, and good for our confidence if we match up with them later on."
Burnett (12-9) didn't make it out of the sixth inning, allowing 7 hits and 3 walks, but his strikeout total was one shy of his season high. Gearing for a start in Game 2 of the playoffs, he is 2-5 with a 5.40 ERA in 11 starts since the beginning of August.
In his first major league appearance since surgery to remove an aneurysm below his right biceps, Kennedy walked two batters and hit another in the eighth before escaping on Erick Aybar's fly. His misadventures and redemption were the wildest portion of six New York pitchers' efforts to hold down Los Angeles' offense.
"Just to be pitching is an accomplishment," said Kennedy, a Long Beach, Calif., native and former Southern California star. "And then to be pitching here, and in a big situation, there are no words to describe it. It got a little crazy, but I was glad it worked out barely. These are big, important wins for us."
The Yankees, eliminated by the Angels in the first round of the playoffs in 2002 and 2005, lost 18 of their past 23 games in Anaheim before winning back-to-back games in less than 24 hours. The Yankees also won a series for the first time since sweeping the Tampa Bay Rays in early September, moving back to a season-high 41 games above .500 (97-56).
BLUE JAYS 7, ORIOLES 3
Travis Snider homered and had two RBI, Scott Richmond (7-10) won for the first time since June 24 and Toronto completed a three-game sweep, beating visiting Baltimore.
RAYS 5, MARINERS 4
B.J. Upton had three RBI, including a go-ahead two-run single in the eighth, to help Tampa Bay beat visiting Seattle. Tampa Bay loaded the bases on a single and two walks with one out against Mark Lowe (2-7) in the eighth, and Upton then gave the Rays a 5-4 lead on his single to left.
RED SOX 9, ROYALS 2 David Ortiz homered and drove in four runs, and Josh Beckett (16-6) allowed two runs over six innings to lift visiting Boston to victory over Kansas City. Jason Bay and Jacoby Ellsbury each drove in two runs and Ortiz had a run-scoring single in Boston's six-run fifth inning off Luke Hochevar (7-11).
TIGERS 11, INDIANS 3 Carlos Guillen hit two of Detroit's three home runs to help Rick Porcello and the visiting Tigers defeat Cleveland. Porcello (14-9) allowed 1 run and 6 hits over 5 innings asthe Tigers won their third in a row. Guillen tied a season high with four RBI. He hit a two-run home run in the third off right-hander Justin Masterson (4-9) and connected on the second pitch from left hander Mike Gosling to make it 9-1 in the fifth.
TWINS 8, WHITE SOX 6
Brian Duensing won his fifth consecutive decision and visiting Minnesota stayed on the heels of first-place Detroit in the AL Central with their ninth victory in the past 10games, beating Chicago. Nick Punto had three RBI as the Twins completed a three-game sweep.
National League ASTROS 3, CARDINALS 0 Bud Norris and Houston put St. Louis' celebration on ice. The Astros' 24-year-old rookie shut out the visiting Cardinals for the second time and St. Louis missed a chance to win the NL Central in a loss to the Astros. The magic number for St. Louis dropped to one when the Cubs lost in Milwaukee before this game ended. But Norris (6-3) pitched six shutout innings and Jose Valverde pitched a scoreless ninth for his 28th save.
BRAVES 5, METS 2 Tim Hudson pitched six effective innings for his second victory since major elbow surgery and visiting Atlanta beat New York. Adam LaRoche had three hits and two RBI. Late substitute Kelly Johnson also had two RBI for the Braves, who won their seventh consecutive road game.
BREWERS 3, CUBS 2 Prince Fielder hit his 42nd home run to give him a majors-best 131 RBI and rookie Chris Narveson struck out 10 for his first victory as a starter, helping Milwaukee beat visiting Chicago. Narveson (2-0) was designated for assignment by the Brewers in July, but returned last month and was sharp into the sixth inning in his third career start. Narveson's only mistake came when Cubs starter Jeff Samardzija (1-3) led off the sixth inning with a home run, his first career hit.
MARLINS 7, PHILLIES 6
Pinch hitter Brett Carroll capped a two-run rally against closer Brad Lidge in the ninth inning with an RBI single, giving Florida a victory over visiting Philadelphia. Jorge Cantu tied it with a single off Lidge (0-8), who blew his major league-leading 11th save opportunity.
NATIONALS 5, DODGERS 4
Andre Ethier booted pinch hitter Pete Orr's fly to right field in the ninth inning, allowing Justin Maxwell to score, and Washington averted its 100th loss of the season with a victory over visiting Los Angeles. Maxwell started the decisive rally with a single down the left-field line off James McDonald (5-5) to open the ninth. Alberto Gonzalez bunted Maxwell to second and Maxwell stole third before Jorge Padilla walked. Orr hit a fly to medium right and the ball bounced off the glove of Ethier as he backtracked and Maxwell scored. Orr was credited with a sacrifice fly and Ethier was given an error.
PADRES 6, ROCKIES 3 Will Venable homered and tied a career high by driving in four runs in visiting San Diego's victory over Colorado. Venable hit a home run in the second, his 12th, and added a three-run double in the fifth off right-hander Jason Marquis (15-12).
REDS 12, PIRATES 2 Joey Votto went 4 for 5 and scored three runs, Homer Bailey allowed two runs in six innings and visiting Cincinnati defeated Pittsburgh. Brandon Phillips, Scott Rolen, Jay Bruce, Laynce Nix and Corky Miller each had two RBI for the Reds, who have won seven of nine.
Wednesday's games NATIONAL LEAGUE Cincinnati 12, Pittsburgh 2 Washington 5, LA Dodgers 4 Atlanta 5, NY Mets 2 Florida 7, Philadelphia 6 Milwaukee 3, Chicago Cubs 2 Houston 3, St. Louis 0 San Diego 6, Colorado 3 San Francisco at Arizona, (n) AMERICAN LEAGUE NY Yankees 3, LA Angels 2 Detroit 11, Cleveland 3 Toronto 7, Baltimore 3 Tampa Bay 5, Seattle 4 Boston 9, Kansas City 2 Minnesota 8, Chicago White Sox 6 Texas at Oakland, (n)
Sports, Pages 19, 22 on 09/24/2009