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NEW YORK, NY - JULY 04: Pinch runner Jose Pirela #38 of the New York Yankees celebrates after scoring the game winning run in the ninth inning after a throwing error against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on July 4, 2015 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Yankees game 81: Walking off on July 4th

Tampa Bay Rays 2 – New York Yankees 3

The Yankees needed some late-game heroics, or in this case, an error, to win it.

After a scoreless first inning by Michael Pineda that featured two strikeouts, the Rays sent Nathan Karns to the mound on July 4th and the Yankees came out aggressive. Brett Gardner jumped on the first pitch with a single to center field. Chase Headley got enough of a pitch to drop it between the infield and out field for the second hit of the inning. The third batter, Alex Rodriguez, reached on another soft fly ball between the infield and outfield, plating Brett Gardner and putting the Yankees ahead early. Mark Teixeira added to the lead with a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.

Following the first inning lead, Michael Pineda and Nathan Karns shut down their respective oppositions.

After a double and a walk to leadoff the second inning, Pineda retired 18 of the next 19 batters he faced. It took a double in the eighth inning to cue the end of his day on the mound.

In seven scoreless innings, Michael Pineda allowed just five hits with one walk and 10 strikeouts.

A combination of Justin Wilson and Dellin Betances finished off the eighth inning to maintain the two-run lead.

Following the two-run first inning, Nathan Karns retired 17 of the next 20 batters he faced before being removed from the game in the eighth inning.

After finishing off the eighth inning, Dellin Betances returned for the ninth inning to finish off a four-out save. James Loney started the ninth with a single and the slumping Steven Souza Jr. snapped his hitless skid with a game-tying two-run home run to deep left.

This was the first home run allowed by Betances since August last year.

With the game tied in the bottom of the ninth inning, a walk-off win is the only way the Yankees can come away with the victory. Mark Teixeira led off the ninth inning with a double to right field. Teixeira was replaced on the bases with Jose Pirela; Chris Young was walked and Ramon Flores looked to sacrifice over the runners into scoring position. Brad Boxberger fielded the bunt and threw it away, wide of first base, where the heads-up baserunning of Jose Pirela plated the game-winning run in walk-off fashion.

The second walk-off in as many days.

 

Win – Dellin Betances (5-1)

Loss – Brad Boxberger (4-4)

 

Notables

Rays

*Steven Souza Jr. – 2 for 4, R, Two-run home run (15) in the 9th, 2 RBI (33)

*James Loney – 2 for 4, R

Yankees

*Mark Teixeira – 1 for 3, 2B, RBI (59)

*Chase Headley – 1 for 3, R, BB

 

Current Yankees Record: 44-37