New York Yankees 5 — Toronto Blue Jays 3 (11 innings)
A two-run error is the difference in today’s 5-3 win in 11 innings over the Toronto Blue Jays.
Vernon Wells appears to have found inspiration in the boo’s echoed through the Rogers Centre. It might have been the .447 (21 for 44) batting average against Toronto starter Mark Buehrle, but Wells went deep for the second game in a row. His fifth home run of the season came in the second inning and put the Yankees ahead. He is currently hitting to a .500 (5 for 10) batting average in this series.
Kevin Youkilis has not had such success against Mark Buehrle though. In 19 at-bats, Youkilis had three hits (.158 average). It didn’t appear he figured out Buehrle in his first two at-bats as he would strikeout in both. So in the fifth inning, after a single and a double put runners on second and third with hot-hitting, left-handed Robinson Cano at the plate, it would seem to make strange sense to intentionally walk Cano. With the bases loaded, Youkilis achieved success with a single off the glove of third baseman Brett Lawrie to bring in two runs and put the Yankees ahead 3-0.
Hiroki Kuroda didn’t need much run support to succeed but it would all be valuable.
The 38-year-old right-hander was building off of success in his last start, a complete game, shutout against the Baltimore Orioles. In 7.1 innings, Kuroda held the Toronto Blue Jays off the board but would leave with 108 pitches and a runner on first. It is worth nothing that in the sixth inning, Kevin Youkilis, at first base, would leave the game early and be replaced with Lyle Overbay. The single that would take Kuroda out of the game is a single that got by Overbay. With one out in the eighth inning, David Robertson was called on for his role as setup man.
In David Robertson’s previous five appearances this season, he had not allowed more than one hit while keeping his ERA at 0.00 but today was not like his usual appearances. After a strikeout of Maicer Izturis, pinch-hitter Adam Lind would walk, moving the tying run into the batter’s box. Rajai Davis would single in a run, ending Kuroda’s scoreless streak at 20.2 innings.
Hiroki Kuroda’s final line was 7.1 innings with one run allowed on three hits with a walk and seven strikeouts. He left with 108 pitches.
The inning would not be over for David Robertson though. After Davis steals second base, former fan favorite Yankee Melky Cabrera hit a single up the middle that would bring in the tying runs to end Kuroda’s bid for a win. The damage was minimized but it couldn’t be erased, extra innings would be needed.
In the 11th inning, that familiar name, Vernon Wells, would torment Blue Jays fans to the joy of Yankees fans as he led off with a single. Francisco Cervelli would follow with a single putting runners on first and second with no outs. In yesterday’s game, the Blue Jays made a poor defensive play that resulted in two runs scoring and a similar event would occur. With Ichiro Suzuki coming up to sacrifice bunt, the reliever Aaron Loup attempted to get the force out at third. The throw would sail into left field and two runs would score on the error.
A leadoff double off of Mariano Rivera put the tying run at the plate but a line out with two strikeouts would give Rivera his fifth save of the season.
Kevin Youkilis exited the game in the sixth inning with tightness in his back. Brett Gardner got two hits today, extending his hitting streak to seven.
Win – Shawn Kelley (1-0)
Loss – Aaron Loup (1-1)
Save – Mariano Rivera (5)
Notables
Yankees
*Vernon Wells – 3 for 5, 2 R, Solo Home Run (5) in the 2nd, RBI (8)
*Kevin Youkilis – 1 for 3, 2 RBI (9)
Blue Jays
*Melky Cabrera – 2 for 5, 2B, 2 RBI (5)
*Rajai Davis – 1 for 5, R, RBI (2)
Current Yankees Record: 10-6 (Streak – W2)
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