New York Yankees 2 — Texas Rangers 0
Hiroki Kuroda outlasted Derek Holland in today’s 2-0 win over the Texas Rangers.
With the current Yankees offense, the pitchers have to be nearly perfect. Hiroki Kuroda was not perfect but he is by far the best starting pitcher in the rotation. Only two baserunners got past first base. In the sixth inning, Ian Kinsler started the inning with a single. During the next at-bat, Kinsler would be caught stealing by Austin Romine. Andrus would single and a walk put him on second base. He advanced to third base on a fly out but was left there with another final out. That was the biggest threat to Kuroda.
That’s it. In seven scoreless innings, Hiroki Kuroda scattered six hits while walking one and striking out three.
Now if only that offense would find a way to support one of the best pitchers in the league.
In six of the nine innings today, the first batter reached base. Unfortunately, only one of these batters would actually score. In the sixth inning, Austin Romine started the inning with a double to left field. Ichiro Suzuki would move Romine over with a sacrifice bunt. The hero of two games ago, Brent Lillibridge, would come through again. The third baseman of today’s game would hit a double to left field to score Romine and it would really be all Kuroda needed.
In the seventh inning, Austin Romine hit his second double of the game but this was of the bounce-over-the-wall variety and it actually kept Romine from getting a run batted in. David Adams started the inning with a single but was stopped at third base with the ball going over the wall.
Robinson Cano hit a double with one out in the eighth inning. He advanced to third on a single by Vernon Wells and the second run of the game would score on the next play. On a ground ball by Eduardo Nunez, Vernon Wells went in hard on second base and Nunez’s speed was enough to avoid the double play. Cano scored and the Yankees were ahead by two.
David Robertson would have a perfect eighth inning and Mariano Rivera would give up a hit but would have a scoreless ninth inning for his 33rd save of the season.
While Robinson Cano is a reliable source of offense, his double came in the eighth inning, deep into the game. The major of the offense came from unlikely sources. Eduardo Nunez and Brent Lillibridge each hit a double. Austin Romine had a career day with his first three-hit game, including two doubles. With injuries and off-the-field drama, the Yankees will need contributions from unlikely and seemingly unfamiliar sources.
Win – Hiroki Kuroda (10-6)
Loss – Derek Holland (8-6)
Save – Mariano Rivera (33)
Notables
Yankees
*Brent Lillibridge – 1 for 4, 2B, RBI (5)
*Austin Romine – 3 for 4, R, 2 2B
Rangers
*Jurickson Profar – 2 for 3
*Elvis Andrus – 2 for 4
Current Yankees Record: 54-48
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