New York Yankees 6 — St. Louis Cardinals 4 (12 innings)
It takes 12 innings but the Yankees opened the three-game series with a win on Memorial Day.
The Yankees got to Cardinals’ starter Michael Wacha right away. After Brett Gardner walked and Derek Jeter hit a single, Jacoby Ellsbury would continue hitting well, bringing home the first run for the Yankees. Despite opening the game with three consecutive baserunners, the Yankees would be held to just one run.
The Cardinals would respond right away against Chase Whitley. Matt Carpenter led off the game with a deep fly ball to right field that eluded Ichiro Suzuki and Carpenter would cruise into third base with a triple. Second baseman Kolten Wong would follow with a double down the right field line and the Cardinals tied it up.
After the active first inning, Wacha and Whitley would put up zeroes until the fifth inning. Like the first inning, a lead off walk would be to the benefit of the Yankees. Brian Roberts would hit a single and Kelly Johnson would hit a single of his own to put the Yankees ahead. A sacrifice fly by Brett Gardner plated the third run for the Yankees. Meanwhile, Chase Whitley would pitch a perfect fifth inning and would be eligible for the win.
But, he came out for the sixth inning.
A double, a single and a hit batter would be the last of the leash left for Whitley. Reliever Preston Claiborne would enter the game with no outs and the bases loaded, an unenviable task. Two productive outs later and the two-run lead was gone. As was Whitley’s win.
Over five innings, Chase Whitley allowed three runs on eight hits while walking none and striking out two. He left after throwing 91 pitches and facing three batters in the sixth inning. Whitley being used in the sixth inning was a questionable decision but it was a decision made.
The Yankees bullpen, consisting of Matt Thornton, Dellin Betances and Alfredo Aceves provided shut down innings. Aceves can thank Brett Gardner for the leaping catch at the left field wall, taking away a potential home run from Yadier Molina in the 11th inning. On the other side, Carlos Martinez, Trevor Rosenthal and Pat Neshek silenced the Yankees bats. Former Yankee reliever, Randy Choate, would come in for the 12th inning and, like the past two scoring opportunities, led off the inning with a walk of Jacoby Ellsbury. Where Brett Gardner failed (for the first time in 12 tries), Ellsbury succeeded when he stole second base on Yadier Molina. McCann would be hit by a pitch and Solarte would put the runners in scoring position with a bunt. The bases would be loaded for Brian Roberts, who came through in the clutch situation with a single through the drawn in infield. Pinch-hitter Alfonso Soriano would productively fly out to a diving catch in shallow right field for a run. Brendan Ryan would add another insurance run with a single and the save opportunity was set.
Closer David Robertson would come in and dealt with a throwing error by Derek Jeter to start the inning. With one out, Jon Jay would hit a run-scoring double to make it a two-run game but a ground out and a strikeout finished off Robertson’s 11th save of the season.
The Yankees only managed seven hits but productive outs proved to be important in today’s Memorial Day win.
Win – Alfredo Aceves (1-2)
Loss – Randy Choate (0-2)
Save – David Robertson (11)
Notables
Yankees
*Brian Roberts – 2 for 5, R, RBI (11)
*Jacoby Ellsbury – 1 for 4, R, BB, RBI (18)
Cardinals
*Kolten Wong – 2 for 4, 2B, RBI (10)
*Jhonny Peralta – 1 for 4, R, RBI (22)
Current Yankees Record: 27-23
