Yanks/Angels Game 2: Holy Cow!

May 1, 2009

Talk about a wild one. 

After that four-run first inning, it seemed as if the Yanks would send Jered I-Look-Like-A-Surfer-Dude Weaver to the showers early.

But he settled down and/or the Yankees took a nap, and despite the rainy conditions he and Pettitte both hung in. 

Then came the sixth, when manager Mike So-sha started pointing to his nose and his chin and his nose again – the secret signs he uses to get the Angels to play their famous brand of small ball.

Suddenly, the Angels sprouted wings and flew around the bases, scoring two and knocking out Pettitte. Oh, Andy.

Not that Mark Melancholy did much better, serving up a triple to Gary Matthews, Jr. that put the Angels ahead 5-4. As if that wasn’t bad enough, he threw a wild pitch to Abreu and went slipping and sliding on the wet infield as he tried to tag Matthews at the plate.

I was surprised that nobody came out to calm the kid down – not Eiland or Girardi or even Posada – but maybe I was too busy cursing at the TV to notice.

Speaking of cursing, Veras entered the game in the seventh and I was not happy to see him. “DON’T WALK THE LEADOFF BATTER LIKE YOU ALWAYS DO!” I yelled. So, of course, that’s what he did. Total carnage followed, including a suicide squeeze.

Ramirez allowed more damage, and when the inning was finally over the Yankees were down 9-4. Two things became very clear.

One: Jose and Edwar were useless.

Two: The Magic Pen was in danger of being useless too.

And then a miracle in the eighth.

We got to their bullpen with hits from Cano, Gardner, Melky and Pena (and a walk by Posada) to bring us to 9-8. And after Albaladejo retired the side in order in the top of the ninth, we struck again.

After Tex walked and Matsui and Cano singled, Posada stepped in. I stood in front of the TV, my face THIS close to the screen, clutching the Magic Pen and hoping against all hope.

And then? Walkoff single and a 10-9 victory. 

There was sheer bedlam at my house as the neighbors joined the celebration.

After they left, it was time to say a special thank-you to the Magic Pen. I mean, seriously. Four straight wins since I fished it out of a drawer and started using it to keep score? No coincidence there. The pen is getting it done.

For starters, the pen and I toasted the Yankees’ success and shared a nice bottle of Syrah.

Then, because the pen had been dropping hints about wanting a car, I bought it one. And not just any one.

I even let the pen drive the Porsche.

To cap a fantastic night, I went clubbing with the pen and introduced it to several of Santa Barbara’s boldfaced names, including these two.

I was a little embarrassed when it gushed over them and acted all celebrity-crazy. But I was totally humiliated when it slobbered all over Michael Douglas and leaked ink all over his white shirt.

I made the mistake of telling it that Douglas had won a Best Actor Academy Award for “Wall Street.” Before I could stop it, the pen actually grabbed the Oscar right out of his hands and stood next to it!

It was nearly 2 a.m. when I finally put the pen to bed and told it to get some sleep. 

“We have a day game against the Angels tomorrow,” I said. “I need you rested and ready to go.”

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Written by mlblogsjaneheller Posted in Dailies Tagged with Academy Awards, Andy Pettitte, Angels, Edwar Ramirez, Jered Weaver, Jorge Posada, Jose Veras, Michael Douglas, Mike Scioscia, Porsche Boxster, Yankees