Yankees game 108: Home runs decide close opener
10th inning home run decides tonight's close game with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Toronto Blue Jays 2 – New York Yankees 1 Home runs were the offense in tonight's big series opener. In the first inning, Nathan Eovaldi got the first out before Josh Donaldson got enough of a low and outside pitch to take advantage of the friendly short porch in right. The solo home run put the Blue Jays ahead by one.
Eovaldi furthered his difficult first inning when he walked Jose Bautista and gave up a double to left by Edwin Encarnacion but a pair of outs minimized what was developing into a big inning. For the second time in three days, the Yankees faced the knuckleball, this time from R.A. Dickey. The Yankees were set down in order in the first inning but Mark Teixeira made an impact in the second inning. After looking mixed up in the last game with the knuckleball pitch, Teixeira got just enough of one in tonight's game, hitting it off a fan in the front row in left field. It required a review but the call was home run, his 30th of the season.
After the rough first inning against the Blue Jays, Nathan Eovaldi settled down. From the second inning to the fifth inning, Eovaldi kept pitches low, generating six ground outs. He generated 10 ground outs over the course of his start tonight. The Yankees had batters reach base but could not get them across the plate. In the seventh inning, Nathan Eovaldi generated a ground ball that went over the stretched out glove of his, but Stephen Drew looked to make the slick play to get Ryan Goins but Mark Teixeira could not catch the ball, charged with an error. Kevin Pillar followed with soft ground ball that Chase Headley could not make a play on. Two ground balls that did not leave the infield were the last pitches Eovaldi got as the bullpen took over with one out and two on. Justin Wilson got the lefty Ben Revere out on strikes for his one batter. Dellin Betances came in and walked Troy Tulowitzki but got Josh Donaldson to ground out, ending the bases-loaded situation. In 6.1 innings, Nathan Eovaldi allowed one run on five hits while walking two and striking out three. Despite a first inning with an elevated pitch count, Eovaldi bounced back and was efficient and effective to go deeper into the game than initially expected. In the eighth and ninth inning, the Yankees got a runner on but he was retired on double plays to keep the game tied, 1-1. Dellin Betances pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Andrew Miller pitched a scoreless ninth inning. With the game tied after nine, extra innings were needed. In the 10th inning, rookie Branden Pinder got the tough task. After retiring Josh Donaldson on a sharp line out, Pinder left a fastball in the zone to Jose Bautista, who lined it into the seats just beyond the left field wall for a go-ahead solo home run. Pinder retired the next two batters but the damage was done.
The Yankees went down in order against Blue Jays closer Roberto Osuna to lose the first game of this battle for the American League East.
.@teixeiramark25 has 9 seasons with 30+ HR, tying him with Mickey Mantle for most by a switch-hitter in @MLB history. pic.twitter.com/fTjawUzLWb
— MLB Stat of the Day (@MLBStatoftheDay) August 7, 2015
Win – Brett Cecil (3-4) Loss – Branden Pinder (0-1) Save – Roberto Osuna (9) Notables Blue Jays *Jose Bautista – 2 for 4, R, Solo home run (25) in the 10th, RBI (77) *Josh Donaldson – 1 for 4, R, Solo home run (30) in the 1st, RBI (82) Yankees *Mark Teixeira – 2 for 4, R, Solo home run (30) in the 2nd, RBI (77) *Didi Gregorius – 2 for 4 Current Yankees Record: 61-47