Historic hit-by-pitches, and other notes from a 4:45 game

Before today's affair, the last Yankees "walk-off' hit-by-pitch victory was 43 years ago - July 15, 1965 - when Clete Boyer was plunked by Steve Ridzik. Thanks to retrosheet.org, here's how that 12th inning went vs. the Senators at old Yankee Stadium.

YANKEES 12TH: HOWIE KOPLITZ PITCHING: Phil Linz
grounded out; Ray Barker singled to right; Elston Howard
singled to left [Barker to second]; Tom Tresh walked [Barker to
third, Howard to second]; Joe Pepitone fouled out to catcher; STEVE RIDZIK REPLACED KOPLITZ (PITCHING); Clete Boyer was hit by
a pitch [Barker scored]; Yankees 2, Senators 1 FINAL

Points from today's game:

- Joba could've pitched a 7th inning. Girardi didn't want to spend him any more in the heat. "You've got to be careful,'' Girardi said.

- Mo Rivera has allowed one run in five games in which he's entered a tied game (he's entered in 7 ties this year).

- Posada was taken out due to a sore right hand suffered in the 7th inning, and he didn't dismiss that the condition might have contributed to two Oakland steals in the 9th. Girardi took him out then, but the question of Posada's defense, especially late in games, remains at issue.

- Johnny Damon wants to be in Sunday's lineup. The Yankees want to wait another day, at least, but Damon told Girardi, "I'm ready.'' Stay tuned. (He's eligible to come off the DL Sunday).