“They make mistakes, too. They made a mistake there and we just got to live with it.”
- Joe Mauerplays it classy, even though umpire Phil Cuzzi’s blown call during Friday’s Game 2 possibly cost the Twins a run in an eventual 4-3 loss to the Yankees. The team’s season is now on life support as they head back to Minnesota for Game 3.
“You feel so good. You grind out an at-bat against one of the best closers in the game, and you get a favorable count and you get a pitch in your wheelhouse, and obviously you don’t want to miss it. And the fun part is I was just thinking base hit, hit the ball hard somewhere.”
- With a ninth-inning, game-tying home run off Joe Nathan in Game 2, Alex Rodriguezis quickly shaking that pesky “unclutch” tagthat has followed him since joining the Yankees. He is 4-for-8 with five RBI over the first two games of the ALDS.
“I just wanted him to show me some respect. He just straight-faced me and walked away. He’d be pissed if I did that to him. Just listen to what I have to say. Don’t just take your mask off, and walk away. I know I can’t say anything. I guess they have more power than anybody. It’s a frustrating deal because ... I’m not even a person that you’ll respect. I don’t know what I need to do.”
- More trouble with the men in blue,as Josh Beckett was peeved with home plate umpire C.B. Bucknorafter he failed to acknowledge concerns that Mike Napoli turned into a curveball in the seventh inning of Friday’s Game 2. The hit-by-pitch opened the door for two more runs to score.
“No, our strategy is that we need to win. No, we need to win a game.”
- Terry Francona, upon being asked if his strategy changes now that the Red Soxare on the brink of elimination.
