Chris Capuano (1-2, 4.40 ERA) has fallen on some hard times but looks to correct this ship against Jake Odorizzi (10-11, 3.84 ERA). Capuano allowed four runs in just 4 1/3 innings in his last start against the Red Sox, which was his worst as a Yankee. He served up three homers, two to David Ortiz in his first two at bats. The Yankees still won the game thanks to a Chase Headley walkoff bomb. “The win was absolutely huge, especially the way the game started,” Capuano said. “We were kind of in a hole there early and for them to really grind it out, keep it close and come through there at the end. Every game is huge for us right now.”
Odorizzi has been great in his last two starts going a combined 14 1/3 innings without allowing a run. He has allowed six runs in 9 2/3 innings against New York this year. Odorizzi is nine strikeouts shy of the Rays record for most strikeouts by a rookie. “I didn’t even know that. I don’t even know what the record is,” Odorizzi said. “Closing in is a cool thing. I’m a lot different than Matt and Kazmir in pitching style and they’re lefties. Whatever the record may be, if I get it, I get it. I’m not too worried. If I do, it will be something very cool — a cool way to sum up the season in which a lot of people didn’t think I’d be doing what I’m doing right now.”
Jacoby Ellsbury has hit safely in 15 of his past 19 games and is batting .361 (26-72) during that stretch with two doubles, three triples, five homers and 14 RBIs. He has at least one RBI in 10 of those 19 games, helping up his RBI tally this season to 67, second to his career high 105 in 2011.
Notes on the game
The Yankees need 12 more homers to reach 15,000 in franchise history.
The Yankees are 5 1/2 games back of the second American League Wild Card spot.
7:05 pm on Yes
