Instant Replay Debuts: A-Rod passes the test

Finally, the long-awaited Instant Replay is here. Yes, it was installed into the major-league system to call fair or foul home run bombs, but it was never used…until now, in the Yankees 8-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Carl Pavano, by the way, started this game. This certainly erases some doubts regarding Pavano’s ability to keep the team in games.

Instant Replay debuted on the field…. AT LAST. Slugger Alex Rodriguez, determined to erase his title “DP-Rod”, smacked his 549th career homer off Rays veteran Troy Percival in the ninth inning of the Yanks’ win. It looked like it was going to go foul across the pole, but it didn’t, and halleluja, A-Rod increased the Yankees’ lead. However, the Rays protested the call, and the umpires took a view of the deep bomb via Instant Replay. IP took two minutes and 15 seconds to complete, and the umpires made the right call.

Carl Pavano outpitched Rays starter Edwin Jackson and managed to go four-plus innings before wearing down. Reliever Edwar Ramirez earned his 5th victory of the season after pitching and few innings, and callup Phil Coke continued to show his dominance in the major leagues. Could Coke be another Joba? Let’s hope so.

Now, the Yankees will have to focus on the Rays. A sweep is certainly possible.