Tampa Bay Rays 2 — New York Yankees 1
An unproductive offense does not support the outstanding pitching effort.
After five relievers were needed in yesterday’s extra inning game, Hiroki Kuroda was going to be asked for as many innings as possible. Fortunately for the Yankees, Kuroda was willing and able to provide an outstanding start. After three scoreless innings, a pair of singles to open the fourth inning put runners on the corners with no outs. The Japanese righty would get James Loney to strike out but surrender the first run of the game on a single by Logan Forsythe.
The offense would respond in the bottom half of the inning but it was on the benefit of a throwing error from the Rays.
Rays starter David Price, who is accustomed to milestone accomplishments when it comes to Derek Jeter, would be on the wrong side of yet another accomplishment by the Yankees captain. To start the fourth inning, Derek Jeter would hit a double to deep left center field. This double would be important as it was his 534th career double, tying with Lou Gehrig for most doubles in franchise history. Jacoby Ellsbury would hit a single to put runners on the corners for Mark Teixeira. He would fly out to shallow right field so the run would not score. David Price would attempt to pickoff Ellsbury and in the chaos of a rundown, Ben Zobrist would hit Ellsbury in the back with a throw, allowing Jeter to score as the tying run.
Hiroki Kuroda would allow the go-ahead run to score on a sixth inning solo home run by James Loney. Kuroda would escape two innings in which two runners reached but he prevented the Rays from getting a sizable lead. In eight innings, Hiroki Kuroda allowed two runs on nine hits while walking one and striking out seven. The veteran Kuroda did everything the Yankees could have wanted and then some. Not only did he provide the Yankees with eight innings and preserved the bullpen, he gave them a very good chance to win the game.
The one-run lead would not be too much for most offenses. Then there is the current Yankees offense.
Aside from the fourth inning when the Yankees scored, the offense only had two other innings with runners on. In the sixth inning, Derek Jeter hit a single and stole second base. Mark Teixeira would walk after Ellsbury struck out but Carlos Beltran would fly out and Alfonso Soriano would strikeout looking. In the ninth inning, against Grant Balfour, Carlos Beltran would walk to start the inning and Kelly Johnson would walk with two outs to put the go-ahead run on base. Yangervis Solarte would ground out harmlessly to first base and the Yankees are on a four-game losing streak that puts them at .500 for the season.
Win – David Price (7-7)
Loss – Hiroki Kuroda (4-6)
Save – Grant Balfour (11)
Notables
Rays
*James Loney – 2 for 4, R, Solo Home Run (5) in the 6th, RBI (42)
*Logan Forsythe – 2 for 4, RBI (11)
Yankees
*Derek Jeter – 2 for 4, R, 2B
*Jacoby Ellsbury – 1 for 4
Current Yankees Record: 41-41
