August 18, 1996: Yankees lose heartbreaker to Seattle in extras
Credit: John Dunn/AP
After giving Seattle an 8-0 lead by the fourth inning, the Yankees fought all the way back only to lose a heartbreaker in extras by the score of 13-12. New York's lead in the division remains at 5.5 games, thanks to Oakland who beat Baltimore 9-6.
Manager Joe Torre was pleased with the way his team played, even though they suffered one of their worst losses of the season. "I was encouraged with today," he said. "We didn't roll over and die." (Via NY Times)
This game had everything. Power, pitching, defense, ejections and a playoff atmosphere - something these two teams know plenty about going back to last year's ALDS. Dwight Gooden started for the Yankees, and lasted just two-and-two-thirds innings, giving up seven runs on 10 hits. Gooden, who no-hit this same Mariners team back in May, pitched his shortest game of the year. "I have no excuses," he said. (Via NY Times)
Mariners starter Terry Mulholland didn't pitch great, either. Down by eight, the Yankees struck for a seven-spot in the bottom of the fourth. A bases-loaded walk, back to back ground-rule doubles, and Joe Girardi's first home run of the year - a two-run shot - gave the Yankees new life. However, Bob Wickman allowed three in the sixth to move Seattle on top 10-7.
In the sixth, a Derek Jeter double cut the lead to 10-8, forcing Lou Piniella to bring in the Big Unit - Randy Johnson - with runners on second and third. Johnson's start was skipped because of a balky back. Up came Cecil Fielder, who laced a single up the middle tying the game at 10. The Yankees were back from the dead again.
The Yankees had a chance to win the game in the 11th when they had runners on second and third with one out. Instead, Pat Kelly struck out looking, and, after a walk to Tim Raines, Girardi grounded into a force out to end the inning.
Seattle was able to push through in the 12th. After back-to-back singles from Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez, they both moved up a base thanks to a double steal. Jay Buhner drove in Griffey on a sac fly, and then Paul Sorrento cleared the bases with a two-run homer. The Yankees tried to come back in the bottom half by cutting the lead to one, but they couldn't finish the deal. Their record now stands at 70-52.
"Whenever you score a lot of runs and come back, it's always fun," Jeter said. "It's just that the ending wasn't too much fun." (Via NY Times)
Box score and current stats
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Mariners 4 2 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 13 19 0
Yankees 0 0 0 7 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 19 0Batting AB R H RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG
Jeter SS 7 2 3 1 0 1 .313 .370 .428
Boggs 3B 7 2 2 1 0 0 .317 .392 .401
B.Williams CF 6 1 2 0 1 3 .302 .382 .529
Fielder DH 4 0 1 2 1 1 .251 .354 .481
Fox PR 0 0 0 0 0 0 .190 .273 .253
G.Williams PH 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272 .320 .435
ONeill PH 2 0 0 0 0 1 .295 .411 .449
Martinez 1B 6 1 3 1 1 1 .307 .370 .477
Strawberry RF 5 1 1 1 2 1 .265 .379 .530
Duncan 2B 4 1 2 2 0 0 .322 .333 .463
Kelly PR-2B 2 0 0 0 0 2 .182 .250 .182
Raines LF 4 2 3 2 2 0 .301 .405 .419
Girardi C 6 2 2 2 0 1 .297 .353 .3762B:Duncan (23);Raines (5);Girardi (19); Jeter 2 (21). HR:Girardi (1) RBI:Girardi 2 (37);Fielder 2 (94);Raines 2 (12); Duncan 2 (44);Martinez (90);Strawberry (25); Boggs (34);Jeter (51).
Pitching IP H R ER BB SO ERA
Gooden 2.2 10 7 7 1 3 4.24
Pavlas 2.2 2 2 2 1 2 3.60
Polley 0.1 0 1 1 1 1 9.00
Wickman 0.1 1 0 0 2 1 4.52
Nelson 1 2 0 0 0 2 4.26
Rivera 3 2 0 0 1 5 1.98
Mecir L (1-1) 2 2 3 3 2 1 5.13