New York Yankees 7 — St. Louis Cardinals 4
The Yankees sent up an unusual lineup for the finale but it created offense that was missed.
Against Cardinals’ starter Shelby Miller, a lineup that featured catcher John Ryan Murphy in the fifth spot of the lineup and for the first time in his career, Brian McCann starting at first base could not generate a lot of offense, could they? In the third inning, Brett Gardner would walk with one out. Brian Roberts, in the two hole of the lineup, would hit a single to put two on. Jacoby Ellsbury would continue swinging a hot bat with a run-scoring single for the first run of the game. Brian McCann would walk to load the bases for John Ryan Murphy. The young Yankees catcher would hit a line drive to right center field for two runs. Ichiro Suzuki would ground out to bring home the fourth run of the game and the Yankees had a sizable lead.
The beneficiary of the four-run lead is Hiroki Kuroda. Yes, the man that rarely gets run support now has run support. After a clean first inning, Kuroda would not have a 1-2-3 inning throughout his start. In the second inning, a ground-rule double and an error put a runner on third with one out but a fielder’s choice at home kept the Cardinals off the board. Two singles and a hit batter loaded the bases with two outs in the third inning but Molina would pop out to end another threat.
Two runs would come across for the Cardinals in the fourth and fifth innings but by the end of the fifth inning, Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann and Ichiro Suzuki made it a 7-2 game. Over 5.2 innings, Hiroki Kuroda allowed three runs on nine hits while striking out three and walking none.
Matt Thornton would give up a single to his only batter faced but Dellin Betances would throw the one pitch needed to get through the inning.
Adam Warren would go 1.2 innings but with one on and two outs in the eighth inning, David Robertson was called on to get four outs in a non-save situation.
At least there’s an off day tomorrow.
Robertson would allow the inherited runner to score but got a strikeout of the next batter to end the eighth inning. With a 7-3 lead, Robertson would surrender a leadoff single and walked Yadier Molina on four pitches. The Yankees closer would settle down and find his pitches with three straight strikeouts to end the game and send the Yankees home happy.
As a team, the Yankees went 4-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Brian Roberts had two hits in four at-bats tonight and scored twice. Jacoby Ellsbury got three hits in his first three at-bats and finished with three runs batted in and two stolen bases, with Yadier Molina behind the plate. Brian McCann, in his first career start at first base, got two hits, drove in one run and did not embarrass himself at his new position. The Yankees won the series with the St. Louis Cardinals and finished the road trip with a winning record as well.
Win – Hiroki Kuroda (4-3)
Loss – Shelby Miller (6-4)
Notables
Yankees
*Jacoby Ellsbury – 3 for 5, 2 R, 3 RBI (21)
*John Ryan Murphy 1 for 5, 2 RBI (8)
Cardinals
*Kolten Wong – 4 for 5, R, 2B, RBI (11)
*Matt Carpenter – 2 for 5, R, 2 2B, RBI (17)
Current Yankees Record: 28-24
