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(Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Yankees Game 158: Mathematical elimination

(Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Tampa Bay Rays 8 — New York Yankees 3

 

The Yankees were officially eliminated from postseason contention in tonight’s 8-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.

A deep fly ball to right field caught at the wall by Vernon Wells was an ominous sign for the starter Phil Hughes. The Yankees were clinging to a tragic number of one towards being eliminated from playoff contention. The first ball in play was to deep right and the second one followed similarly. Unfortunately for the Yankees, it would not be caught and Wil Myers got the first hit, a double off the right field wall. James Loney would follow with a double to right center field to bring in the first run of the game. Hughes would keep the damage to just one.

The Yankees had to overcome David Price and Eduardo Nunez got it started with a leadoff double and his helmet actually stayed on. Alex Rodriguez would strikeout but Robinson Cano would succeed with runners in scoring position when he hit a double to left field. The pair of doubles would tie the game but that was all they could muster.

In the third inning, James Loney would get to Hughes for his second double of the game. Evan Longoria f0llowed with a single and David DeJesus would hit a single to bring in the go-ahead run. Delmon Young would hit an infield single that loaded the bases and also ended the night (and maybe career in pinstripes) for Phil Hughes. David Huff, seemingly always connected to a short Hughes start, would come on and surrender one of his inherited runners but Huff would minimize the damage.

In just two innings, Phil Hughes allowed three runs on seven hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

Eduardo Nunez would scrape back a little with his third home run of the season to open the third. In the fourth inning with two outs, Curtis Granderson and Brendan Ryan got a pair of singles with two outs. In a strange decision, Chris Stewart decided to bunt and it was an easy out as many were perplexed by this.

In Huff’s extended relief role, he danced in and out of danger. In the fifth inning, Huff had to overcome a leadoff double and a wild pitch that put David DeJesus on third with no outs. With the infield in, Delmon Young hit an infield ground ball that deflected off the glove of David Huff, Eduardo Nunez reacted to the trickling ground ball to get Young with a half step for the first out on a bare-handed throw. Robinson Cano would catch a line drive for the second out and Brendan Ryan would make a dazzling leaping catch to end the inning without allowing a run. Two sparkling defensive plays saved the Yankees from allowing additional runs.

There’s no defense for the home run and David Huff would be the victim of them in the sixth inning. With two on, Evan Longoria would hit a three-run home run and David DeJesus would go back-to-back with the Rays third baseman, ending Huff’s appearance.

Pinch-hitter Lyle Overbay would walk with the bases loaded to bring in a run but Evan Longoria took that back in the ninth inning with his second home run of the night. The Yankees would go down in order in the ninth inning and the Yankees flickers of hope were put out with this loss.

 

Win – David Price (9-8)

Loss – Phil Hughes (4-14)

 

Notables

Rays

*Evan Longoria – 3 for 5, 3 R, 2 HR (31; 3-Run & Solo) in the 6th & 9th, 4 RBI (82)

*David DeJesus – 3 for 5, R, 2B, Solo Home Run (8) in the 6th, 2 RBI (37)

Yankees

*Eduardo Nunez – 2 for 5, 2 R, 2B, Solo Home Run (3) in the 3rd, RBI (26)

*Robinson Cano – 2 for 4, 2B, RBI (106)

 

Current Yankees Record: 82-76

 

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