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Yankees game 104: Yankees lose series on close contest

(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Toronto Blue Jays 5 — New York Yankees 4

The Yankees fall in a close game to finish off a 10-game homestand.

For the finale of a three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays, Shane Greene got the call to try and continue his strong debut season in the big leagues. After an infield single by Jose Reyes, Melky Cabrera hit a double to right field that put runners on second and third with no outs. Jose Bautista would hit a ground out to Brian McCann but the first run of the game would score. Greene would get the next two outs and kept the Blue Jays to just one run despite the first two batters reaching base and getting into scoring position.

Shane Greene would benefit from some defense in the fourth inning to keep the score at one.

After getting the first two outs in the fourth inning, Dan Johnson and Colby Rasmus would walk to put two on with Munenori Kawasaki coming up. Kawasaki would hit a single to right field where Zelous Wheeler defended. Wheeler would unleash a cannon to beat Dan Johnson at home plate for an outfield assist and to keep the game at one.

What could not be defended is the long ball as Juan Francisco went deep in the fifth inning for the Blue Jays’ second run. The Yankees would benefit from the long ball in the bottom half of the inning though.

After Brian McCann struck out swinging against J.A. Happ, Chase Headley would get his first home run as a Yankee. The Yankees third baseman would hit a line drive to the fans in left field for his eighth home run of the season. Francisco Cervelli would continue swinging a powerful bat as he extends his hitting streak to nine with a solo home run, going back-to-back with Headley.  And just like that, the game was tied.

Shane Greene would not have a shut down inning after getting runs to tie it back. With one out, Dan Johnson hit a single to left field. Colby Rasmus would follow with a double to left field and the Blue Jays reclaimed the lead and knocked Greene out of the game too.

In 5.1 innings, Shane Greene allowed three runs on eight hits while walking two and striking out two.

The Yankees would get a one-out single from Derek Jeter and a walk to Jacoby Ellsbury would end Happ’s day with two on and one out. Lefty reliever Brett Cecil would get a ground out from Carlos Beltran but a ground ball into the right field shift by Brian McCann would pull first baseman Jose Bautista off the base and Ellsbury scored on the simple ground out.

After finishing off the sixth inning, David Huff would give up a pair of singles in the seventh before Dellin Betances took over. Cabrera would productively ground out to the right side of the infield, allowing both runners to get into scoring position. Despite the confidence of Betances, the Yankees decided an intentional walk of Jose Bautista was in the best interest of the team. Dioner Navarro would ground into a force out at home when Brian McCann made the correct play on a ground ball. Dan Johnson would fly out to left field and the intentional walk paid off as the game remained tied.

In Betances’ second inning of work, command of the baseball would play a huge factor. Colby Rasmus would walk on four straight to start the eighth inning. In an attempt to pick him off, Betances would throw the ball past McCann and Rasmus moved all the way to third with no outs. Munenori Kawasaki would get a hold of a curveball that caught a bit too much of the plate and the sacrifice fly gave the Blue Jays the lead. Adam Warren would finish off the inning after a Betances strikeout but a walk and an error proved to be huge.

Reliever Aaron Sanchez pitched in the seventh inning and also got the eighth inning. Brett Gardner singled to start the inning. Derek Jeter would advance Gardner with a sacrifice bunt, like Jeter always does. Ellsbury would fly out to left field sharply but where Ellsbury could not come through Carlos Beltran did. The Yankees designated hitter would put a single into left field and Gardner scored on the play to tie the game yet again.

With the game tied in the ninth inning, David Robertson would get the call to keep the game tied. After getting the first out of the inning, Melky Cabrera would continue to torment his former team with a single to left field. Cabrera would be out on a force out on the Jose Bautista ground ball but Bautista would get a great jump from first base on the next at-bat and stole second without a throw. This would be huge as Dioner Navarro reached up in the zone and punched a flare into right field to reclaim the lead for the fourth time in the game.

Unfortunately for the Yankees, this lead would finally hold as Blue Jays’ closer Casey Janssen would get the final three outs to end the three-game series in the Blue Jays favor.

Overall, the Yankees finished the 10-game homestand with a 7-3 record. However two of the three losses came against a divisional opponent in the Toronto Blue Jays.

 

Win – Aaron Sanchez (1-0)

Loss – David Robertson (1-3)

Save – Casey Janssen (16)

 

Notables

Blue Jays

*Dioner Navarro – 1 for 5, RBI (42)

*Colby Rasmus – 1 for 2, R, 2 BB, 2B, RBI (31)

Yankees

*Chase Headley – 1 for 4, R, Solo Home Run (8) in the 5th, RBI (35)

*Francisco Cervelli – 1 for 4, R, Solo Home Run (1) in the 5th, RBI (6)

 

Current Yankees Record: 54-50