Sunday, April 13, 2014

Crazy Win for the Bombers

 
This game had just about everything in it: outfield assists, spectacular catches, player debuts at positions, an overturned challenge, three injuries, an ejection and big strikeouts. Unfortunately for the Yankees, all of the injuries came to their players. First, Francisco Cervelli pulled a hamstring beating out a fielders choice that would end up being the deciding run. He would leave the game and the umpire at first initially called him out however that would be the successfully challenged play. After the umpires ruled that the runner at first was safe, the Boston manager was fuming at the umpire and immediately was ejected from the game. In the following inning, Carlos Beltran would make his first career appearance at first base. Beltran was the star of the game, going 3-4 with a two run homer, a single and a double. This was the second game this year where Beltran had a single, double and a home run in the same game. It is April 13th. Carlos Beltran is beginning to fit in with the Yankees and has found his comfort zone, already with three homers this season. Solarte would also pull up lame as he tried to beat out a ground ball in the sixth inning. Solarte would stay in the game but had a noticeable limp as he came out to second base. With Roberts' back already an issue this year the Yankees infield has already seen multiple injuries, and that is not even counting Jeter's sore quad which made him miss two straight games against the Red Sox. Considering how well the Yankees were hitting against Doubront to begin the game the fact that they were able to win with only three runs is surprising to say the least.

Ivan Nova earned his second win of the season. Nova induced nine ground ball outs in 7.1 innings and struck out four batters as he allowed only two runs. However, Nova was not locating too well as there were several balls that were hit to the warning track that may have been home runs in other ballparks. All things considered, Nova gave the Yankees length as he is the first Yankee starter this year to pitch into the eighth inning. With the bullpen extremely thin he gave his team what they needed and more. Facing Matt Thornton, David Ortiz hit a ball to deep right center that looked like it had a chance but Ichiro had other ideas. After replacing Beltran in right field following Cervelli's injury that forced Beltran to play first for the first time in his career, Ichiro leaped and caught Ortiz's ball that would have put him on second base and would have eventually led to the tying or go-ahead Boston run. After loading the bases with two outs, David Phelps got a huge strikeout of Mike Carp to keep the one-run lead and Shawn Kelley would pitch a perfect ninth inning to give the Yankees the series win over the Red Sox.

Following an off-day tomorrow, the Yankees will welcome in the Cubs on Tuesday evening for the first time since the Yankees inaugural season in 2009. Former Oriole Jason Hammel will pitch for the Cubbies and Tanaka will make his third start in the Major Leagues, looking to improve on each of his following two outings where he got out of the gates by allowing three runs each time.

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