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Eduardo Nunez got on top of the pitch for a two-run single in today's win. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Yankees Game 127: Sweep complete

Eduardo Nunez got on top of the pitch for a two-run single in today’s win. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Toronto Blue Jays 3 — New York Yankees 5

 

The sweep is completed by taking advantage of mistakes in today’s 5-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Yankees and Blue Jays were scoreless through the first four innings. Ichiro did start the fourth inning with a double off of third base but a pair of strike outs and a ground out to the pitcher wasted the opportunity.

Blue Jays catcher J.P. Arencibia opened the fifth inning with a home run to left field and the Andy Pettitte would load the bases with one out. But Rajai Davis would ground into a great double play with Alex Rodriguez tagging third and getting the speedy outfielder out at first.

Curtis Granderson would respond in similar fashion with his own home run in the bottom of the fifth inning. After getting one out, it seemed that Blue Jays starter J.A. Happ lost the strike zone. Happ would walk Eduardo Nunez, give up a single to Chris Stewart and walk Ichiro to load the bases. Vernon Wells would hit into a confusing play when his fly ball seemed to be caught by center fielder Rajai Davis.

The umpire would rule that he did not make the catch. Eduardo Nunez, on third, scored regardless. But Chris Stewart would be stranded between second and third where he was tagged out for a force out. But the Yankees did have the go-ahead run score.

In the sixth inning, Happ lost three tough battles when he walked Alex Rodriguez and Curtis Granderson on six pitches while walking Mark Reynolds on seven pitches. The battles loaded the bases with one out and Eduardo Nunez would cash-in, hitting a single to center field and bringing in two runs. Chris Stewart would hit a ground ball down the third base line that Brett Lawrie would make a great play on it but another run would score. The Yankees had a 5-1 lead.

Shawn Kelley would get the seventh inning but he didn’t have the effectiveness he usually has. After walking the first batter, Kevin Pillar and Munenori Kawasaki would get two line drive singles off the right-hander, with the second bringing in a run. Jose Reyes would hit another single to load the bases and after a shallow fly out, Edwin Encarnacion hit a ground ball to the right of Nunez, who got the force out at third but a second run would score making it a 5-3 game. Boone Logan would come in to face the left-handed Adam Lind and got him to strike out, ending the rally.

Preston Claiborne would get the eighth inning and, despite giving up a single to leadoff the inning, induced two ground outs and a pop out to hold onto the lead. Usually with the lead going into the ninth, Mariano Rivera would be turned to but after three appearances in the last two days, the closer for today’s game could be front-runner for next year, David Robertson.

Despite falling behind two of the three batters Robertson faced, the high-socked right-hander would get the three outs for the second save of the season. More importantly, he closed the door on a sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays, four critical wins on the push towards postseason baseball.

Andy Pettitte gave the Yankees six innings of one-run baseball on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

 

Win – Andy Pettitte (9-9)

Loss – J.A. Happ (3-3)

Save – David Robertson (2)

 

Notables

Blue Jays

*J.P. Arencibia – 1 for 4, R, Solo Home Run (19) in the 5th, RBI (49)

*Munenori Kawasaki – 2 for 4, RBI (22)

Yankees

*Eduardo Nunez – 1 for 2, R, BB, 2 RBI (20)

*Curtis Granderson – 1 for 3, 2 R, BB, Solo Home Run (4) in the 5th, RBI (8)

 

Current Yankees Record: 68-59

 

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