New York Yankees 4 — Tampa Bay Rays 7
Fielding errors and mental errors loom large in tonight’s 7-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Ivan Nova’s 6 innings of work tonight were a struggle as 3 of his 6 runs allowed were unearned. On a throw to home in the 3rd inning, Russell Martin dropped the ball on a play at the plate with 2 outs, extending the inning. The following batter, Jeff Keppinger, would end up hitting a two-run single that would not have scored had Russell Martin made the play. The second error of Russell Martin’s dreadful night came in the 7th inning. On a double steal, Russell Martin threw the ball into center field on a short-hop to Robinson Cano allowing a run to score again and extend the inning. Then, with 2 outs, Ben Zobrist would bring in another run in an inning that should not have been as long.
The mental errors took place when the Yankees were on the offense. In the 1st inning, Robinson Cano brought in Curtis Granderson with a run-scoring single. Then, inexcusably, Robinson Cano forgets how many outs and would be thrown out on a fly ball to center to complete a double play. In the 6th inning, Robinson Cano led off the inning with a single and Raul Ibanez would hit a double down the right field line that would lead to a play at the plate in which Cano was thrown out at home in what could have been a bit too aggressive by the Yankees. Mental errors and defensive errors have generally not been a habit of the Yankees but tonight’s game was one in which it happened in bunches.
Win – James Shields (8-5)
Loss – Ivan Nova (9-3)
Save – Fernando Rodney (24)
Notable
Yankees
*Robinson Cano – 2 for 4, RBI (48)
*Dewayne Wise – 2 for 3, R, Solo Home Run (3) in the 3rd, RBI (6)
Rays
*Sean Rodriguez – 3 for 4, R, 2B, 2-Run Home Run (6) in the 4th, 2 RBI (24)
*Jeff Keppinger – 1 for 4, 2 RBI (15)
Current Yankees Record: 48-32
