2000 Diary, June 3: Yankees bullpen blows lead in Atlanta
No matter how old or young the players are, their size, their style of play, fans of any sport will pay good money to see the best of the best. At Turner Field on June 3, fans in attendance had the privilege of seeing two legends in action, this time taking the mound for their respective teams — Roger Clemens for the Yankees and Greg Maddux for the Atlanta Braves. Yet the matchup of aces didn't become the pitchers' duel that was expected, as New York and Atlanta settled into a slugfest.
June 3: Yankees 7, Braves 11 (box score)
Record: 29-22 (Tied for 1st place in AL East)
The visiting Yankees came into the second game of the three-game interleague series having won the first contest by a score of 5-2. And with two fantastic but stylistically different arms on the mound for both sides, it was bound to be an exciting bout with the Yankees looking to win a big series on the road against a 35-18 Braves squad.
Advertisement
The Bombers arrived on time, as well. The first four men in the order found their way on base via a hit. Chuck Knoblauch smoked a line drive to left, and Derek Jeter followed that up with a single of his own to center field. Paul O'Neill brought Knoblauch across home plate for the first run of the game with another line drive single to left, and Bernie Williams brought Jeter home with a double to center, putting the Yankees up 2-0.
The Braves responded in the bottom of the first against Clemens, cutting the lead to one run, but as a result of an error by Clemens on the throw to first. Clemens struck out the next two batters to keep the Yankees in the lead.
After Maddux struck out Clemens to begin the top of the second, Knoblauch hit another ball to left field, this time a double. He stole third base with Jeter up at the plate, and the Yankees' shortstop brought his middle infield partner across to score with a single, reinstating the two-run lead.
The Braves did not go away, though, as Bobby Bonilla doubled to right to lead off the bottom of the second inning. Groundouts from Rafael Furcal and Fernando Lunar brought Bonilla across to score, bringing the deficit back to one before the inning ended.
Advertisement
A surprising backup soon helped the Yankees out. Catcher Chris Turner stepped in for Jorge Posada after the soon-to-be All-Star took a pitch off the hand behind the plate and left injured. Although not remotely the offensive threat that Posada was, Turner celebrated his coincidental appearances at Turner Field by putting the Yankees back up two runs with a leadoff home run off Maddux in the top of the third, his first as a Yankee. Despite the billing of a matchup of two elite pitchers, neither starter could establish a rhythm.
In the bottom of the third, Jones led off the inning with a walk against Clemens, and after Wally Joyner reached on an error by Jeter, it was Brian Jordan's turn to respond, and he did. A loud crack of the bat sent the baseball flying over the left field wall and put Atlanta up 5-4, giving them their first lead of the game.
Yet again, the top of the Yankees' lineup came back against Maddux. Knoblauch went back to the dugout for the first time on the night before singles from Jeter and O'Neill. A double steal would've put runners in scoring position, but the throw from Atlanta catcher Lunar sailed, scoring Jeter and putting O'Neill at third. Williams grounded out with no movement from Jeter at third, but Martinez stepped up and brought Jeter across to score, reclaiming a 6-5 lead.
The Braves tied the game on a Javy López pinch-hit double to center that Williams could not corral, scoring Furcal. But in the top of the sixth, again the Yankees fought back, at last forcing Maddux from the game. Jeter scored his third run of the game on another Turner hit, and Maddux departed after 5.2 innings pitched, a startling 13 hits allowed, and seven earned runs against.
Advertisement
With the Yankees up 7-6, all they needed was for the bullpen to hold on, but that wasn't on the cards. Jason Grimsley pitched one inning clean, but allowed two unearned runs after an error credited to Martinez, a hit by pitch, and a wild pitch. A double from López scored two runs and gave the Braves a lead that they would not give away again.
New York's bullpen gave up three more runs in the bottom of the eighth, and the offense could not find a rally in their bones, dropping the contest 11-7. It was a sour way to go down; it must've been hard to envision dropping a game with Clemens on the mound on a day the offense pounded out 13 hits. In any event, the Yankees would look to regroup and take the series the next day with Andy Pettitte on the mound.
Read the full 2000 Yankees Diary series here.
