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Yankees game 142: Yankees fall short to Rays

Tampa Bay Rays 4 — New York Yankees 3

A strong start would have a bad finish for Hiroki Kuroda.

After striking out the side on 10 pitches, Hiroki Kuroda’s start would begin going downhill. His first pitch in the second inning to James Loney would not come back as the Rays’ first baseman hit a home run into deep right field. He would finish the inning but the third would not go so well. Kuroda would get the first out after a pair of singles but a pair of singles followed afterwards and two more runs scored. After three innings, the Rays were ahead by three.

Through the first three innings, Chris Archer shut down the Yankees in order. Jacoby Ellsbury would put the Yankees on the board with his 15th home run of the season in the fourth inning for the first Yankees hit but the Rays would respond.

With one out in the second, three Rays would hit consecutive singles to score the Rays fourth run of the game and knocked Hiroki Kuroda out of the game early. In just 3.1 innings, Hiroki Kuroda allowed four runs on nine hits while walking none and striking out five.

The Yankees strongest rally would come in the fifth inning. After Chase Headley was hit by a pitch, Ichiro Suzuki and Stephen Drew would follow with a pair of singles that loaded the bases. Outfielder Chris Young got the start in left field tonight and in his second at-bat of the night he would hit a ground ball through the left side of the infield and two runs would score. With the Yankees within one of tying the game, Jacoby Ellsbury would hit a single to left field. On the play, Stephen Drew would attempt to score from second base on the ground ball to left fielder Matt Joyce. The Rays left fielder would throw home and easily beat Drew to the plate for the first out of the inning. The unfortunate luck of the Yankees would reach a peak as Derek Jeter lined out to second baseman Ben Zobrist who threw to shortstop Yunel Escobar for an inning ending double play.

In the seventh inning, Ichiro Suzuki would hit a infield single off the foot of Chris Archer. That would be the last batter Archer faced. Reliever Grant Balfour would come in and Suzuki would steal second base easily. With Drew still batting, Ichiro Suzuki would go for another steal of third base but Drew would fly out into a double play with Ichiro Suzuki easily having third base stolen. He would be thrown out at second after the out and the inning was over.

In 6.1 innings, Chris Archer gave up three runs on seven hits while walking none and striking out three. It was not the usual dominant Chris Archer vs. the Yankees we have come to expect but he was still in line for the win.

The Yankees would be unable to solve reliever Brad Boxberger and closer Jake McGee in tonight’s loss.

After Kuroda’s exit, seven relievers would combine for 5.2 scoreless innings to give the Yankees plenty of time to make the comeback. September baseball means a lot more people around with September call-ups.

 

 

Win – Chris Archer (9-8)

Loss – Hiroki Kuroda (10-9)

Save – Jake McGee (17)

 

Notables

Rays

*James Loney – 3 for 4, R, Solo Home Run (9) in the 2nd, 2 RBI (66)

*Ben Zobrist – 2 for 5, R, RBI (45)

Yankees

*Jacoby Ellsbury – 2 for 4, R, Solo Home Run (15) in the 4th, RBI (67)

*Chris Young – 1 for 3, 2 RBI (30)

 

Current Yankees Record: 73-69