New York Yankees 3 — Tampa Bay Rays 4
A seeing-eye single brought in the go-ahead run in the 8th in today’s 4-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Of the 7 innings in CC Sabathia’s start, he only had 1 perfect inning. Every inning but 1, at least 1 runner reached as he scattered 8 hits and 2 walks with 4 strikeouts as he pitched a relatively solid game for the Yankees. A trio of singles in the 2nd inning brought in the first run when Rays catcher Chris Gimenez brought in one. B.J. Upton hit a home run into left center and the final line of Sabathia’s day was brought in on a ground out to leave Sabathia without a decision, another game which Sabathia had the lead and lost it. After 7 innings with 116 pitches, David Robertson took over for Sabathia. After a leadoff single, a timely pitchout call got the baserunner stealing second and as a result, manager Joe Maddon would be ejected. A single and a stolen base was not stopped as the go-ahead run was on 2nd base. A single that just got by Robinson Cano brought in the go-ahead run.
The Yankees didn’t get their first hit against James Shields until the 4th inning. But once they got their first hit, they followed it up. After a Robinson Cano double, the returning Alex Rodriguez got his first hit with a slow roller through the middle infield that actually slowed Cano at 2nd and kept him from advancing more than one base. A strange line drive, sacrifice fly that nearly got over left fielder Desmond Jennings’ head scored Cano from 3rd. Then, of all things, a run-scoring triple by Raul Ibanez brought in the 2nd run. Finally, to the surprise of Yankees fans again, Russell Martin came through with a single that hit off of James Shields’ leg and included Martin sliding into first to beat the first baseman brought in the 3rd run of the inning. However this was all the offense the Yankees could find in today’s game. The Yankees got the tying run to 3rd base but pinch-hitter Curtis Granderson struck out to end the game.
With the win by the Baltimore Orioles today, the lead in the American League East is now at just 1 over the Orioles as the season draws near the end and the race grows tighter.
Win – James Shields (13-8)
Loss – David Robertson (1-5)
Save – Fernando Rodney (41)
Notables
Yankees
*Raul Ibanez – 1 for 3, R, BB, 3B, RBI (53)
*Russell Martin – 2 for 3, RBI (37)
Rays
*Chris Gimenez – 2 for 3, BB, 2 RBI (6)
*B.J. Upton – 1 for 3, 2 R, BB, Solo Home Run (17) in the 3rd, RBI (61)
Current Yankees Record: 76-58
