Chicago White Sox 5 — New York Yankees 6
Cut it close but the Yankees completed the sweep in tonight’s 6-5 win over the Chicago White Sox.
The Yankees turned to CC Sabathia for the sweep and the big lefty got himself into some trouble in the first inning. A pair of walks would come to hurt him. Outfielder Avisail Garcia would hit a double to right field for one run and the Yankees trailed.
Rookie pitcher Erik Johnson came on to make his major league debut with a start at Yankee Stadium. After getting the first two outs, Robinson Cano would welcome Johnson to the majors with his 26th home run of the season. The first pitch curveball by Johnson was deposited into right field and just like that the game was tied. Johnson would appear to be rattled as he lost the strike zone. He walked Alfonso Soriano before Curtis Granderson hit a line drive double to right field. Alex Rodriguez would work a walk and load the bases. Unfortunately, Ichiro Suzuki would strike out swinging and stranding the bases loaded.
In the fourth inning, the little mistakes on defense would be costly for the White Sox again.
After Alex Rodriguez opened the fourth inning with a single, Ichiro Suzuki would hit a harmless ground ball in front of the pitcher. Erik Johnson would lazily throw to first and the throw would pull first baseman Paul Konerko off the base and the Yankees were threatening again. On a 3-0 count, Lyle Overbay would get the green light and pulled a line drive to right field for a double, scoring one. Austin Romine would ground out to the pitcher but Brett Gardner would plate runs.
A deep fly ball to left field would plate two runs and Brett Gardner would slide into third base with a two-run triple. Derek Jeter would ground out but Robinson Cano would tag Erik Johnson again, in a different way. Robinson Cano would deflect a single off the glove of Johnson and the infield single would bring home Gardner from third. The Yankees put up four runs to give them a decent lead.
Alfonso Soriano would bring home one more run in the seventh inning. With runners on the corners, Soriano would hit a sacrifice fly to left field and the Yankees were up 6-1. Seemed like just another run, that is, until the eighth inning.
CC Sabathia would start the eighth inning and Gordon Beckham would start with a single. Alexei Ramirez would ground into a force out for the first out but a Paul Konerko single through the infield would be the end of the line. David Robertson would come in to help out Sabathia.
He didn’t help this time. David Robertson would give up a single to Avisail Garcia for one run. Robertson would get the second out but a walk loaded the bases. Catcher Josh Phegley would hit a single to plate two runs and rookie third baseman Marcus Semien brought home the first run of his major league career. The 6-1 game now became a 6-5 game.
Enter Sandman.
Mariano Rivera would be called upon for a four-out save. Rivera would get Alejandro De Aza looking at a called third strike on a cutter along the outside corner. The bottom of the eighth would go harmlessly and Mariano Rivera would come out for the rest of his save in the ninth inning. Gordon Beckham would fly out to center field. Alexei Ramirez would ground out back to Rivera for an easy out. Finally, Rivera would get Paul Konerko to line out to Alex Rodriguez and the save was made. The sweep was complete.
This was Mariano Rivera’s first four-out save since July 24, 2011.
CC Sabathia went 7.1 innings, allowing three runs on five hits while walking four and striking out four.
Win – CC Sabathia (13-11)
Loss – Erik Johnson (0-1)
Save – Mariano Rivera (41)
Notables
White Sox
*Avisail Garcia – 2 for 3, R, BB, 2B, 2 RBI (23)
*Josh Phegley – 1 for 4, 2 RBI (19)
Yankees
*Brett Gardner – 2 for 4, R, 3B, 2 RBI (47)
*Robinson Cano – 3 for 4, R, Solo Home Run (26) in the 1st, 2 RBI (91)
Current Yankees Record: 75-64
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