Tampa Bay Rays 10 — New York Yankees 5 (14 innings)
In Joe Girardi‘s 1,000th game as the New York Yankees manager, it seemed like it would never end in a 14-inning marathon.
Early on in the game, defensive miscues proved costly. In the second inning, Vidal Nuno served up a high fly ball to left field where Alfonso Soriano patrolled. Soriano would leap on the warning track, expecting the wall only to miss the ball and the wall, while the batter, Sean Rodriguez, reached base for a double. He would advance on a wild pitch and later score on a single by James Loney.
The second miscue came in the fourth inning. The Yankees had the lead after Brian McCann hit a Yankee Stadium two-run home run to the short porch in right for his fourth home run of the season. The miscue occurred in right center field as daylight was turning to night and the twilight made it hard for Ellsbury to see the ball in the air. The deep fly ball by Evan Longoria would end up falling behind Ellsbury for an unusual triple. Wil Myers would bring home Longoria to tie the game.
Nuno would lose the lead in the fifth inning on a home run by Desmond Jennings and end Nuno’s night. In 4.2 innings, Vidal Nuno allowed four runs on five hits while walking three and striking out two. Not what you want from a starter.
The bullpen would pick up Nuno and the first man was Dellin Betances. The big man from the bullpen would get the last out of the fifth inning and started the sixth inning with two singles, including a bunt single. Betances would bounce back with three strike outs, all swinging to strand the runners. Betances would pass the baton to Preston Claiborne who allowed two to reach on walks (one intentional) but kept the Rays at just a two-run lead. Claiborne and Thornton would combine for the eighth inning and the Yankees bats would come alive.
After seven innings of two-run baseball by David Price, Joel Peralta would come out of the bullpen. With two outs, Mark Teixeira would hit his third home run in four games to put the game at one. The home run would strike soon after as Alfonso Soriano went back-to-back with Teixeira for his fifth home run of the season and just like that the game was tied.
In the ninth inning, David Robertson would give up his first run of the season and the Rays had another opportunity for a win. In the bottom of the inning, Peralta was still pitching and the Yankees still felt the comeback magic. Brian Roberts would start the ninth inning with a bloop single, the first hit of his night. He would advance on a ground out to first and made a very brave decision. With two outs, Roberts stole third base because Longoria couldn’t hold onto the throw. Pinch-hitter Kelly Johnson would ground out to the drawn in infield but Jacoby Ellsbury would come through, singling up the middle for his third hit of the game and tying the game.
Extra innings!
For the Yankees, Shawn Kelley would pitch a great two innings, allowing one hit and striking out three. Warren would skate around danger in his two innings, allowing four hits but no runs while striking out two. While the pitching did the job, the offense started their job but couldn’t quite finish it.
With two outs in the 11th inning, Brian Roberts and Yangervis Solarte would hit back-to-back singles, putting runners on the corners. Solarte would take second on defensive indifference but pinch-hitter Ichiro Suzuki would ground out to end the inning.
In the 12th inning, Jacoby Ellsbury would hit a single to the hole on the left that was deep enough for no play. Derek Jeter would naturally do what Jeter does, bunt to help the team and advance the runner. Fortunately for the Yankees, reliever Heath Bell would air-mail the bunt into center field and two runners were on with no outs. Then, well, words cannot quite describe the sight.
For those scoring where you are, that is a 4-3-6-3-4-3-4-5-2 double play. Don’t try that number on your phone.
In the 13th inning, Brian McCann and Brian Roberts hit a pair of singles and Solarte would move the runners over on a ground out to first. The Rays would put on the dreaded five-man infield as right fielder Wil Myers would man first base. No way this would work, right? Oh, but it does. Pinch-hitter Brett Gardner would ground out to the first baseman playing in the middle infield and it would score as a 3-9 putout. Yes, to the right fielder. You can’t predict baseball sometimes.
All humor aside, the Yankees were 1 for 13 with runners in scoring position and they left eight runners on base in the last three innings. That’s not winning baseball.
The last man left, Chris Leroux would be the losing pitcher in this night. five hits would plate five runs in the 14th inning and the Yankees would lose a tough one that included two comebacks but a comeback is only a comeback when you complete it for the win.
In one inning, Leroux allowed five runs on five hits while walking two and striking out two.
For the first time in his 20-year career, Derek Jeter was hitless in seven at-bats in one game. It’s his last season, he still has some firsts to cross off the career checklist.
On a positive note, besides Leroux, the bullpen was outstanding. Dellin Betances, Preston Claiborne, Matt Thornton, David Robertson, Shawn Kelley and Adam Warren provided 9.1 innings, allowing one run while striking out 10. Definitely a strength, albeit tired after tonight.
Win – Heath Bell (1-1)
Loss – Chris Leroux (0-1)
Notables
Rays
*Wil Myers – 3 for 7, 2 R, 2 RBI (13)
*Evan Longoria – 3 for 6, R, BB, 3B, RBI (18)
Yankees
*Jacoby Ellsbury – 4 for 6, BB, RBI (13)
*Alfonso Soriano – 3 for 7, 2 R, Solo Home Run (5) in the 8th, 2 RBI (11)
Current Yankees Record: 15-13
