Yankees Game 15: Jacoby Ellsbury sparks win with bold steal

Jacoby Ellsbury comes up big in place of the injured Aaron Hicks tonight, stealing home and driving home two for the win.

Tampa Bay Rays 3 – New York Yankees 6

To snap the three-game losing streak, sometimes the Yankees have to steal one.

After a scoreless first inning between lefties CC Sabathia and Matt Moore, the Rays got going in the second inning. After recording the first out, CC Sabathia proceeded to walk Steve Pearce, give up a single to Steven Souza Jr. and walked Tim Beckham to load the bases and paint himself into a corner. He got the second out on a strikeout but Logan Forsythe came through with a two-run double to put the Rays ahead.

In the bottom half of the second inning, the Yankees responded. Mark Teixeira led off with a single and with one out, Brian McCann tied the game with a two-run home run, his third home run of the year.

In the fourth inning, Brandon Guyer came through with a run-scoring single when Aaron Hicks made a diving attempt that missed and ultimately knocked him out of the game. He was diagnosed with a sore left shoulder and is day-to-day.

CC Sabathia struggled through tonight's game and his start was shockingly short as he exited in the fifth inning after a two-out walk and single. Ivan Nova started an impressive appearance out of the bullpen with a strikeout to end the fifth inning.

In 4 2/3 innings, CC Sabathia allowed three runs on nine hits while walking three and striking out two.

In place of the injured Hicks, Jacoby Ellsbury came up for his first at-bat in the fifth inning with two outs and led off with a single. Didi Gregorius followed with a single of his own and they both advanced on a balk. Still with two outs and Moore from a full windup, Ellsbury made a dash for home plate on the full count pitch and came in just ahead of the tag by catcher Curt Casali. The two-out steal of home tied the game at 3.

The straight steal of home was the first since Derek Jeter stole home on May 5, 2001 against the Baltimore Orioles.

In the sixth inning, Mark Teixeira and Brian McCann led off with a pair of singles. After the first out, Brian McCann came through with a run-scoring single to put the Yankees ahead. While the Yankees began scoring, Ivan Nova continued silencing the Rays' bats. In 2 1/3 perfect innings, Ivan Nova struck out two, giving the Yankees time to not only get the lead but secure insurance in the eighth inning.

After a perfect top of the eighth inning with three strikeouts from Dellin Betances, the Yankees offense made the most of opportunities presented to them. After Mark Teixeira reached on a slow roller down the third base line, he was caught off base but an errant throw beyond second base by first baseman Steven Pearce not only credited Teixeira with a stolen base but let him advance to third on the error.. Dana Eveland finished is relief appearance with a walk of Brian McCann. Reliever Ryan Webb got one out before Jacoby Ellsbury added to his big night with a double to deep right field. Two runs scored on the double and gave the second half of the dynamic Yankees duo's job that much easier.

Andrew Miller entered for the ninth inning and struck out two to shut down the game and secure a much-needed Yankees win.

Win – Ivan Nova (1-0)

Loss – Matt Moore (1-1)

Save – Andrew Miller (4)

Notables

Rays

*Logan Forsythe – 2 for 5, R, 2 2B, 2 RBI (7)

*Brandon Guyer – 1 for 5, RBI (3)

Yankees

*Brian McCann – 2 for 3, 2 R, Two-run home run (3) in the 2nd, 3 RBI (7)

*Jacoby Ellsbury – 2 for 3, R, 2B, Stole home, 2 RBI (7)

Current Yankees Record: 6-9