New York Yankees 7 — Oakland Athletics 0
The Yankees turned to David Phelps against the top team in the American League.
For the A’s, Sonny Gray started and the Yankees would get the offense going right away. Brett Gardner and Derek Jeter started the game with a pair of singles. Jacoby Ellsbury would single to left field (and extended his hitting streak to 17 games) where Yoenis Cespedes defends. If you have been paying attention to recent baseball news, Cespedes’ right arm can be justifiably called a cannon. Unfortunately for the A’s, the cannon was just a little weaker than Brett Gardner speed. The Yankees took a one run lead on the third single to start the game. Jeter advanced on the throw and scored on the next play, a sacrifice fly to center field.
In the second inning, Brian Roberts would single with one out. After Kelly Johnson worked a walk, Brett Gardner would hit a single to left field and Roberts would come around to score. Jeter would single to load the bases but a force at home on an Ellsbury ground ball and a fly out would keep the Yankees from blowing the game wide open.
For the Yankees, David Phelps was not like recent David Phelps. In his previous start against the Kansas City Royals, he allowed seven runs on 10 hits. In tonight’s game, David Phelps would not allow his first hit until the fifth inning. A bloop single by Derek Norris over third baseman Kelly Johnson would go for the first hit off of David Phelps. In the sixth inning, Phelps led off with his third walk of the game but he turned a 3-6-1 double play on the next batter and finished off the inning. His last batter was Jed Lowrie, who hit a double and ended the start of David Phelps.
In 6.2 innings, David Phelps allowed just two hits while walking three and striking out four. Outstanding job against an outstanding offense by David Phelps.
In the eighth inning, the Yankees offense turned back on after 15 of 18 batters were retired since Derek Jeter’s second inning single. Against lefty Jeff Francis, Mark Teixeira and Brian McCann would hit a pair of singles. With two outs, Ichiro Suzuki would hit his second infield single of the night, deflected by Francis, and the run would score. Brian Roberts would hit a single to right field that scored McCann and a missed catch by Norris behind the plate allowed Ichiro to score as the Yankees put some distance on the scoreboard. One more run would score on a Kelly Johnson single and the Yankees sizable 7-0 lead was more than enough.
Outstanding pitching and (mostly) impressive offense in a solid win against a great team.
Win – David Phelps (2-4)
Loss – Sonny Gray (6-3)
Notables
Yankees
*Brett Gardner – 2 for 4, R, RBI (24)
*Jacoby Ellsbury – 1 for 4, BB, RBI (30)
Athletics
*Jed Lowrie – 1 for 2, 2B
*Derek Norris – 1 for 3
Current Yankees Record: 35-31
