New York Yankees 2 – Texas Rangers 4
Masahiro Tanaka struggles in tonight’s game in Texas.
After a scoreless first inning that included a good pickoff by Tanaka, the Yankees got the offense going in the second inning. Carlos Beltran fought off pitches from Colby Lewis to lead off the second and he finally got a hold of one and put it over the wall in right field for a solo home run. After two outs, Didi Gregorius kept his bat going with a single. Stephen Drew hit a single to center field where Delino DeShields Jr. bobbled the ball, allowing Gregorius to advance to third. Jacoby Ellsbury made the most of the runner at third with a single to center field to score the second run of the game.
Tanaka looked to make the two-run lead stand but the Texas Rangers got to him.
Adrian Beltre started the bottom of the second inning with a single. Mitch Moreland walked and Josh Hamilton hit a single to right field, scoring Beltre easily. Tanaka got the first out of the inning but Shin-Soo Choo hit a single to left field to tie the game at two. Delino DeShields Jr. joined in with a run-scoring single to right field, giving the Rangers the lead with a three-run second inning.
The Rangers added on another run in the fifth inning on a double play but the Yankees couldn’t take advantage of good situations with runners in scoring position.
In the sixth inning, Brian McCann got on base with a ground-rule double down the right field line but Carlos Beltran and Garrett Jones struck out to end the inning with McCann stranded on second.
In six innings, Masahiro Tanaka allowed four runs on nine hits while walking three and striking out three. The command that is expected of Tanaka eluded him tonight.
Caleb Cotham made his major league debut in the seventh inning after Chasen Shreve struck out one and walked one. Didi Gregorius could not handle a potential double play ball for the first batter Cotham faced. He got his first career strikeout of Mitch Moreland but Josh Hamilton hit a single to right field to extend the Rangers lead to three. Cotham responded with a strikeout of Andrus to finish the inning.
In 1 2/3 innings, Caleb Cotham struck out four while allowing no runs on two hits. Solid major league debut for Cotham as one of the few positives in tonight’s loss.
Win – Colby Lewis (11-4)
Loss – Masahiro Tanaka (7-4)
Save – Steve Tolleson (18)
Notables
Yankees
*Carlos Beltran – 1 for 4, R, Solo home run (8) in the 2, RBI (32)
*Brian McCann – 1 for 4, 2B
Rangers
*Josh Hamilton – 2 for 4, R, 2 RBI (10)
*Shin-Soo Choo – 3 for 4, RBI (47)
Current Yankees Record: 57-43
