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Yankees Game 111: Back-to-Back to Split Series

New York Yankees 4 — Detroit Tigers 3

 

Back-to-back home runs in the 8th inning tie and give the Yankees the 4-3 lead over the Detroit Tigers.

 

Hiroki Kuroda gave the Yankees 6.1 quality innings despite giving up 10 hits. The Tigers got to Kuroda in the 5th inning when Alex Avila got to him for a two-run home run. The third run that Kuroda gave up was in controversial fashion. Outfielder Quintin Berry scored on a double by Andy Dirks that was initially declared a foul ball before he changed his ruling to fair, the correct call. This brought out Joe Girardi who argued with the third base umpire, Tim Welke, and intended to have the game played under protest and he would eventually be thrown out of the game. Clay Rapada helped Hiroki Kuroda out of the 7th inning. With David Robertson having thrown 35 pitches in the previous game, rookie David Phelps was called upon to get 2 outs in the 8th inning. Rafael Soriano was brought in for a four-out save and the first out was easy but the final three had players and fans on the edge of their seat. A double and a single opened the 9th inning as the tying and winning runs. A line out, a pop out, and a fly out produced the final 3 outs as the Yankees escaped the jam and split the series in Detroit.

 

The Yankees offense got started in the 2nd inning with an Eric Chavez single to get on base as he continues to swing a hot bat. A triple by Raul Ibanez to center field brought in Chavez and a single by Ichiro brought Ibanez in to give the Yankees the early 2-0 lead. Other than the 2 runs, Tigers starter Doug Fister went 6.1 solid innings. The Yankees would be kept off the scoreboard until the 8th inning. Setup reliever Joaquin Benoit would get one out before Mark Teixeira tied the game on a solo home run to right field. Immediately after that, Eric Chavez drove the first pitch he saw to left field to go back-to-back with Teixeira to give the Yankees a one-run lead.

 

Win – Clay Rapada (3-0)

Loss – Joaquin Benoit (1-3)

Save – Rafael Soriano (27)

 

Notable

Yankees

*Eric Chavez – 2 for 4, 2 R, Solo Home Run (12) in the 8th, RBI (29)

*Raul Ibanez – 2 for 4, R, 2B, 3B, RBI (50)

Tigers

*Alex Avila – 2 for 4, R, 2B, 2-Run Home Run (7) in the 5th, 2 RBI (35)

*Andy Dirks – 2 for 5, 2B, RBI (22)

 

Current Yankees Record: 65-46