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Yankees game 95: Phelps, offense on point to start the second half

800px-David_Phelps_on_April_14,_2012

Cincinnati Reds 3 — New York Yankees 4

David Phelps and the offense did just enough to start the second half of the season on a positive note.

After a quick first inning with two strikeouts for David Phelps, the Yankees offense got started. Cincinnati Reds’ starter Mike Leake would open the game by hitting Brett Gardner on the inside of his left foot. Two outs later, Gardner would steal second base. Mark Teixeira would walk to extend the inning and Brian McCann would hit a booming double into right center field. The double would score Gardner and gives the Yankees the early one-run lead.

In the top of the third inning, a very poorly located pitch would not return to Phelps. A pitch meant to be down and away  to first baseman Brayan Pena ended up high and in. Pena would put the pitch into the right field seats and tied the game.

The Yankees would bounce back quickly in the bottom half of the third inning.

Derek Jeter started the inning with a single to left field. Jacoby Ellsbury would follow with a single and two outs later, Carlos Beltran would hit a single to center field and Jeter scored from second base.  The Yankees would successfully execute a double steal in the inning with Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran but Ichiro Suzuki would harmlessly ground out to third to end the inning.

The defense would fall apart behind Phelps in the fourth inning.

After Zack Cozart led off with a single, Todd Frazier would hit a ground ball up the middle that Brian Roberts would not make the play on as both runners would be safe on the error. Jay Bruce advanced the runners into scoring position with a ground out and a bobble by Derek Jeter on a Devin Mesoraco ground ball would bring in the tying run. Two errors played a big role in the tying run crossing the plate but David Phelps picked up his defense with a strikeout and a harmless fly out to keep the game tied at two.

David Phelps would overcome two singles in the fifth inning with a pair of called third strikes, five strikeouts in this way tonight for Phelps. The Yankees offense would give Phelps the lead in the bottom half of the inning. Derek Jeter would hit a single to right field and Jacoby Ellsbury hit a laser to right field. The two-run home run was the seventh of the season for the Yankees center fielder and it broke the 2-2 tie.

Brayan Pena would be a thorn in the side of Phelps one more time in the seventh inning. He opened the inning with his second home run of the night. Phelps would allow one more single before striking out his last batter to end his night.

In 6.1 innings, David Phelps allowed three runs, two earned, on six hits while walking one and striking out seven.

Dellin Betances would pickup Phelps with a pop out and a strikeout for the last two outs of the seventh inning and keeping the lead. Betances would get the eighth inning and was vintage Betances this season, striking out two in a scoreless inning. David Robertson would get the call for the save. After getting the first two outs, Robertson would give up a single to Chris Heisey but a pop out from Ramon Santiago ended the game and notched Robertson’s 24th save of the season.

 

Win – David Phelps (4-4)

Loss – Mike Leake (7-8)

Save – David Robertson (24)

 

Notables

Reds

*Brayan Pena – 2 for 4, 2 R, 2 Solo Home Runs (5) in the 3rd & 5th, 2 RBI (19)

*Zack Cozart – 2  for 4, R

Yankees

*Jacoby Ellsbury – 2 for 4, R, 2-Run Home Run (7) in the 5th, 2 RBI (44)

*Carlos Beltran – 2 for 4, 2B, RBI (29)

 

Current Yankees Record: 48-47