Yankees Game 100: Rally for two for comeback win

Mariano Rivera struck out two in his 32nd save of the season to complete the comeback. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

New York Yankees 5 -- Texas Rangers 4

The Yankees complete the comeback in tonight's 5-4 win over the Texas Rangers.

Phil Hughes started the second game of tonight's series and got into tough spots but found his way out of them. A leadoff double in the first inning put Hughes in early stress. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner to third but Hughes would get out of this without a run scoring.

Entering today's game, the Yankees went 22 innings without an extra base hit. In the third inning, the bottom of the lineup would snap that streak. In left fielder Melky Mesa's first start of the season, he doubled on a line drive to the left center gap. Now that the Yankees saw what one extra base hit was like, they thought another would be twice as nice. Catcher Austin Romine would follow with a double of his own, bringing home Mesa to give the Yankees the early lead. The lineup would turn over and the doubles would stop but singles would do just fine.

Brett Gardner hit a single down the left field line to put runners on the corners. Then, Ichiro Suzuki hit a ground ball to the right of shortstop Elvis Andrus. The shortstop would make a diving stop but the speed of Gardner is too much and Romine would come in to score.

With a two-run lead, Vernon Wells started the fourth inning with that double that we didn't see much until the third inning. Some heads-up baserunning by Vernon Wells as he advanced on a fly out to center field. With Wells on third, Brent Lillibridge hit a ground ball to second baseman Ian Kinsler, who tried to make a play at the plate but Wells just beat it.

The Yankees were ahead by three and Phil Hughes got eight consecutive outs.

A sharp ground ball to Brent Lillibridge deflected off his glove for the error with one out in the sixth inning. Adrian Beltre would double to to center field and the Rangers were on the board. After advancing to third on the second out, Elvis Andrus would single in another run and the Yankees were just ahead by one. With the tying run on base, Phil Hughes was taken out of the game.

With the left-handed Mitch Moreland up, Boone Logan would get the ball. On a mistake fastball, Mitch Moreland turned the entire game around with a two-run home run to center field. Phil Hughes' line was complete.

In 5.2 innings, Phil Hughes allowed three runs on four hits with three walks and a strikeout. None of the runs were earned. Boone Logan would allow one earned run, the home run, on two hits and did not get an out in this appearance.

Through the seventh and eighth inning the Yankees would go down in order and would face Joe Nathan in the ninth inning and a one-run lead. After getting one out, Vernon Wells would walk to be the potential tying run. A slip on the mound by Nathan would cause a very wild pitch that moved Wells to second base. On a 3-2 pitch, Eduardo Nunez hit a deep triple that had centerfielder Craig Gentry crash into the wall. With that hit, the game is tied. The next batter, Brent Lillibridge, came up with the infield drawn in and Nunez on third base. A single to left field was all the Yankees needed and just like that the Yankees completed the comeback and had the lead.

With a lead in the ninth inning, only one man is called on.

Mariano Rivera entered the game with an ovation from the opposing Rangers crowd. Rivera would proceed to do what he does. The first batter, Mitch Moreland, struck out swinging for the first out. Pinch-hitter Leonys Martin struck out looking on a back door cutter. Lastly, David Murphy grounded out to the shortstop and the comeback was locked up.

Win - Joba Chamberlain (2-0)

Loss - Joe Nathan (1-1)

Save - Mariano Rivera (32)

Notables

Yankees

*Eduardo Nunez - 2 for 4, R, 3B, RBI (9)

*Brent Lillibridge - 1 for 4, 2 RBI (4)

Rangers

*Mitch Moreland - 1 for 3, R, BB, 2-Run Home Run (14) in the 6th, 2 RBI (40)

*Adrian Beltre - 1 for 3, R, BB, 2B, RBI (58)

Current Yankees Record: 53-47

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