Alex Rodriguez went 71 at-bats without a home run, the longest homer-less drought of his career, before ending that streak and ending an instant classic game with a walk off 2-run home run in the bottom of the 15th inning. It sure felt like October baseball in the Bronx with the cool weather and a great pitching duel between Josh Beckett and A.J. Burnett. Beckett pitched 7 innings, allowed just 4 hits, no runs, 2 walks and struck out 7. Burnett pitched 7 2/3 innings, allowed just 1 hit, no runs, 6 walks and struck out 6. The pitching in this game was so dominant that there was only one extra base hit (besides the a-rod home run) the whole game, a double from Robinson Cano. Both pitchers would end up getting a no decision. The bullpens were equally good too. The Red Sox used all 7 pitchers in their bullpen, as the Yankees used everyone but Robertson and Melancon. The Red Sox bullpen pitched 7.2 innings allowing only one hit (the home run), 1 earned run, 5 walks and had 7 strikeouts. The Yankees bullpen was even better in 7.1 innings pitched they allowed only 3 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks and had 8 strikeouts. It seemed like this game was never going to end because there were barely any hits, barely anything at all. That all changed in the bottom of the 15th inning. With one out and Jeter on 1st base, Alex Rodriguez launched a game winning, walk off 2-run home run to deep left center off of Boston's rookie pitcher Junichi Tazawa, to give the Yankees their 2nd victory of the season against the Red Sox and finally put an end to the 5 and a half hour game. With the win, the Yankees improve to 67-42 (best record in MLB) and extend their winning streak to 5 games. The Red Sox, who have lost 4 straight, fall to 62-46 and now are 4.5 games behind the Yankees for first place in the American League East.
Overall, the game will one day be on the YES Network as a "Yankee Classic."
Winning Pitcher - Phil Coke (3-3)
Losing Pitcher - Junichi Tazawa (0-1)
Player of the game - Alex Rodriguez ( 2 for 7, 1HR, 2 RBIs)
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