Pitching and defense wins championships!
That is an old adage that rings very true.
It certainly was the difference in this game.

Both starting pitchers (Donnie Dunham - Yankees/ Phil Gadomski - Marlins) did credible jobs, and gave their teams a chance to win the game. Both teams were held scoreless in 5 of the 7 innings. Most of the runs were scored in bunches.
The Yankees scored 3, in the 1st inning, on a RBI triple by Rick Royka, a RBI single by John Kalinski, and a RBI double by Ray Demers.

The Marlins would score 5 runs in the 3rd, to take a 5-3 lead. Jim Ansel, Joe Hervieux,and Randy Craft had singles, and Tom Maney and Tim Brown had doubles in the rally. The Fish would make it 6-3, with a run in the 4th inning. Tom Maney, singled, stole second, went to third on a Tim Brown fielders choice, and scored on a 2-out single by Mike Girard.
The Yankees would close to 6-4 with an unearned run in the 6th, on a RBI single by John Kalinski.

The difference in this one was the infield play turned in by the Marlins defense! A perfect relay by Randy Craft in the first inning cut the Yankees 3-run rally short. Craft, and Brown combined on a gorgeous double play in the third inning, and TJ Scorsone teamed up with Tim Brown on an around-the-horn double play in the 5th inning. To cap off the evening, Randy Craft went deep into the hole at short, made a great play on what looked like a sure single and made a perfect throw to first to end the game. Pitchers are lining up all over to pitch in front of this infield defense. It was fun to watch!

-- Edited by mgirard11 on Friday 3rd of August 2012 04:49:52 PM