New York Yankees 2 — Baltimore Orioles 4
Offense struggles in tonight’s 4-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.
In the first inning, the Yankees would do something that hasn’t been done in seven years. Alex Rodriguez was batting second in the lineup and while it confused many, it looked like the right move. The controversial Yankees third baseman would hit a home run to right field to put the Yankees ahead by one. The lineup decision paid off instantly.
With the lead, CC Sabathia tried to hold it down but Nick Markakis didn’t make it easy with a ground-rule double to deep center field. Manny Machado would sacrifice Markakis to third with a bunt and Adam Jones would provide another productive out. A deep sacrifice fly by Jones would bring in the tying run and the game was knotted up.
Pitchers Chris Tillman and CC Sabathia would settle down and create a pitcher’s duel atmosphere.
Sabathia would allow hits but would hold the Orioles off the scoreboard. Likewise, Tillman held the Yankees off the scoreboard but he would retire 14 consecutive Yankees between the third and seventh inning, including striking out the side in the seventh. CC would finally blink in the fifth inning with another leadoff double.
J.J. Hardy opened the fifth inning with a double and advanced on a good heads-up play. When Alex Rodriguez fielded a ground ball deep behind third, Hardy would wait for Rodriguez to make the throw to first before advancing to third. Matt Wieters would hit the familiar productive out with the sacrifice fly to plate the go-ahead run. Alexi Casilla would hit a single and steal second base. He scored on Nick Markakis’ single to center field to put the Orioles ahead 3-1.
In the seventh inning, Sabathia led off by walking Matt Wieters. Casilla would hit a ground ball to Sabathia but the big lefty would make a wide throw of second base. Eduardo Nunez would have to vacate second to keep the ball from going into center field and the error put two on with no outs. Markakis would ground into a double play but Manny Machado would hit a high double off the scoreboard in right field. Wieters would easily score from third and the lead increased to 4-1.
Lyle Overbay would hit the second Yankees home run of the game but it was a solo home run. Chris Tillman would exit with the lead and Tommy Hunter took over. Hunter would strike out Ichiro, strike out the returning Zoilo Almonte and strike out Brett Gardner to stop the momentum quickly.
Chris Tillman went seven innings, striking out nine while allowing two runs on four hits, the two runs on a pair of solo home runs.
Alex Rodriguez would open the ninth inning against Jim Johnson with a single to center field. Robinson Cano and Alfonso Soriano would ground into a pair of force outs that could have ended the game but it just resulted in two outs. The tying run would come up in the form of Curtis Granderson. The Yankees outfielder would give the ball a drive to deep center field but it would be caught at the warning track, ending the game.
CC Sabathia went 7.1 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits while walking two and striking out six. Not a bad start and it certainly saved the drained bullpen. Adam Warren would get the other two outs in the eighth inning.
Win – Chris Tillman (16-5)
Loss – CC Sabathia (13-12)
Save – Jim Johnson (43)
Notables
Orioles
*Alex Rodriguez – 2 for 4, R, Solo Home Run (5) in the 1st, RBI (11)
*Lyle Overbay – 1 for 3, R, Solo Home Run (14) in the 8th, RBI (56)
Yankees
*Nick Markakis – 3 for 4, R, 2B, RBI (54)
*Manny Machado – 1 for 3, 2B, RBI (69)
Current Yankees Record: 76-68
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