6/7/08: Linescore of the Day – Johnny Damon

The last time a Yankee did it was 1934 when Myril Hoag got six hits in ballgame, until Saturday when Johnny Damon was 6 for 6. Not only was Damon perfect in six at bats, he also was clutch. His fifth hit of the day tied the game and his 6th hit won it.

It was a real pitcher’s dual in the Bronx with Andy Pettitte on the mound for the Yankees, facing Brian Bannister of the Royals. Jose Guillen tagged Pettitte with a first inning two run two out blast. Jason Giambi’s two out single, plated Damon, who had a leadoff double, to make it 2-1 KC after one.

In the 3rd David DeJesus singles, scores on Mike Aviles’ triple, Mark Teahen was hit by a pitch, Aviles scored on Guillen’s single, and John Buck’s single scored Teahen, 5-1 Royals.

Bottom of four, ARod singles, Giambi walks, Jorge Posada doubles home Rodriguez, Robinson Cano singles home Giambi, Wilson Betemit’s sac-fly scores Posada, base knock by Melky Cabrera, Damon’s basehit scores Cano, with Joel Peralta now pitching for KC Damon steals 2nd, Derek Jeter lifts a flyball to right & Guillen guns down Cabrera tagging from 3rd, 5-5 tie.

Jason Giambi unties it with a two out solo shot, Peralta walks the next guy, and is replaced by Brett Tomko, who closes down the Yanks in the 5th, 6-5 NY.

7th inning: Alberto Callaspo rips a leadoff double, Esteban German beats out a bunt to 3rd, Joey Gathright softly grounds to Damon scoring Callaspo, DeJesus bunts the runners to 2nd & 3rd, Mike Aviles is given a free ride to load them up, Jose Guillen launches a grand slam after Teahen strikes out, Jose Veras replaces Pettitte, and gets Miguel Olivo swinging to end the top half of the 7th. In the bottom of the 7th, Bobby Abreu singles with one out and scores on ARod’s two run blast, saying goodbye to Tomko. Ramon Ramirez gets the next two batters, 10-8 KC.

In the bottom of the 8th with one out Johnny Damon tied the score by singling home Cano & Betemit, after they had singled, and moved up on a wild pitch. Jimmy Gobble & Yasuhiko Yabuta got the next two outs without any further damage, tied at 10.

9th inning, GAME TIME: DeJesus greeted Mariano Rivera with a homer to right putting the Royals up by one heading into the bottom of the 9th. Joakim Soria is brought on to close it out. With one out Posada’s line drive out to right knots the game at 11. But the Bombers aren’t done, as with two gone, Betemit walks, Cabrera singles, and Damon ends it with his 6th hit of the game to win it 12-11.

Johnny Damon 6 for 6, 1 2B, 1 R, 4 RBI’s, 1 SB, .326