Yankees game 135: Back-to-back blasts beat Archer in win
McCann and A-Rod start the fire with back-to-back blasts in today's win.
Tampa Bay Rays 4 – New York Yankees 6
The Yankees handled the tough task of facing Chris Archer in the rubber match of the series.
Ivan Nova took the mound for the Yankees and it started with a leadoff double in the first inning by John Jaso but he was stranded. Nova did not have that kind of luck in the second inning. Sandwiching two outs around a single by Asdrubal Cabrera looked good but Kevin Kiermaier came up with a two-out, two-run home run to right field, putting the Rays ahead early.
For the Rays' Chris Archer, against the Yankees, pitching with a two-run lead seemed like an insurmountable task. Through the first two innings, Archer retired the Yankees in order. He walked Chase Headley in the third inning for the first base runner and gave up a single to Jacoby Ellsbury but Brett Gardner struck out to strand two on base.
In the third inning, the Rays rallied with two outs again. Daniel Nava reached base with a walk and Grady Sizemore got on base with a single. Logan Forsythe followed with a bloop single into left field, scoring Nava and putting the Rays ahead by three.
Through the fourth and fifth inning, Archer settled back down but the Yankees came up big in the sixth inning.
With one out in the sixth inning, Jacoby Ellsbury hit a single. Brett Gardner struck out for the second out of the inning but Carlos Beltran walked to extend the inning. Brian McCann worked to a 3-1 count and got a hold of a mistake pitch by Archer for a deep, three-run home run.
The 25th home run of the season is a career-high for McCann and it tied the game at three. On the next pitch, Alex Rodriguez put it into the seats in right center for a solo home run, back-to-back with McCann to put the Yankees ahead.
In six innings, Ivan Nova allowed three runs on six hits while walking one and striking out three.
Justin Wilson replaced Nova in the seventh inning and looked to be cruising when he struck out pinch-hitters J.P. Arencibia and Joey Butler but an inability to hold onto strike three against Daniel Nava extended the at-bat enough for Nava to hit a double to center field. Dellin Betances came on but walked the first batter he faced. He held onto the one-run lead with a ground out to finish the inning.
Chris Archer came back out for the seventh inning and gave up a single to Didi Gregorius. One out later, Jacoby Ellsbury walked and reliever Enny Romero came on for Archer. Brett Gardner hit a ground ball to the middle of the infield where Logan Forsythe fielded it, tagged second base and tried to complete the double play at first but threw it away. The throwing error allowed Gregorius to score, adding an insurance run.
After Betances retired the first batter in the eighth inning, Asdrubal Cabrera brought the game within one with a solo home run. Betances hit James Loney with a pitch but responded with a double play to keep the one-run lead.
The bottom of the eighth inning started with Brian McCann walking, Alex Rodriguez hitting a single and Greg Bird walking to load the bases. Chase Headley grounded into a force out but Didi Gregorius came through with a single to center field, adding yet another insurance run.
Andrew Miller came on for the save in the ninth inning. After getting the first two outs, Mikie Mahtook hit a single and Evan Longoria reached with another single to put the tying runs on base. A wild pitch allowed Mahtook to advance to third but Miller locked down the game by striking out Brandon Guyer to end the game and win the series.
Win – Ivan Nova (6-7)
Loss – Chris Archer (12-11)
Save – Andrew Miller (31)
Notables
Rays
*Kevin Kiermaier – 1 for 4, R, Two-run home run (8) in the 2nd, 2 RBI (34)
*Asdrubal Cabrera – 3 for 4, 2 R, Solo home run (11) in the 8th, RBI (44)
Yankees
*Brian McCann – 1 for 3, R, BB, Three-run home run (25) in the 6th, 3 RBI (86)
*Alex Rodriguez – 2 for 4, R, Solo home run (28) in the 6th, RBI (76)
Current Yankees Record: 76-59