Tampa Bay Rays 1 – New York Yankees 4
In the category of unexpected pitcher’s duel, Nathan Karns and Adam Warren opened a three-game series between AL East division leaders.
Adam Warren faced trouble in the first inning when Steven Souza Jr. hit a one-out single. In what would save a run, Asdrubal Cabrera hit a ground-rule double over the left field wall, preventing Souza from scoring. Evan Longoria would strikeout swinging and James Loney would ground out to erase the threat.
After the first inning, Warren would cruise through the game. He would strike out the side in the second inning and allowed two hits from the third inning to the fifth inning. For the Yankees offense, Karns would hold them to just two hits through the first four innings.
In the fifth inning, Karns would get the first two outs but the bottom of the Yankees order would not go down so quickly. Stephen Drew would walk and Didi Gregorius would hit an infield single that Longoria stopped but both runners were safe. Jacoby Ellsbury would walk to load the bases and this would cue the end of Karns night on the mound.
Brandon Gomes would come in for Karns to face Brett Gardner. Gomes would walk Gardner on a full count and the first run would finally get on the board. In 4 2/3 innings, Nathan Karns allowed one run on three hits while walking two and striking out five. The run that scored came on the Gardner walk, after Karns had exited the game.
In the sixth inning, Adam Warren looked to have a shut down inning after receiving a lead, slim as it may be. David DeJesus opened the inning with a single. Warren showed signs of tiring, throwing a few pitches in the dirt but one would get away, letting DeJesus advance to second. A deep fly out to center advanced DeJesus to third with just one out. With the infield in, Asdrubal Cabrera hit a ground ball to Stephen Drew but the Yankees second baseman would spike the throw home and DeJesus would beat the throw, tying the game at one. Warren would get the second out of the inning but needed Justin Wilson to finish the inning off.
In 5 2/3 innings, Adam Warren allowed one run on five hits while walking none and striking out six. Over the course of tonight’s start, Warren showed command of all of his pitches, getting strikeouts with each of them and showing effectiveness that should be deserving of a win, but he will settle for a no decision.
The sixth inning could be considered an inning of unexpected contributors.
After Gomes got the first out, Brian McCann would hit his second home run of the season, a deep shot to right field. Carlos Beltran would follow with a double off the middle of the center field wall, snapping an 0-for-14 skid for the switch-hitting Beltran. After getting the second out, lefty Everett Teaford would come in for the Rays. Stephen Drew would add an insurance run with a line drive to right field. The run-scoring double by Drew scored Beltran from second base and the Yankees finished the inning with a two-run lead.
In the sixth inning, Brian McCann hit a home run, Carlos Beltran hit a double and Stephen Drew hit a double. Did you expect that? Me neither.
After Justin Wilson and David Carpenter combined to finish off the seventh inning, the big Dellin Betances would come in for the eighth. Dellin Betances would generate a ground out, followed by a pair of strikeouts to end the eighth with the lead intact. Betances would add to a growing impressive feat despite his early season struggles.
WOW!!! Betances has retired his last TWENTY TWO batters!!!! BEAST!!!!! #Yankees
— Bronx Pinstripes (@BronxPinstripes) April 28, 2015
In the eighth inning, Brian McCann defied the shift with an infield single to the left side. Two outs later, Stephen Drew hit a single and Didi Gregorius walked to load the bases. Jacoby Ellsbury would bring in a run and have a baseball-looking imprint on him when he was hit by a pitch to score the Yankees’ fourth run of the game.
With the three-run lead, Andrew Miller would come in for a save. Evan Longoria hit a single but Andrew Miller would get through two pinch-hitters en route to three outs and his eighth save of the season.
For Andrew Miller, his eighth save is the most through the first 20 games of a season in Yankees history.
Win – Justin Wilson (1-0)
Loss – Brandon Gomes (0-1)
Save – Andrew Miller (8)
Notables
Rays
*Asdrubal Cabrera – 1 for 4, 2B, RBI (7)
*David DeJesus – 1 for 4, R
Yankees
*Brian McCann – 2 for 4, 2 R, Solo Home Run (2) in the 6th, RBI (9)
*Stephen Drew – 2 for 3, R, BB, 2B, RBI (10)
Current Yankees Record: 12-8
