Indians-Yankees : Victor Martinez Delivers Walk-Off Single

Victor Martinez is the only Indians starter with a .300-plus batting average this year, so it seemed appropriate he’d deliver the walk-off hit in Saturday’s 4-3 win over the New York Yankees.

Tied 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth, Grady Sizemore set the table by getting a one-out single. David Dellucci followed Sizemore with a single of his own, putting runners on first and second. 

With Travis Hafner at the plate, the Yankees’ pitcher, Ross Ohlendorf, threw a wild pitch, moving Sizemore and Dellucci to second and third. With first base open, the Yankees walked Hafner to load the bases, bringing up Martinez. He delivered the game-winning single. Sizemore trotted home; game over.

It was the Indians’ fifth win in a row.

The Indians took a 3-0 lead in the second with a lot of small ball. Johnny Peralta started the inning off with a single. Asdrubal Cabrera singled. Franklin Gutierrez executed a perfect sacrifice bunt, moving up the runners. 

Casey Blake took the free pass on a full count, loading the bases. Sizemore also walked on a full count, plating Peralta. Dellucci score Cabrera on a sacrifice flyout, and Hafner singled in Sizemore to round out the scoring. 

Alex Rodriguez led off New York’s three-run sixth with a single, the two straight walks to Jason Giambi, who was hit by a pitch, and Duncan, who walked on four straight balls, loaded the bases for pinch hitter Jorge Posada. He delivered a two-out triple, clearing the bases and evening the score at three.

The Yankees scored three runs on 12 hits. The Indians scored four runs on eight hits. Masa Kobayashi picked up his first win of the season after pitching the eighth and ninth innings, striking out two. Ohlendorf registered the loss. 

Jeremy Sowers was fair in his season debut, scattering seven hits over five and a third, but taking three runs after Jensen Lewis gave up the triple to Posada and earned himself a blown save.