Classic Games: New York Yankees @ Tampa Bay Devil Rays - July 13th, 2007
by Scrooge McSuck
New York Yankees Starting Lineup
1. DH - Johnny Damon
2. CF - Melky Cabrera
3. SS - Derek Jeter
4. 3B - Alex Rodriguez
5. C - Jorge Posada
6. LF - Hideki Matsui
7. 1B - Andy Phillips
8. RF - Kevin Thompson
9. 2B - Miguel Cairo
SP - Roger Clemens
(Coming off the bench... RF Bobby Abreu (T7), 2B Robinson Cano (T7))
(Coming out of the bullpen... Brian Bruney (B6), Mike Myers (B6), Scott Proctor (B7), Luis Vizcaino (B7)
Tampa Bay Devil Rays Starting Lineup:
1. 3B - Akinori Iwamura
2. LF - Carl Crawford
3. 2B - Brendan Harris
4. 1B - Carlos Pena
5. RF - Delmon Young
6. CF - B.J. Upton
7. DH - Greg Norton
8. C - Dioner Navarro
9. SS - Josh Wilson
SP - Scott Kazmir
(Coming out of the bullpen... Jay Witasick (T7), Casey Fossum (T7), Gary Glover (T8)
Okay, from a technical sense, this isn't a classic game, but for me, it'll have a special place in my black heart. For those unfamiliar with my sports habit, I'm a pretty darn big Yankee fan, much like two generations of Scrooge ancesters before me. Nothing gets me excited more than a moment of Yankee magic. Although I can spout off the numerous and many moments of the past from decades before, that wouldn't make sense since I didn't see them as it happend. But moments like Jeter's flip, Boone's walk off homer, Doc Gooden's no hitter, David Wells and David Cone's perfect games, Games 4 and 5 of the 2001 World Series, and countless other moments, it's been nothing but fun to be a Yankees fan.
On the other hand, I'm always a Tampa Bay Rays fan, for reasons mainly being they're the local team in my area and I had to watch something when I didn't have extra innings. Despite having a rather pathetic history, the Rays of recent years have been developing plenty of young stars that should help them at least break .500, but with the most shakey of bullpens in baseball, it's going to be a tough road to travel.
So I'm a Yankees and Rays fan, and I get to go to the game on July 13th, 2007. The pitching match-up for the game? Scott Kazmir vs. Roger Clemens. One of the games best pitchers of all time, making his last appearence (most likely) at Tropicana Field, against one of the best young pitchers today. Add to the fact the Yankees lineup consists of Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, A-Rod, and a host of other players I wet my pants over, and I'm in mark heaven.
It's a pretty long drive from where I live to Tropicana Field, located in a ghetto ass area of St. Pete. 90 minutes one way, listening to my moron brother rambling on about whatever comes to his mind and listening to demonic screaming music I can't stand. But with my Yankee cap on (and a Rays shirt concealed under a shirt incase I had to flip flop), I just couldn't wait to see the game. It's not every day there's such a buzz for a game at Tropicana Field, even when the Yankees get there.
You might expect the turn-out to be over-whelmingly Yankee fans, as did I... and we're all wrong. While there was strong Yankee support, there was a lot of Rays green in the crowd (and asshole SAWX fans) there to boo Jeter off the field and cheer wildly for... well, not much, but Carl Crawford got some nice responses. Kaz' too, of course. I, a Yankee supporter that night, had the unfortunate luck of sitting in a section almost made up entirely of Rays fans. Yes, I was cheering the Rays at points too, but I wanted to scream my love for the Yankees at the top of my lungs.
For the most part, this game wasn't an example of a pitchers duel. Clemens pitched into the 6th inning, but walked four batters (two of them scoring), struck out only two, allowed five earn runs, and just wasn't very over-powering tto a lineup that consisted of light-hitting Dioner Navarro, Josh Wilson, washed-up Greg Norton, and utility-man Brendan Harris. Yes, there's also C.C., Carlos Pena, B.J. Upton, Delmon "Bat-Man" Young, and Aki, but the Rays lineup is nowhere near scary like the Yanks or Sox. Brian Bruney, Mike Myers, Jose Vizcaino, and Scott "Fire-Man" Proctor worked 2+ innings in relief, holding the Rays to just one run.
On the other side of the spectrum, Kazmir lasted 6 innings himself, also walked four batters, but fanned seven and only allowed one unearned run off of four hits. Jay Witasick and Casey Fossum did their damn-dest to blow the lead for Kazmir, up 5-1 after 6 innings, as it became a ball game again after back-to-back homers from Posada and Hideki Matsui in the top of the 8th inning. With Al Reyes inactive (on the DL at the time, I believe), Gary Glover, who was as close to reliable as a Rays bullpen guy could be at the time, had the task of cleaning up Fossum's mess, and shut down all five batters he faced, picking up the save.
Highlights of the game for me included: The flashbulbs for Alex Rodriguez's at-bats. It's not like it is in Yankee Stadium, but it was prtetty cool. In the top of the 6th inning with two outs and runners on 1st and 2nd, Kazmir struck out Matsui and Andy Phillips to get himself out of trouble. Carl Crawford stole 3rd base in the bottom of the 7th inning (and eventually scoring the 6th and final Rays run of the game). Jorge Posada and Hideki Matsui going back to back in the top of the 8th off of Casey Fossum. Oh, and of course, the brief "Let's go Yankees!" chants that popped up here and there. Oh, and the wave, but we all know how everyone hates those things.
And as a bonus, verbal lashings from Yankee and Sawx fans as everyone was leaving the stadium. Nothing is more hilarious than a faggot with a thick Bah-ston accent talking shit, then having a chick with a thick Brooklyn accent tell him to suck a cock, and then having the Boston dude make an even cruder remark in response. Tons of "fuck you's", "yankees suck", "red sox suck", "boston sucks", and "new york sucks" comments for the entire 10 minutes it took to get out of the place.
All in all, it was a pretty fun experience. I got to watch a legend, future hall of famers, most of my favorite players, and some exciting moments all under one roof (damn Tropicana Field). It wasn't the best game I've seen live (TB/Cleveland from 4/21/07 still holds that honor), but this game meant more to me for a personal reason. I finally got to see my Yankees live, and it's just amazing to watch them on the field. If only I had gotten to see Mariano Rivera pitch, it would've been the perfect night. Now, all that's left to do is find a way to save up some money and make a trip up to New York to watch a game live in Yankee Stadium. Until next time...
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