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Yankees game 81: Rally back but fall in extras

phelps

Tampa Bay Rays 4 — New York Yankees 3 (12 innings)

The Yankees fight back but could not find the walk-off winner in extras.

The New York Yankees sent David Phelps to the mound for tonight’s game and fell behind early in the first inning. After getting two easy ground outs, Matt Joyce got a hold of a 3-2 pitch and put it into the Yankees’ bullpen to put the Rays ahead by one. The Rays would use the long ball to their benefit in the third inning too when the #9 hitter, Kevin Kiermaier went deep to right field on a full count too.

The Yankees would get a response going in the bottom half of the third inning.

After Ichiro Suzuki got on base the hard way against the Yankees killer, Chris Archer, by getting hit by a pitch, Brett Gardner would hit a sharp line drive past the diving Kevin Kiermaier in right field. The base hit would be enough for three bases and the first run for the Yankees. Derek Jeter would follow with a ground out to second base to bring home Gardner and tie the game at two.

After a 1-2-3 fourth inning, the Yankees would not have a quick inning without a base runner until extra innings.

Through the first eight innings of the game, the Yankees pitching would walk seven. This problem would haunt the Yankees in the eighth inning. After Adam Warren overcame a single and two walks with two outs, Dellin Betances got the eighth inning. The dominant reliever has been working a lot recently and it may have shown in tonight’s game. After getting the first two outs of the inning, Betances would walk the next two before David Robertson would be called on with the game tied.

Yes, the bullpen was taxed to this extent.

David Robertson would proceed to give up the go-ahead single to Ryan Hanigan before getting the third out. In the bottom of the inning, Jacoby Ellsbury would hit a single with one out. After getting the second out, Rays reliever Jake McGee would allow a shallow fly ball that would go in and out of the glove of left fielder Brandon Guyer. Jacoby Ellsbury would be held at third base after hesitating at second base. The decision to hold by Ellsbury would prove costly as Beltran would pop out to end the potential scoring opportunity.

With a one-run lead, Joel Peralta got the call for the save and he would blow the lead. With one out, Brian Roberts would work a hard at-bat and succeed when he put the game-tying solo home run into right field. The next two batters would get out and give the Yankees faithful some free baseball.

The Yankees would get a single from Derek Jeter and his fourth stolen base of the season but he would be stranded. In the second inning of work by Shawn Kelley, he would allow a pair of singles and a walk to load the bases with one out. Kelley would proceed to get both Ben Zobrist and Matt Joyce to strike out swinging for the final two outs of the inning as he looks to improve his positioning in the Yankees’ bullpen pecking order.

Jose Ramirez would get the 12th inning of the game and the lack of control would haunt the rookie right-hander. After a two-out walk, Logan Forsythe would hit a run-scoring single to center field that would be the game-winning run in a 12-inning affair.

 

Win – Brad Boxberger (1-1)

Loss – Jose Ramirez (0-2)

 

Notables

Rays

*Logan Forsythe – 2 for 5, BB, RBI (10)

*Kevin Kiermaier – 3 for 5, R, Solo Home Run (7) in the 3rd, RBI (13)

Yankees

*Brian Roberts – 2 for 5, R, Solo Home Run (4) in the 9th, RBI (17)

*Brett Gardner – 1 for 6, R, 3B, RBI (31)

 

Current Yankees Record: 41-40