New York Yankees 1 — Texas Rangers 3
The Yankees can’t get the offense going in tonight’s 3-1 loss to the Texas Rangers.
Recently acquired starting pitcher Matt Garza made his debut for the Rangers and was in early trouble. Brett Gardner and Ichiro Suzuki started the game with a pair of singles. Robinson Cano and Lyle Overbay wouldn’t fair as well as they both go down swinging but Gardner and Ichiro wound up on second and third, respectively, by stealing during the Overbay at-bat. Vernon Wells would ground out and a scoring opportunity would go to waste.
The Rangers worked like clockwork against Andy Pettitte in the first inning. After Ian Kinsler started with a single, Elvis Andrus moved him over with a successful sacrifice bunt. Nelson Cruz singled and runners were on the corners. After getting the second out of the inning, A.J. Pierzynski brought in the first run of the game.
Both Garza and Pettitte settled down into a pitching duel. Garza allowed one hit after Ichiro’s single in the first inning. Pettitte would allow two after the first inning but also kept the zeroes on the scoreboard. The zeroes ended in the sixth inning.
A ground ball by Brett Gardner to pitcher Matt Garza seems like a routine play. Fortunately for the Yankees, Garza didn’t make this routine and a throwing error let the speedy Gardner get to second and even push it, making it to third with no one out. Ichiro would be unsuccessful in bringing in Gardner but Robinson Cano would hit a single to center field and the Yankees tied the game. The Yankees would only get one run though when Lyle Overbay hit into a double play.
With the game tied, Andy Pettitte had second life but his difficulty to get the last out in the sixth inning would be enough to defeat Pettitte. The man that brought in the first run of the game would break the 1-1 tie with a solo home run to right field. A.J. Pierzynski brought in the second run of the game and the Rangers reclaimed the lead after just giving it up. Pettitte would walk one and give up a single in the seventh inning. Girardi would come to get the veteran left-hander and bring in Shawn Kelley to clean up the inning. Kelley would get the three outs but loaded the bases in the process. No runs would score in this inning.
In six innings, Andy Pettitte allowed two runs on eight hits while walking one and striking out two. Usually a good start, but the offense is not there.
In Shawn Kelley’s second inning of work, he gave up his first earned run since June 15. He had 12 straight scoreless appearances up until a pinch-hit home run to David Murphy made the game 3-1.
This point will be beaten to death in this season but the pitchers cannot win with the mindset of being “perfect.” The Yankees only scored one unearned run tonight. If the Yankees can’t hit extra base hits, score more than one and maybe add some pop to their lineup, the Yankees will continue losing low scoring games.
Win – Matt Garza (7-1)
Loss – Andy Pettitte (7-8)
Save – Joe Nathan (32)
Notables
Yankees
*Robinson Cano – 2 for 4, RBI (70)
*Brett Gardner – 2 for 4, R
Rangers
*A.J. Pierzynski – 2 for 4, Solo Home Run (10) in the 6th, 2 RBI (36)
*David Murphy – 1 for 1, R, Solo Home Run (11) in the 8th, RBI (33)
Current Yankees Record: 53-48
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