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Yankees game 128: Pinch hit McCann completes the sweep

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Chicago White Sox 4 — New York Yankees 7 (10 innings)

The Yankees had a tough task to overcome but it took extra innings to complete the sweep.

The Yankees would have to overcome Chicago White Sox ace Chris Sale to complete the sweep. Chris Capuano had the tough task of trying to match zeroes with Sale and the Yankees lefty would make an early mistake. Two pitches into the game and Alexei Ramirez led off the game with a line drive home run into the first row in left field to put the Yankees behind right away.

Entering today,  Chris Sale had a 3-0 record with a 0.85 ERA against the New York Yankees.

Chris Sale would allow a baserunner in three of the first five innings but he would always find a way to get the Yankees out. Whether it be a sweeping slider, diving changeup or blazing fastball; Chris Sale was on his game like always is.  On the other side, Capuano was making the one mistake look like the only one. He would retire nine consecutive from the third inning to the sixth inning but a bloop single to right field by Jose Abreu snapped the streak. Capuano would get the second out in the inning but third baseman Conor Gillaspie would hit a two-run home run into the short porch in right field to give the White Sox and Chris Sale a three-run lead.

Normally three runs by Chris Sale would be enough. Normally.

After getting the first out in the sixth inning, Martin Prado would hit a fly ball to left field that Dayan Viciedo would drop off of his glove and allowed Prado to reach for two bases. Mark Teixeira would hit a double down the left field line past a diving third baseman and the Yankees were on the scoreboard. Carlos Beltran would walk to put two on before Sale would get the second out of the inning. He would then walk Francisco Cervelli to load the bases and hit Zelous Wheeler to allow the Yankees second run of the inning to score. Ichiro Suzuki would not hesitate against Sale and the lone lefty in the lineup would do something no lefty has done in over a year against Sale. Ichiro would hit a single to right field and scored two runs against the ace of the White Sox staff.

In six innings, Chris Sale allowed four runs, none earned, on four hits and three walks while striking out seven. The error opened the floodgates against him and he would be in line for an unfortunate loss. On the other side, Chris Capuano was winless in his last 11 starts so he was eligible for the win. In six innings, Chris Capuano allowed three runs on six hits while walking none and striking out five.

Esmil Rogers and Rich Hill would combine for a scoreless seventh inning. Adam Warren would pitch a perfect eighth inning, including dotting the edge of the corner with a fastball to get slugger Jose Abreu looking. David Robertson, who had not blown a save since June 1, would be on for the ninth inning. One pitch later and Avisail Garcia, who struck out three times entering his fourth at-bat, would take the Yankees closer deep and instantly tied the game. David Robertson would finish the inning but the Yankees would need a walk-off to win it.

Jacoby Ellsbury came up for his first at-bat in the ninth and hit a single. One out later, Ellsbury would steal second base and Stephen Drew would be walked intentionally to set up a double play and Derek Jeter would do just that by hitting into the inning-ending double play.

David Huff would pitch a scoreless 10th inning and the winning play would come. After getting the first two outs, Jake Petricka would give up a double and they would intentionally walk Chase Headley to face Francisco Cervelli but Brian McCann would come off the bench for the Yankees and would deliver. On a full count, Brian McCann would hook a pitch just inside the right field foul pole and the 15th home run of McCann’s season would be a pinch-hit walk-off kind.

The third career walk-off home run for Brian McCann completed the sweep of the Chicago White Sox as the Yankees win streak extended to four.

 

Win – David Huff (4-1)

Loss – Jake Petricka (1-3)

 

Notables

White Sox

*Alexei Ramirez – 1 for 5, R, Solo Home Run (12) in the 1st, RBI (60)

*Avisail Garcia – 1 for 4, R, Solo Home Run (4) in the 9th, RBI (11)

Yankees

*Brian McCann – 1 for 1, R, 3-Run Home Run (15) in the 10th, 3 RBI (54)

*Ichiro Suzuki  – 2 for 4, 2 RBI (17)

 

Current Yankees Record: 67-61