New York Yankees 5 — Cleveland Indians 4 (14 innings)
The debut of Brandon McCarthy needed some extra baseball to decide it.
After a scoreless first inning by the Yankees bats, Brandon McCarthy took the mound for the first time as a Yankee. A pair of singles around an out would be a tough start for McCarthy. It would be compounded by a throwing error on a ground ball by Mark Teixeira. The throw would hit Michael Brantley going to second and this loaded the bases. The first run would come on a ground out but two runs would score on a single to shallow right center by Nick Swisher. McCarthy would get the final out but the Yankees were down by three after one.
All three runs scored were unearned thanks to the very costly error by Mark Teixeira.
The Yankees would start getting the runs back in the fourth inning. Mark Teixeira would lead off the inning with his 16th home run of the season to put the Yankees on the board. In the fifth inning, Jacoby Ellsbury would hit a one-out double and Derek Jeter would hit a single to put runners on the corners for Brian McCann. The Yankees catcher would hit a sacrifice fly to plate the Yankees’ second run of the game. With the Indians still ahead by one, Mark Teixeira would come up and hit his second home run of the game. The two-run home run was his 17th of the season and it gave the Yankees the one-run lead.
The multi-home run game is the 37th of Teixeira’s career. This ties him with Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Mike Piazza and Alfonso Soriano for such a big offensive feat.
After the rough first inning, Brandon McCarthy settled down. He allowed runners to reach on the second and third inning but he induced two double plays to stop the momentum. he would have a clean fourth inning with some good infield defense but the fifth inning would have a bump in the road. After receiving a lead on the Teixeira home run, Asdrubal Cabrera would hit a one-out double and with two outs, Carlos Santana would line a single to right field to tie the game at four.
Brandon McCarthy gave the Yankees 6.2 innings in his debut. He allowed four runs, but just one was earned, on nine hits while walking one and striking out three. He gave the Yankees quality innings and left the game tied so he would not factor into the decision.
The combination of Matt Thornton (0.1), Dellin Betances (1.0) and Adam Warren (1.1) gave the Yankees enough to get to extra innings. Warren exited after one out in the 10th inning and David Huff got the call to face lefty Michael Brantley. Huff would get to a full count on the next three batters and walked each of the batters to load the bases without the benefit of a hit. Shawn Kelley got the call to put out a tremendous fire in a high leverage situation. Former Yankee Nick Swisher would be the first batter but Kelley would send him back to the dugout with a strikeout on a slider. He would get a ground out for the last out and the Yankees managed to keep the game tied.
Kelley would pitch another scoreless inning and former starter returned to the bullpen, Chase Whitley got to pitch two scoreless innings.
With two outs in the 14th inning, Jacoby Ellsbury would break the tie. His solo home run deep in to right field off of reliever Vinnie Pestano was his sixth of the season and his second in extra innings on the road.
David Robertson got the call for the save. After getting one out, Jason Kipnis hit a single and stole second. The potential tying run was on second base but Asdrubal Cabrera would strike out for the second out. In the last at-bat, Kelly Johnson would miss a catch over his shoulder in foul territory but a fly ball to left field to Zoilo Almonte would be caught and the Yankees won this marathon game.
Win – Chase Whitley (4-2)
Loss – Vinnie Pestano (0-1)
Save – David Robertson (22)
Notables
Yankees
*Jacoby Ellsbury – 3 for 7, 2 R, 2B, Solo Home Run (6) in the 4th, RBI (41)
*Mark Teixeira – 2 for 6, 2 R, 2 HR (17; Solo & 2-Run) in the 4th & 5th, 3 RBI (47)
Indians
*Nick Swisher – 2 for 6, 2 RBI (34)
*Carlos Santana – 1 for 4, R, BB, RBI (34)
Current Yankees Record: 46-44
