Yankees Game 117: Kuroda keeps the winning going

David Robertson pumps his fist after his first save of the 2013 season. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Angels 1 -- New York Yankees 2

Hiroki Kuroda continues to be outstanding in tonight's 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels.

The current ace of the Yankees staff continued to have an unbelievable start. In the third inning, Josh Hamilton hit a double into deep right center and the Angels had a runner in scoring position with no outs. Kuroda shut down the Angels offense. Erick Aybar would pop out in foul territory, Mark Trumbo would ground out to Eduardo Nunez, holding the runner. And the final out came on a routine ground out to third baseman Alex Rodriguez.

In the fifth inning, Kuroda would issue his only walk of the game. On a ground out that could have been a double play to Alex Rodriguez, the walked batter got into scoring position with one out. Kuroda shut down the Angels offense, again. Hiroki Kuroda would get the former Yankee third baseman Chris Nelson to strike out looking. He would get the last out when he struck out Chris Iannetta swinging.

Kuroda kept most of the outs in the infield with the exception of two fly outs in the fourth inning.

In eight scoreless innings, Hiroki Kuroda allowed three hits while walking one and striking out seven.

Angels starter Garrett Richards put his best efforts of keeping up with one of the hottest starting pitchers in the league. A seemingly botched hit-and-run in the second inning had Alex Rodriguez caught between first and second after Overbay struck out.

In the third inning, the hero of the Detroit series would come to Kuroda's aid. With two outs and Eduardo Nunez on second, Brett Gardner hit a single to center field and the Yankees had the lead. Alex Rodriguez did get on base in his first at-bat but his next two were less than productive.

In the fourth inning, the Yankees third baseman hit into a double play.  Then in the sixth inning, with two on and one out, Rodriguez would hit into a second double play, ending a potential scoring opportunity.

Curtis Granderson would create his own scoring opportunity with one swing.

With two outs in the seventh inning, Curtis Granderson would deposit his third home run of the season into right field to give the Yankees a two-run lead. This run would prove to be very important.

After three blown saves and 80+ stressful pitches on the honored right arm of Mariano Rivera, the Yankees future hall of fame closer was given the night off to rest and return true to the high reputation he is respected for on the field. With Rivera resting, the closing duties would be a shared event.

Boone Logan would begin the ninth inning with two left-handed batters starting the inning. The first batter, J.B. Shuck, would reach on a single down the right field line. Logan would strike out Kole Calhoun and the next batter, Mike Trout, would get the highly considered future heir to Yankees closer, David Robertson. The 2013 eighth inning reliever would walk Mike Trout to put two on and one out. Josh Hamilton would hit a bloop double over Alex Rodriguez, who is not defensively strong as he once was, to make it a one-run game.

The man referred to as "Houdini" would make it one step harder with the intentional walk to load the bases. With three pitches, David Robertson would strike out the slugger Mark Trumbo. Then, with the count full to Chris Nelson, David Robertson strikes him out chasing a cutter out of the zone and with a show of emotion, Robertson closed out his first game of the season successfully.

The Yankees now have a two-game winning streak. Yes, they actually do.

Win - Hiroki Kuroda (11-7)

Loss - Garrett Richards (3-5)

Save - David Robertson (1)

Notables

Angels

*Josh Hamilton - 2 for 4, 2 2B, RBI (56)

*J.B. Shuck - 1 for 4, R

Yankees

*Brett Gardner - 1 for 4, RBI (39)

*Curtis Granderson - 2 for 3, R, Solo Home Run (3) in the 7th, RBI (5)

Current Yankees Record: 60-57

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