New York Yankees 4 — Oakland Athletics 5 (12 innings)
Coco Crisp’s walk-off single completes a 4-game sweep with today’s 5-4 loss to the Oakland Athletics in 12 innings.
CC Sabathia took the mound and pitched 7 innings in which the home run did the most damage. In the 5th inning, Brandon Inge and Kurt Suzuki took the Yankees left-hander deep. Through his 7 innings, he surrendered 3 runs on 6 hits with 1 walk and 6 strikeouts on 98 pitches. David Robertson allowed a single and a steal of second that put the, then, potential tying run to be in scoring position but Robertson pulled out the Houdini act yet again, striking out Josh Reddick and Yoenis Cespedes, the biggest bats of the Oakland lineup. Rafael Soriano didn’t fare as well when he gave up the game-tying home run to Seth Smith but would eventually finish tne inning despite blowing his second save of the season. David Phelps was called on next to start the 10th inning and through 1.2 innings of work, the Yankees rookie pitcher was perfect including striking out the last 3 batters he faced. Joe Girardi would then begin managing to matchups and removed Phelps and brought in Clay Rapada for two left-handed batters that he would get out. With one out in the 12th inning, Cody Eppley was brought in and after a single and a sacrifice bunt, Coco Crisp hit the game-winning, walk-off single to end the game and the series.
The Yankees had an early 3 run lead, highlighted by a two-run double with the bases loaded by Alex Rodriguez. The fourth run came on Curtis Granderson’s 26th home run of the season in the 4th inning. The offense was held relatively silent throughout the rest of the game after Granderson’s home run. This sweep of the Yankees is the first four-game sweep since the Toronto Blue Jays did so in 2003. This was also the first four-game sweep in which all games were decided by one run.
Win – Jerry Blevins (3-0)
Loss – Cody Eppley (0-2)
Notable
Yankees
*Curtis Granderson – 2 for 5, 2 R, Solo Home Run (26) in the 4th, RBI (53)
*Alex Rodriguez – 1 for 5, BB, 2B, 2 RBI (43)
Athletics
*Coco Crisp – 2 for 3, Game-Winning Single, RBI (19)
*Brandon Inge – 1 for 5, Solo Home Run (10) in the 5th, 2 RBI (44)
Current Yankees Record: 57-38
