IT WAS OVER WHEN …
Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui homered in the seventh inning. The solo blast, Matsui’s ninth, led off the inning, which two outs later became the last for Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie.
O’S FANS CHEERED …
When manager Dave Trembley emphatically argued an interference call in the third inning, ultimately ending in his own ejection by home plate umpire Joe West. Melvin Mora had struck out, but after realizing Yankees catcher Ivan Rodriguez didn’t hold onto the final strike, changed his destination from the dugout to first base. Trembley argued the call until he was literally red in the face.
O’S FANS JEERED …
When the Yankees scored the first run of the game in the first inning. Alex Rodriguez’s double to deep center scored Johnny Damon, who beat the perfect relay from center fielder Jay Payton and shortstop Juan Castro, because catcher Ramon Hernandez received the ball poorly and didn’t properly block the plate.
FANTASY STUD …
Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi went 2-for-4 with three runs batted in to pace the Yankees’ eight-hit offense. Giambi’s third inning home run off Jeremy Guthrie came with two outs, gave the Yankees a 4-3 lead, and gave him 25 home runs for the ninth time in his career.
GOOD CALL …
By the Yankees to start oft-injured right-hander Carl Pavano. The outing was the veteran’s first start since early in 2007, and while he was hittable, Pavano lasted five innings to earn the victory.
BAD CALL …
By the umpiring crew — a number of calls, actually — according to the Orioles. A handful of Orioles had gripes with borderline pitches and close calls, but Trembley made the biggest statement prior to his third-inning ejection.
IF ONLY …
The Orioles had actually signed Pavano in the winter of 2004-05. Instead, Pavano signed a four-year contract with New York, worth nearly $40 million. Saturday’s start was Pavano’s 20th with the Yankees — making him worth between $1-2 million per start as he enters the final year of his contract. On second though, with a 5-6 record in those years, maybe it was better that the Orioles didn’t win the bidding war for the former Marlins hurler.
