NewsStick figures: Matsui, Tex, Cano
Three Yankees could be Game 6 keys to solving Pedro
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com
11/03/09 7:42 PM EST
NEW YORK -- Pedro Martinez views it as a gift and a blessing that he will be standing at the center of Yankee Stadium for Game 6 of the World Series on Wednesday. The Yankees see him as the final obstacle to overcome to reach their ultimate goal.
Relegated to pinch-hitting duty during the games at Citizens Bank Park, Matsui belted a homer in the Yankees' 8-5, Game 3 victory. The designated hitter is batting .556 (5-for-9) with two homers and two RBIs in the World Series.
"Getting Matsui back is always important to our lineup," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He's been a huge hitter in our lineup over the course of the year, a great RBI guy, big hits, home runs. That's a very good thing."
Also adding a pinch-hit single in the ninth inning of Game 5 in Philadelphia off Ryan Madson, moving the potential tying run to the plate, the dangerous DH's postseason average has bumped to .308 spanning 14 games this year. He has a homer among four hits in 28 career regular-season at-bats against Martinez.
"This guy has a chance to turn a game around every at-bat," Teixeira said. "Having him back in the lineup in our home park will be a nice boost for us."
So would recapturing the contributions of Teixeira, who led the American League with 39 homers and drove in 122 runs this year, but has been a sliver of his offensive self in the World Series. Teixeira is 2-for-19 with one home run in the Fall Classic, striking out representing the tying run to end Game 5.
Girardi said that he is hoping Teixeira's eighth-inning double and run scored in Game 5 will be the enduring memory, which helped the Yankees fight a six-run deficit and move within striking distance in an 8-6 loss.
With Teixeira stroking a double in six regular-season at-bats against Martinez, the Yankees also haven't forgotten his big Game 2 home run into the bullpen, which shattered the righty's dominant start after he had quieted the raucous "Who's Your Daddy?" chants through the first three innings at Yankee Stadium.
"He's had some struggles," Girardi said. "He's hit some hits, too, some hits that have helped us. He won a game with a home run. He's struggled a little bit, but he hit a home run off of Pedro to get us going, and I'll take my chances with him every day in the lineup."
The saying is that you stick with the guys who got you here, and so the Yankees will keep playing Cano at second base despite just a 3-for-18 showing thus far in the World Series and only a .208 batting average in the postseason overall.
Cano barely touched Martinez in Game 2, held to three flyouts. But that is nothing new for the second baseman and fellow Dominican Republic native, who is 0-for-12 in the regular season against Martinez.
"I felt Robby swung the bat pretty well last night, and I feel good about him," Girardi said, referring to Game 5. "... As far as Pedro, you know what his stuff is. You have an idea how he got you out the last time. That doesn't mean he's going to do it this time. Pedro is a smart pitcher. But you know what he's got and what his repertoire is, and you're a little bit more prepared when you've seen a guy."
Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
