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Yankees game 58: Two blasts for Drew extend the streak

Washington Nationals 1 – New York Yankees 6

The Yankees open a quick two-game series with the Nationals in a matchup of aces.

Masahiro Tanaka took the mound for the Yankees, looking to keep the good times rolling despite going head-to-head with the Nationals’ Max Scherzer. Through the first two innings, the game was scoreless. A recent source of power struck again for the Yankees.

Leading off the third inning, Stephen Drew took Scherzer deep for his eighth home run of the season.

Unfortunately for the Yankees and Tanaka, the lead did not last for long.

In the fourth inning, after giving up his first hit of the game and erasing it with a double play, Bryce Harper made his splash on Yankee Stadium. After a first inning ground out, Bryce Harper hit a fly ball to left center field that kept carrying. It carried all the way out and over the wall to tie the game on a solo home run.

The aces settled down, but not without a questionable baserunning decision by the Yankees.

In the sixth inning, Mark Teixeira hit a one-out double. A line drive to left center field stalled Teixeira, allowing him to only advance to third. With runners on the corners, Carlos Beltran hit a fly ball to center, on a sliding catch attempt by center fielder Michael Taylor, it ended up getting called a force out at second as the umpires could not determine if it was caught or not.. On the shallow sliding play, the Yankees slow-footed first baseman was indecisive between tagging up or making a direct route to home. The indecisiveness forced Teixeira to return to third base, stranded on a Didi Gregorius strike out.

After Tanaka kept the game tied despite a pair of two-out singles, the Yankees got to Scherzer and a familiar, albeit bearded, face.

With one out in the seventh inning, Ramon Flores and Brett Gardner hit a pair of singles. Then, with two outs, Alex Rodriguez hit a ground ball to the hole and Ian Desmond attempted to get the last out at third base. Flores, hustling to third, got in the way of the throw and by deflection, Flores rounded third to score the go-ahead run on the throwing error. The error ended Scherzer’s night on the mound but his line is not finished with two runners on.

Enter former Yankee Matt Thornton. After an intentional walk of Mark Teixeira, Brian McCann cashed in with a two-run single with the bases loaded. Carlos Beltran followed with a single of his own and the Yankees had a 5-1 lead.

In 6 2/3 innings, Max Scherzer allowed four runs on eight hits while walking one and striking out seven. Two runs came in with Thornton on the mound.

On the Yankees side, Masahiro Tanaka pitched in seven innings, allowing one run on five hits, walking none and striking out six.

Tanaka outperformed Scherzer by enough to line up for the win if the bullpen could get it done.

The first man out of the bullpen, the big Dellin Betances. The shut down righty got the only three batters he faced out, including one strikeout.

Not that it was needed, but Stephen Drew kept his power surge going with his second home run of the night. In the ninth inning, Chasen Shreve entered. After getting one out, Bryce Harper hit a double to left field. After getting the second out of the inning, Shreve walked Clint Robinson, bringing out Girardi to call on Andrew Miller. In the non-save situation, Miller got a ground out to end the game and keep the win streak going at seven.

 

Win – Masahiro Tanaka (4-1)

Loss – Max Scherzer (6-5)

 

Notables

Nationals

*Bryce Harper – 2 for 4, R, 2B, Solo home run (20) in the 4th, RBI (47)

*Yunel Escobar – 2 for 4, 2B

Yankees

*Stephen Drew – 2 for 4, 2 R, 2 Solo home runs (9) in the 3rd & 8th, 2 RBI (21)

*Brian McCann – 3 for 4, 2B, 2 RBI (37)

 

Current Yankees Record: 33-25