Advertisement
More from pinstripealley.com:
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Red Sox' top surprise uses upper-90s heat differently from Garrett Crochet
Rookie Hunter Dobbins beat the Yankees for the second time in a week last Saturday, allowing just two hits and one walk while striking out five in 6 scoreless innings. But the 25-year-old righty — who will start for the Red Sox on Friday against the Giants in San Francisco — didn't blow away the Yankees in the same way as ace Garrett Crochet did the night before. Advertisement Dobbins has been Boston's most consistent starter behind Crochet. And he throws with about the same velo. Dobbins is in the 75th percentile among major leaguers in average fastball velocity (95.7 mph) while Crochet ranks in the 78th percentile (96.0 mph). But Dobbins (4-1, 3.74 ERA) threw zero four-seam fastballs to Aaron Judge last Saturday. He used six curveballs, four sliders, four splitters and two sweepers to retire Judge three times (two swinging strikeouts, one groundout to third). That's much different from Crochet's attack plan against Judge the night before when the ace struck him out three times before giving up a 443-foot, 115.5 mph solo homer to the reigning AL MVP to tie the game 1-1 in the ninth inning. Of the 21 pitches Crochet threw to Judge, 17 were four-seam fastballs. So why didn't Dobbins — who topped out at 98.2 mph against the Yankees — use the same heat against the star slugger? Advertisement Dobbins said his fastball doesn't have the same elite shape as Crochet's heater. 'He, also being from the left side, throws hard and hitters don't see that as often,' Dobbins said. 'And he has a little bit more ride and a little run than mine. He can use his as that power fastball. I have to set guys up a little bit more if I want to be able to use it that same way.' Dobbins has been Boston's biggest rotation surprise this year. BETTING: The total for Friday's series opener between the Red Sox and the Giants is set at 7.5 on DraftKings. Our complete list of Massachusetts sportsbook promos will help you determine which sportsbook to use. He was behind Richard Fitts, Quinn Priester and Cooper Criswell on the starting pitching depth chart in spring training. But 76 games into the 2025 season, he has thrown the fourth most innings (55 ⅓) among Red Sox pitchers. Advertisement Dobbins has done it this season with above-average command/control. He is in the 93rd percentile among major league pitchers in walk percentage (4.8) He has shown his fastball doesn't need the same elite shape as Crochet's but can he work to make it more like Crochet's? Dobbins' expected batting average against the four-seamer is 69 points higher than Crochet's. 'The fastball's one of those things that, if you're gonna throw a four-seam, your shape is your shape,' Dobbins explained. 'There's not really much you can do to change it drastically. There might be little tweaks but overall that's more of, I have to be smart and I have to set up my pitches the other way.' Dobbins saw an uptick in velocity during the second half last year. He put himself in a better position to maintain that mid-to-upper 90s velocity for a full season by adding weight in the offseason. As he said recently, 'I know to hold up for 162-plus (games) I couldn't be at 180, 200 pounds, so I got up to 210 now.' Advertisement Dobbins has increased his velocity without a focus on weighted balls like many pitchers use these days. 'Kind of old school, get in the weight room, lift,' he said. 'I like to long toss a lot, so yeah, stretch it out. Kind of throw it as far as I can. Let the body adjust that way. But then also I just let the body build up through the year. We're getting to that point where the body should start to be peaking a little bit. Weather's warming up, so start throwing a little harder with that. But yeah, just kinda old school ways.' How far does he long toss? 'I haven't really measured it, but I try to get at least over a football field. But I don't have an exact number.' Advertisement Dobbins also likes to toss the football around, even before his starts. 'Physically, it gets my shoulder going,' Dobbins said. 'Kind of loosens it up. It's a way that I can kind of get moving, bounce around, be athletic. Do a different motion than throwing a baseball. Mentally, it's something I've always done so it just kind of helps me relax, kind of get in the zone. Just kind of gets the day started right.' More Red Sox coverage Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Today on Pinstripe Alley - 6/22/25
For the most part, yesterday was exactly what the doctor ordered for the Yankees. Almost everything went right: Clarke Schmidt dazzled, Anthony Volpe broke out, and even JT Brubaker, who lost the team's combined no-hitter, perhaps thanks to a blown checked-swing call, can take solace in the fact that he completed his long journey back to the bigs after nearly three full years. Will Warren will go today in the rubber match, with the Yankees needing to start to stack victories soon with the Rays still hot on their heels. It's one of those odd morning Roku broadcasts, so be ready to tune in early today. Ahead of the game, Matt gets you up to speed with the Rivalry Roundup, and Kevin's entry in the 2000 Yankees diary looks at Jake Westbrook's last appearance with the Yankees, while Maximo goes over the results from our latest SB Nation reacts poll. And after the game, John's social media recap takes a look at Yankees HOPE Week. Today's Matchup: New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles Advertisement Time: 11:35 a.m. EST TV/Streaming: Roku Radio: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY Questions/Prompts: 1. Would you have been excited to see a combined no-hitter? Do those kinds of combined feats do much for you? 2. Which of the teams chasing the Yankees in the AL East has the scariest overall roster to you? More from
