Yankees Game 31: Back-and-forth game goes the Yankees way

Back and forth the game goes, Tanaka struggled but the offense did not, scoring 10 including the go-ahead run by rookie Ben Gamel.

Kansas City Royals 7 – New York Yankees 10

In a roller coaster game in the Bronx, the Yankees came out celebrating the ride.

After a scoreless top of the first inning by Masahiro Tanaka, the Yankees came to bat against Kris Medlen. After the first out, Starlin Castro, Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran got on base with singles to load the bases with one out. Dustin Ackley made the productive out when he hit a sacrifice fly to center field for the 1-0 Yankees lead.

Looking to produce a shut down inning, Tanaka retired the first two batters after a leadoff double by Alex Gordon but third baseman Chelsor Cuthbert ruined it when he hit a two-run home run to left field, giving the Royals the lead. In the bottom of the second, Didi Gregorius led off with a double and came around to score on a Chase Headley single.

The scoring kept coming as Lorenzo Cain started a career night for him with a solo home run, breaking the 2-2 tie in the third inning. In he bottom half of the inning, Carlos Beltran led off with a double and a walk of Dustin Ackley ended the night for Medlen. A wild pitch by lefty Brian Flynn put two in scoring position before Aaron Hicks was walked to load the bases. Like last week, Didi Gregorius cashed in with the bases loaded when he hit a double that scored all three runs to put the Yankees back ahead, 5-3.

After a harmless fourth inning, Lorenzo Cain continued being a huge thorn in the side of Tanaka. With two on and one out, the Royals center fielder hit his second home run of the night, a three-run home run.

The home run turned the 5-3 lead into a 6-5 deficit for the Yankees as Tanaka struggled keeping the ball in the park.

Tanaka was able to finish strong, retiring the last eight after the Cain home run in the fifth inning. In seven innings, Masahiro Tanaka allowed six runs on seven hits with no walks and four strikeouts.

All six runs came on the power of a career-high three home runs allowed.

Trailing by one, the Yankees sparked to life in the bottom of the seventh inning.

After being silenced by Danny Duffy and Luke Hochevar, the Yankees came to bat against Joakim Soria. With one out, Brian McCann got on base with a single. On a potential strike three, Soria committed a balk when he did not come to a discernible stop, allowing McCann to advance to second. After the second out, Dustin Ackley put the ball in play to left field where Alex Gordon fielded the ball and threw it well over the head of catcher Salvador Perez, allowing McCann to slide into home, tying the game at 6-6. Aaron Hicks followed with a double to left field, scoring Ackley and reclaiming the lead by a score of 7-6.

With a lead in the eighth inning, Andrew Miller got the call. Entering tonight, Miller pitched 11.2 innings without allowing a run. Unfortunately, you know what happens when that comes up.

Lorenzo Cain led off the eighth inning with his third home run of the game, tying it at 7-7. Miller allowed two more to reach base but he struck out three in the inning.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Kelvin Herrera entered with 14.1 scoreless innings. Fortunately, like the last time this came up, you know what happens here.

With one out, Ben Gamel reached first base on an error by shortstop Alcides Escobar. Brett Gardner followed with a double to left center field, scoring Gamel and reclaiming the lead yet again.

Following Castro getting hit by a pitch, Brian McCann rocketed a fly ball just shy of a home run but settled for a two-run double, giving the Yankees a 10-7 lead.

With another lead, Aroldis Chapman got the call for his first save opportunity as a Yankee.

After getting the first out on a ground out, pinch-hitter Christian Colon struck out swinging. A walk of Alcides Escobar allowed Lorenzo Cain the opportunity for his fourth home run of the night but he was unsuccessful when he popped out to second, ending a back-and-forth game that went the Yankees way.

Win – Andrew Miller (2-0)

Loss – Kelvin Herrera (0-1)

Save – Aroldis Chapman (1)

Notables

Royals

*Lorenzo Cain – 3 for 5, 3 R, 3 HR (2 Solo & 3-Run) in the 3rd, 5th & 8th, 5 RBI (15)

*Chelsor Cuthbert – 2 for 4, 2 R, Two-run home run (1) in the 2nd, 2 RBI (3)

Yankees

*Brett Gardner – 1 for 4, R, 2B, RBI (9)

*Didi Gregorius – 2 for 4, R, 2 2B, 3 RBI (12)

*Brian McCann – 3 for 5, R, 2B, 2 RBI (14)

Current Yankees Record: 13-18