Jeter has rare quiet night in AL win
07/12/2006 2:20 AM ET
Jeter has rare quiet night in AL win
Yankees captain hitless in three trips; A-Rod goes 0-for-2
By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com
PITTSBURGH -- Derek Jeter entered Tuesday's All-Star Game as the top hitter in All-Star history. Unfortunately for the Yankees' shortstop, he didn't leave PNC Park with the same title.
Jeter went 0-for-3, matching the total number of hitless at-bats he had in his previous six appearances in the Midsummer Classic.
Alex Rodriguez, starting at third base for the third consecutive season, was hitless in his two at-bats. Both Jeter and A-Rod left the game after the top of the sixth with the American League trailing by a run.
"Both sides have great pitching staffs, and good pitching is going to beat good hitting most of the time," Jeter said. "The pitching staffs did well on both sides."
"It was fun, it was great to be out there and a great game," Rodriguez said. "The pitching on both sides [was] really dominating."
The AL came back to beat the NL, 3-2, as Michael Young delivered a two-out, two-run triple in the top of the ninth off Padres closer Trevor Hoffman. True to his word, Ozzie Guillen summoned Mariano Rivera for the newly-created save opportunity, and the Yankees stopper faced four batters, retired the side and earned the save.
"I've seen him from the bench a few times when I've been hurt, but he's automatic," Jeter said. "He's not scared of anyone. He's going to challenge them."
The AL is now 9-0-1 in the last 10 All-Star Games, keeping Jeter's record a perfect 6-0-1. The last time the NL won the Midsummer Classic was 1996.
"I wouldn't call it domination," Jeter said. "We got some breaks today and had the good ninth inning. It's just one of those things; we're on a roll right now."
Jeter entered the game with seven hits in 10 career All-Star at-bats, giving him a .700 average -- the highest for any player in history with at least 10 at-bats.
His three hitless at-bats brought him down to .538 (7-for-13), leaving him behind Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn, who had six hits in 10 career All-Star at-bats for a .600 average.
Complete All-Star Game coverage >"Probably not anymore," Jeter said after being informed of his pregame standing as the All-Star Game's top hitter. "That puts a lot of pressure on me if I make it back again, huh?"
The shortstop came up against NL starter Brad Penny with one out in the first inning, but Jeter couldn't improve on his average, striking out in a seven-pitch at-bat. Jeter wasn't alone, though, as Penny struck out the side by getting Ichiro Suzuki and David Ortiz, too.
As he did last summer, A-Rod sported white shoes for the game in honor of Keith Hernandez and Gary Carter, two of his favorite players from his childhood.
Rodriguez led off the second inning against Penny, quickly falling behind, 0-2. A-Rod fouled off a few pitches before grounding out to shortstop Edgar Renteria on the seventh pitch.
"We knew he was going to be tough to hit," A-Rod said of Penny. "He throws very hard and throwing strikes."
Jeter and A-Rod both came to bat in the fourth, facing Arizona's Brandon Webb. Jeter led off the inning with his second strikeout of the night, while A-Rod grounded out to Renteria once again, ending the frame.
"When you're facing guys for the first time, you don't really know what they have," said Jeter, who was surprised to see Webb throw him a curveball. "He's been pitching well all season, and he did a good job tonight."
Jeter's third and final at-bat came in the sixth against Rockies closer Brian Fuentes. Jeter grounded out to third baseman David Wright, making the final out of the inning and closing out his 0-for-3 night. Jeter was replaced in the bottom of the sixth by Miguel Tejada.
"The way I was swinging, I was ready to come out," Jeter said.
Jeter watched the rest of the game from the dugout, trying to cheer on his teammates, who had done the same for him during the first 5 1/2 innings. As the AL came to bat in the ninth, Jeter had a feeling he was about to see something special.
"I called it from the bench," he said." I said if we got a couple of guys on, Michael Young would win the game for us. He can flat-out hit."
Despite his night at the plate, Jeter left the ballpark with a smile on his face after watching his team come back in the ninth inning to earn home-field advantage in the World Series for the AL.
"We won; that's a good memory," Jeter said. "That's the biggest thing; when you come here, you want to play well and win, and we were able to do that."
