Tampa Bay Rays 7 — New York Yankees 0
The Yankees couldn’t get the offense going in tonight’s 7-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Yankees turned to Hiroki Kuroda with each of these remaining six games being tremendous if the Yankees have any postseason hopes. The first batter, Matt Joyce, didn’t let the Yankees get things started right. The Rays’ designated hitter deposited the third pitch of the game into right field and the Yankees were already trailing by one. Wil Myers would hit a single to center field and David DeJesus would hit a double to right field to bring in the second run of the game. DeJesus would advance to third on the throw home and Longoria would hit a sacrifice fly that plated the third run of the game. Kuroda would strike out the next two to end the inning but a common struggle for Kuroda was evident again tonight.
In the first inning of Kuroda’s 2013 starts, he has an ERA of 5.23, the highest of any inning.
The Yankees would need to make up the runs against Matt Moore. The Rays lefty gave the Yankees opportunities to make up the deficit. In the first inning, there were two walks but Mark Reynolds would strikeout chasing a pitch to end their first opportunity. In the third inning, the Yankees got their first hit with a single to left field by Ichiro Suzuki, their first hit of the game. Alex Rodriguez would walk and Alfonso Soriano would walk with one out to load the bases. Mark Reynolds would fail to come through again by hitting a fly ball to shallow right field. Eduardo Nunez would hit a sharp ground ball to third base to end another opportunity.
The third opportunity came in the fifth inning. Alfonso Soriano and Eduardo Nunez would get on base with two outs but Vernon Wells would fly out to left field. Three big opportunities went to waste and the Yankees would come out with no runs scored.
In the sixth inning, Wil Myers started the inning with a walk. With one out, Evan Longoria would sneak in a double on the left field line that bounced into the crowd to hold Myers at third. Ben Zobrist would receive an intentional walk and Kuroda would need to work out of a one out, bases loaded situation. James Loney would split Granderson and Wells with a double to right center field. Two would come in to score. Kuroda would strikeout the pinch hitter Jose Molina and Kuroda’s night was over.
In 5.2 innings, Kuroda allowed five runs on five hits while walking two and striking out five.
Shawn Kelley would allow two more runs in the ninth inning but it would all just be additional runs that the Yankees offense would not come close to threatening.
The Yankees would leave a total of 11 on base and would go hitless in 10 chances with runners in scoring position. Matt Moore walked six while throwing three wild pitches, the Yankees had opportunities to score handed to them but with just three hits, that’s not the makings of a team with ideas of making the postseason. A positive note is Boone Logan made his first appearance since September 6, striking out Sam Fuld, the only batter he faced.
Win – Matt Moore (16-4)
Loss – Hiroki Kuroda (11-13)
Save – Jake Odorizzi (1)
Notables
Rays
*David DeJesus – 2 for 5, R, 2 2B, 2 RBI (35)
*James Loney – 1 for 4, 2B, 2 RBI (73)
Yankees
*Robinson Cano – 1 for 4, 2B
*Alfonso Soriano – 1 for 2, 2 BB
Current Yankees Record: 82-76
Get your Yankees Tickets from our friends at TiqIQ.
