New York Yankees 3 — Tampa Bay Rays 2 (11 innings)
A risky steal is vital in today’s 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in 11 innings.
Ivan Nova was turned to for a win in this three-game series to lead us into Toronto. The first inning didn’t start well. A single and a walk would hurt Nova when Evan Longoria hit a single for the third consecutive Rays batter to reach base. Matt Joyce would ground into a force out but a walk to Wil Myers loaded the bases. But Nova would escape the jam with a ground ball to third baseman Mark Reynolds, who threw to catcher Austin Romine for one out and Romine completed the double play with a throw to Lyle Overbay at first.
Four of the first five batters reached base and the Yankees only trailed by one? Consider themselves lucky.
The Yankees starter would settle down through the next few innings with some more conventional double plays turned in the third and fourth inning. The Yankees would have a hard time figuring out Rays starter Alex Cobb too, except for one Yankee.
Robinson Cano got the only hit off of Cobb in the first three innings and in the fourth inning, he would get his second hit. A home run to the first row in left field tied the game at one. The Yankees would get two more hits in the inning but they would be left stranded. In the sixth inning, Robinson Cano would continue giving the ball a ride. After Ichiro got on base with a single, Robinson Cano hit a double to right center. He would be tagged out going to third for a seemingly ill-advised attempt at taking an extra base. But the Yankees had the lead.
Like Cano had Cobb, Evan Longoria seemed to have Nova today. After the Yankees got a lead, Evan Longoria erased it with a deep home run to left field as he torments another Yankees pitcher.
Despite walking six today, Ivan Nova went 6.2 innings and allowed just two runs on six hits. He needed 102 pitches but he kept the Yankees in the game.
With one out in the 11th inning, Alfonso Soriano would hit a laser down the left field line for a double. Soriano would make the bold decision of trying to steal right away. On the first pitch to Curtis Granderson, Soriano would get a great jump and make it in safely to third base. Curtis Granderson would get the productive out, scoring Soriano from third with a sacrifice fly and the Yankees took a 3-2 lead.
The Yankees were able to salvage one game in the series and could take the momentum of a win into Toronto where the Yankees hope (and are expected) to take the series.
Win – Boone Logan (4-2)
Loss – Jamey Wright (2-2)
Save – Mariano Rivera (38)
Notables
Yankees
*Alfonso Soriano – 2 for 5, R, 2B
*Robinson Cano – 3 for 5, R, 2B, Solo Home Run (24) in the 4th, 2 RBI (84)
Rays
*Evan Longoria – 2 for 5, R, Solo Home Run (28) in the 6th, 2 RBI (71)
*David DeJesus – 3 for 4, R
Current Yankees Record: 69-61
Get your Yankees Tickets from our friends at TiqIQ.