Mark Feinsand is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
© 2001-2006 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
Jeter has rare quiet night in AL win
Yankees captain hitless in three trips; A-Rod goes 0-for-2
By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com
PITTSBURGH -- Derek Jeter entered Tuesday's All-Star Game as the top hitter in All-Star history. Unfortunately for the Yankees' shortstop, he didn't leave PNC Park with the same title.
Jeter went 0-for-3, matching the total number of hitless at-bats he had in his previous six appearances in the Midsummer Classic.
Alex Rodriguez, starting at third base for the third consecutive season, was hitless in his two at-bats. Both Jeter and A-Rod left the game after the top of the sixth with the American League trailing by a run.
"Both sides have great pitching staffs, and good pitching is going to beat good hitting most of the time," Jeter said. "The pitching staffs did well on both sides."
"It was fun, it was great to be out there and a great game," Rodriguez said. "The pitching on both sides [was] really dominating."
The AL came back to beat the NL, 3-2, as Michael Young delivered a two-out, two-run triple in the top of the ninth off Padres closer Trevor Hoffman. True to his word, Ozzie Guillen summoned Mariano Rivera for the newly-created save opportunity, and the Yankees stopper faced four batters, retired the side and earned the save.
"I've seen him from the bench a few times when I've been hurt, but he's automatic," Jeter said. "He's not scared of anyone. He's going to challenge them."
The AL is now 9-0-1 in the last 10 All-Star Games, keeping Jeter's record a perfect 6-0-1. The last time the NL won the Midsummer Classic was 1996.
"I wouldn't call it domination," Jeter said. "We got some breaks today and had the good ninth inning. It's just one of those things; we're on a roll right now."
Jeter entered the game with seven hits in 10 career All-Star at-bats, giving him a .700 average -- the highest for any player in history with at least 10 at-bats.
His three hitless at-bats brought him down to .538 (7-for-13), leaving him behind Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn, who had six hits in 10 career All-Star at-bats for a .600 average.
Complete All-Star Game coverage >"Probably not anymore," Jeter said after being informed of his pregame standing as the All-Star Game's top hitter. "That puts a lot of pressure on me if I make it back again, huh?"
The shortstop came up against NL starter Brad Penny with one out in the first inning, but Jeter couldn't improve on his average, striking out in a seven-pitch at-bat. Jeter wasn't alone, though, as Penny struck out the side by getting Ichiro Suzuki and David Ortiz, too.
As he did last summer, A-Rod sported white shoes for the game in honor of Keith Hernandez and Gary Carter, two of his favorite players from his childhood.
Rodriguez led off the second inning against Penny, quickly falling behind, 0-2. A-Rod fouled off a few pitches before grounding out to shortstop Edgar Renteria on the seventh pitch.
"We knew he was going to be tough to hit," A-Rod said of Penny. "He throws very hard and throwing strikes."
Jeter and A-Rod both came to bat in the fourth, facing Arizona's Brandon Webb. Jeter led off the inning with his second strikeout of the night, while A-Rod grounded out to Renteria once again, ending the frame.
"When you're facing guys for the first time, you don't really know what they have," said Jeter, who was surprised to see Webb throw him a curveball. "He's been pitching well all season, and he did a good job tonight."
Jeter's third and final at-bat came in the sixth against Rockies closer Brian Fuentes. Jeter grounded out to third baseman David Wright, making the final out of the inning and closing out his 0-for-3 night. Jeter was replaced in the bottom of the sixth by Miguel Tejada.
"The way I was swinging, I was ready to come out," Jeter said.
Jeter watched the rest of the game from the dugout, trying to cheer on his teammates, who had done the same for him during the first 5 1/2 innings. As the AL came to bat in the ninth, Jeter had a feeling he was about to see something special.
"I called it from the bench," he said." I said if we got a couple of guys on, Michael Young would win the game for us. He can flat-out hit."
Despite his night at the plate, Jeter left the ballpark with a smile on his face after watching his team come back in the ninth inning to earn home-field advantage in the World Series for the AL.
"We won; that's a good memory," Jeter said. "That's the biggest thing; when you come here, you want to play well and win, and we were able to do that."
Mark Feinsand is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
© 2001-2006 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
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