New York Yankees 11 — Toronto Blue Jays 4
After being shutout last night, the Yankees put up 11 in tonight’s 11-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.
Hiroki Kuroda danced in and out of danger in his 5.1 innings of work. Kuroda scattered 10 hits and gave up just 2 runs. Despite not having a 1-2-3 inning, Kuroda benefited from some help defensively. In the 1st inning, leadoff hitter Brett Lawrie opened with a double but was caught off of 2nd base on the following batter, a mental lapse on the basepaths. In the 2nd inning, Russell Martin would catch the strikeout of Kelly Johnson and would proceed to catch Yunel Escobar off 3rd base to take the pressure off of his pitcher. The first run that Kuroda gave up came on a Colby Rasmus home run to lead off the 5th inning. Two consecutive hits after getting the first out in the 6th inning would be the end of Kuroda’s night. The 10 hits played a key role in Kuroda’s short outing, due to his pitch count nearing 100. David Phelps would surrender 1 run of his inherited runners as he took over for Kuroda in the 6th inning. In the 7th inning, Phelps would give up a 2-run home run to Adam Lind as the lead got closer but he maintained the lead. David Robertson pitched a scoreless inning. Cody Eppley and Rafael Soriano would finish the 9th as the Yankees closer was just looking to get some work in.
In the 1st inning, after rookie Chad Jenkins got 2 outs, Alex Rodriguez and Robinson Cano would get 2 singles and Nick Swisher would cash-in and hit a double to bring in 2 runs. The last out was a unique play as Curtis Granderson hit a line drive at the pitcher that actually knocked the glove off of the rookie pitcher. The pitcher would catch his glove and record the out in an unusual way. A single and 2 walks started a big inning but a double play and a ground out would minimize the damage with just 1 run scoring. Entering the 6th inning, the score was just 3-1 and the Yankees looked to put more on the board in support of Kuroda. The inning started with a hit by pitch and a single but was followed by a pair of strikeouts. Reliever Jason Frasor would come in to pitch to Russell Martin and on a 3-2 slider, Martin would go deep for a 3-run home run to increase the lead to 6-1. Ichiro Suzuki would come through after a walk and a single to increase the lead to 7-1. Poor decision-making by the Blue Jays factored into a run scoring in the 7th inning. Raul Ibanez would get on base with runners on the corners when second baseman Kelly Johnson didn’t make the correct play. Robinson Cano would bring in another run in the 7th and Eric Chavez would hit a 2-run home run in the 8th to secure the lead. The Yankees hit 5 for 15 with runners in scoring position and took advantage of a large number of lapses in judgment on the part of the Blue Jays.
Win – Hiroki Kuroda (15-11)
Loss – Chad Jenkins (0-3)
Notables
Yankees
*Russell Martin – 2 for 4, R, BB, 3-Run Home Run (20) in the 6th, 3 RBI (52)
*Nick Swisher – 2 for 4, 2 R, BB, 2B, 2 RBI (92)
Blue Jays
*Adam Lind – 2 for 4, R, BB, 2-Run Home Run (11) in the 7th, 2 RBI (42)
*Colby Rasmus – 1 for 5, R, Solo Home Run (23) in the 5th, RBI (75)
Current Yankees Record: 91-66
