Tampa Bay Rays 2 – New York Yankees 4
In a spot start, Chase Whitley shined with a makeshift bullpen behind him.
After a scoreless first inning, the Yankees offense was fueled by Jacoby Ellsbury. In the bottom of the fist inning, Ellsbury hit a single to left. The Yankees center fielder stole second base and a wide throw by catcher Rene Rivera allowed Ellsbury to advance to third base. Brett Gardner grounded out to second and Ellsbury came around to score for the first run of the game. The offense would not let up as Mark Teixeira hit a double to right field and Brian McCann replaced Teixeira with a double of his own, scoring the second run of the game.
In the second inning, Whitley looked for a shut down inning and Whitley danced with danger but came out unharmed. Despite three one-out singles, a fly out to left fielder Brett Gardner, who played it brilliantly, and a ground out ended the inning without a run scoring.
A one-out walk in the third inning would come around to score on Whitley when Asdrubal Cabrera hit a double to deep center field. Whitley would bounce back with a pair of strikeouts to keep the lead. Chase Whitley would fight through tonight’s spot start and put the Yankees in a position to win.
In five innings, Chase Whitley allowed one run on six hits while walking one and striking out five. Regardless of the bad news heard during tonight’s game, Whitley could easily find himself getting another opportunity to start.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, that Jacoby guy would be a spark plug. With one out, Ellsbury would reach base on a single. Brett Gardner would follow with a single of his own, putting two of the faster baserunners on the corners. Brett Gardner would steal second base and after the second out, Brian McCann would give the Yankees some insurance. McCann would hit a line drive to left, scoring Ellsbury and Gardner easily on his two-run double. Brian McCann had three runs batted in tonight.
For the sixth inning, Chasen Shreve came in and walked the first batter he faced. Logan Forsythe would hit a triple to deep center field and the Rays plated the second run of the game. Shreve would get the first out of the inning and Esmil Rogers would come in to get the last two outs and then some.
After pitching in the previous two games, Betances and Miller would be unavailable in tonight’s game. With that said, Esmil Rogers took on the weight of the load for the Yankees and their bullpen. In 2 2/3 innings, Esmil Rogers allowed no runs while allowing just one hit and one walk, striking out five.
GET IT Rogers!!!!!!! #Yankees – Great relief appearance!
— Bronx Pinstripes (@BronxPinstripes) April 29, 2015
Chris Martin would be handed the save opportunity tonight. Martin would allow a single in the ninth inning but Asdrubal Cabrera struck out to end the game.
Congratulations to Chris Martin on his first career save.
Win – Chase Whitley (1-0)
Loss – Jake Odorizzi (2-2)
Save – Chris Martin (1)
Notables
Rays
*Logan Forsythe – 2 for 4, 3B, RBI (10)
*Asdrubal Cabrera – 2 for 4, BB, 2B, RBI (8)
Yankees
*Brian McCann – 2 for 4, 2 2B, 3 RBI (12)
*Brett Gardner – 1 for 4, R, RBI (7)
Current Yankees Record: 13-8
