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NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 21: Brendan Ryan #17 of the New York Yankees reacts after he struck out in the fifth inning against the Cleveland Indians on August 21, 2015 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Yankees game 121: Rallies fall short in defeat

Cleveland Indians 7 – New York Yankees 3

The Yankees rallies were not enough in tonight’s game with the Cleveland Indians.

In the first inning, the Yankees got started against Carlos Carrasco in a way that has not been used very often. Brett Gardner led off with Ellsbury getting the day off and he started with a single. After Chase Headley flew out to center and Alex Rodriguez struck out swinging, Brett Gardner made a successful bid for second base. Unfortunately, Brian McCann flew out to right field, stranding Gardner on second base.

After Tanaka gave up a one-out double and hit a batter, he turned a double play to end the inning. Tanaka was unable to escape danger in the third inning.

In the third inning, Jose Ramirez hit a ground ball down the right field line that became a one-out triple. After a ground out to first held Ramirez at third, Francisco Lindor made sure the scoring opportunity did not come up empty when he hit a single to left field, scoring Ramirez.

The Yankee were held off the board in the third inning but a two-out rally got the Yankees first run.

Alex Rodriguez and Brian McCann started the fourth inning with strikeouts, Carrasco’s fifth and sixth of the game, but Carlos Beltran hit a deep fly ball to straight center that hit the wall for a double. Greg Bird hit a single the other way to left field and that brought Beltran home to tie the game at one.

In the fifth inning, Abraham Almonte led off with an infield single that Brendan Ryan had no play on. Tanaka got the first out before walking Jose Ramirez. A force out at second got the second out but a typical shortstop play was not made by the defensive-oriented Brendan Ryan. On a chopper past the pitcher’s mound, Ryan charged it but emerged without the ball, allowing the go-ahead run to score on the error.

Carlos Santana got a hold of a 3-2 fastball and lined it into the seats in right field to start the sixth inning to increase the Indians lead to two. The Indians added a fourth run against Tanaka after Chasen Shreve inherited a runner in the seventh inning.

In six innings, Masahiro Tanaka allowed four runs, three earned, on seven hits while walking one and striking out three.

The Yankees attempted a rally in the seventh inning when Carlos Carrasco was approaching the end of his night. After striking out Beltran and Bird for 11 strikeouts on the night, pinch-hitter Jacoby Ellsbury hit a single. Stephen Drew followed with a single of his own that knocked Carrasco out of the game. Reliever Kyle Crockett came in to face pinch-hitter Didi Gregorius and struck him out on three pitches, dousing the warming rally attempt by the Yankees bench.

Nick Rumbelow pitched a scoreless eighth inning and the Yankees made another push for runs in the bottom half of the inning.

Against lefty Crockett, Brett Gardner pushed a bunt along with him to the first base side where no one had a play for a leadoff single. Relief pitcher Zach McAllister came on and gave up a single to Chase Headley. Alex Rodriguez grounded a single through the middle of the infield for the Yankees second run of the game, pulling them within one. McAllister retired the next two batters before Greg Bird hit a ground ball that looked to be a routine ground out but second baseman Jose Ramirez let it go through his legs for a run-scoring error, bringing the Yankees within one. Closer Cody Allen came in following the error and walked Jacoby Ellsbury to load the bases. Unfortunately, another rally fell short as Stephen Drew flew out to the warning track, ending the inning with the bases loaded.

With the one-run deficit, Girardi brought in Justin Wilson. This questionable move proved to blow up in the manager’s face. Jose Ramirez started the inning with a single to left field and Jason Kipnis hit a ground-rule double to left field, putting runners at second and third with no outs. Francisco Lindor went down swinging for the first out but Michael Brantley hit a single to extend the Indians lead to two. Carlos Santana beat out a double play to plate the second run of the inning. Jerry Sands hit a double, partially thanks to a missed dive by Brett Gardner, adding another run to the Indians lead.

With the Indians lead at four, the Yankees went down in order to lose a tough game that featured a few missed big innings.

 

Win – Carlos Carrasco (12-9)

Loss – Masahiro Tanaka (9-6)

Save – Cody Allen (25)

 

Notables

Indians

*Jose Ramirez – 3 for 3, 3 R, BB, 3B

*Carlos Santana – 1 for 5, 2 R, Solo home run (14) in the 6th, 2 RBI (57)

Yankees

*Greg Bird – 1 for 4, RBI (6)

*Brett Gardner – 2 for 4, R, BB

 

Current Yankees Record: 67-54