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Tigers' Javier Báez celebrates 10 years of MLB service time in best way possible
It was Javier Báez Day at Comerica Park. Not just because of his two home runs, but because he officially reached 10 years of MLB service time on Tuesday, June 17 — exactly 3,969 days after his debut. Less than 10% of all MLB players reach 10 years, which fully vests them in the league's pension plan and symbolizes longevity in the game) complete with a lifetime pass to MLB games). Báez celebrated the moment with a pair of homers for the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. "It's fun to watch him thrive on this team," manager A.J. Hinch said. "He gives us a ton on the field, behind the scenes, and he's all in. I love this for him tonight." Celebrate 125 seasons of the Tigers with our new book! There were other celebrations, too. His locker was decked out with balloons. Puerto Rican food was served in the cafeteria. Flags from his homeland hung in the clubhouse. His teammates gifted him a signed bottle of champagne. After that, Báez put on a spectacular performance during Tuesday's 7-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates — solo homers in the fifth and seventh innings. "It feels great to be here," said Báez, who went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and delivered his second two-homer game of the season. "It's been a long way. A lot of ups and downs in this game. I've been down many times. I never kept my head down. I kept working. And I'll keep working to the last day." This story is about more than one night. It's about a player who has seen the darkest of days and is finally seeing the light again. The stats show Báez was the worst hitter in baseball in the 2023 and 2024 seasons, but in 2025, he is the frontrunner for American League Comeback Player of the Year and is on the doorstep of representing the Tigers in the All-Star Game. "Usually, when I do good, it's in the second half," said Báez, who ranked fifth among AL outfielders in thr All-Star Game fan voting released Monday, June 16. 'If I get to the All-Star Game, I'm honestly going to be happy. If not, I'm going to get my rest for the second half." In 2025, Báez is hitting .289 with nine home runs, for a .798 OPS in 62 games. That's a massive improvement from the past three seasons: a .238 batting average and .671 OPS in 2022, .222 with a .593 OPS in 2023 and .184 with a .516 OPS in 2024 — the worst stretch of his 12-year MLB career. Báez leads Tigers' position players with 1.8 bWAR, trailing only starting pitcher Tarik Skubal. He started the season as a utility player for matchups against left-handed pitchers, became the everyday center fielder for more than a month and is now back to his old role as the primary shortstop. His 22% strikeout rate is the lowest mark of his career. He has been a positive contributor to the team with the best record in baseball. "You guys get such a guarded version of him, and we get the unfiltered version behind the scenes," Hinch said. "He still has a lot of youthfulness in him. He still has a ton of energy. He loves being at the ballpark and being with his teammates. I think he's really embracing Detroit and trying to help us win." Before Tuesday's game, Tigers players and coaches honored Báez behind the scenes in the hitters meeting. They all talked about Aug. 5, 2014 — the night Báez made his MLB debut. In the 12th inning, on his sixth plate appearance, he crushed a solo home run off Boone Logan for his first hit in the big leagues. Then came the perspective: Riley Greene was only 13 years old that night; Colt Keith was just 12. The room of players and coaches also credited Báez for everything he's accomplished since then: World Series championship in 2016, All-Star selections in 2018 and 2019, a Silver Slugger in 2018 and a Gold Glove in 2020. Báez was the center of attention. He showed his emotions in the way he responded to their praise in the meeting — a little bit shy, a little bit embarrassed, but very thankful. "It means a lot," Báez said. "I still got a long way to go, but I can say I did it. It feels like it was yesterday, and it feels like it's been forever, but I'm just blessed to be here." On Tuesday, Báez reflected on his family. Back in August 2014, Báez had ten family members at his MLB debut against the Colorado Rockies in Denver— including his sister, Noely. She was born with spina bifida and died in April 2015, just eight months after her brother's first game. His earliest goal was simple: Make it to the big leagues in time for his sister to see him play. "I've never seen a person fight for their life more than my sister," Báez said. "My kids ask me about her. I'm always happy to talk about her. I get sensitive about it, but it's a good thing to remember her and have her present in my life and in my family." In June 2025, Báez had his wife, Irmarie Márquez, and his children in the stands for the 1,284th game of his career, in which he hit two home runs against the Pirates. He has two sons — his youngest is 4; his oldest turns 7 soon. His latest goal is just as simple: keep playing until it's time to be a full-time dad. "After every game, my oldest kid tells me what I didn't do right," Báez said, laughing. "He tells me that I didn't put my leg out on my stance and a lot of things. It's just funny the way they see the game. But the game is the same." Báez has been many things in his MLB career — a prodigy, a star, a champion, a struggling veteran. These days, he is still standing after all of those experiences, both good and bad. He's playing for a World Series contender again. He's still playing for his family. And he's back to playing some of his best baseball. "His story in Detroit is not over, but it's been written a couple of different ways," Hinch said. "He's had to ride a pretty big roller coaster in his time here, and now he's contributing to a good team and doing a lot of different things for us — and being that same joyful young guy behind the scenes."
