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(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Yankees Game 31: Walking the ballpark

(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

New York Yankees 1 — Los Angeles Angels 4

The strike zone escapes relievers (and the umpire) in an awful series opening loss.

Through the first four innings, the matchup between Angels’ Jered Weaver and Yankees’ David Phelps was a pitcher’s duel. They both allowed two baserunners in the first four innings and neither of them allowed a run. Everything would change in the fifth inning.

Howie Kendrick hits a ground ball down the right field line that Ichiro Suzuki misplayed, allowing it to roll past him and turning it into a leadoff triple. He would score on a ground out to Jeter’s right for the first run of the game. David Phelps would minimize the damage and keep it to just one run.

In 5.1 innings, David Phelps allowed one run on three hits while walking one and striking out three. He threw 87 pitches in a good spot starting effort.

In the seventh inning, the Yankees would get their second hit of the game, the second of Derek Jeter‘s too, breaking an 0-for-14 skid with a two-hit night. Jacoby Ellsbury would advance Jeter with a ground out to the right side and Mark Teixeira would get a hit over the shift for a run-scoring single to tie the game.

In the eighth inning, the Yankees looked to have a prime scoring opportunity. Kelly Johnson would start the inning with a single past second baseman Howie Kendrick. Brian Roberts would hit a single past shortstop Erick Aybar and Ichiro Suzuki would drop down a bunt for a single to load the bases just like that. Brett Gardner would take a possibly low pitch that caught the eye of both Gardner and manager Joe Girardi. The Yankees manager would erupt on home plate umpire Laz Diaz, who ejected Girardi without hesitation but he got his money’s worth before exiting the game. Gardner would end up striking out and Derek Jeter would hit into an inning-ending double play that killed the rally and is inexcusable. The bases were loaded with no outs and Jered Weaver was able to escape it with the game tied.

After 1.2 scoreless by Adam Warren following Phelps, the bullpen fell apart.

Shawn Kelley started the eighth inning with a walk of Collin Cowgill. Aybar would ground out and Kelley would even get Mike Trout out to center field for the second out. Kelley would intentionally walk Albert Pujols to face then rookie C.J. Cron but Raul Ibanez would come in for the rookie. Ibanez would get into a long at-bat that resulted in a walk to load the bases. Shawn Kelley’s last batter would be Howie Kendrick. On a 3-1 count, Kendrick would walk on a low pitch and the go-ahead run would come in. Matt Thornton would come in the game and during his exit, Shawn Kelley would be ejected by Laz Diaz too, for complaining about balls and strikes.

For Thornton, the Angels sent up pinch-hitter John McDonald, who like the last three batters, walked. Thornton would exit after facing his lone batter and Preston Claiborne was brought in. Chris Iannetta would walk for the third run of the inning before getting a fly out to right field to end the dreadful inning.

The Angels batted around without actually batting. In the eighth inning, the Yankees walked six batters and allowed three runs without the Angels getting a hit.

The Yankees would go down harmlessly, striking out two times in the ninth inning as the Angels won the first game of the series in a long drawn out way.

Win – Jered Weaver (3-2)

Loss – Shawn Kelley (0-2)

Save – Ernesto Frieri (3)

 

Yankees

*Mark Teixeira – 1 for 3, BB, RBI (11)

*Derek Jeter – 2 for 4, R, 2B

Angels

*Howie Kendrick – 1 for 3, R, BB, 3B, RBI (17)

*Albert Pujols – 2 for 3, R, BB

 

Current Yankees Record: 16-15