Walk-Off Wild Pitch

It was a struggle for Hiroki Kuroda again today but he was able to deliver six quality innings once again as he has done for most of his Yankee career. Kuroda was at 50 pitches in the second inning and ended up throwing 117 pitches in the ninth inning walk-off win. Robinson Cano came through in the game with a two-run double against Lester. Mark Reynolds doubled in a run as well and the Yankees were on their way to a thrilling one run game that ended up in a win that the Yankees will take but it wasn't how they drew it up beforehand. Mariano Rivera came into the game for a six out save in the eighth inning that went awry. It took Mariano Rivera 20 pitches to get through the eighth inning and 35 pitches to pitch both innings. The ninth inning was led off by a Will Middlebrooks home run that tied the game and yet again the Yankees were facing a devastating loss against the Red Sox. However, the ninth inning would prove to relieve the Yankees and send them home on a good note. Ichiro Suzuki singled with out, stole second base and advanced to third on a fly all by Vernon Wells. On the first pitch to Soriano, the Red Sox catcher couldn't handle the high throw and Ichiro scored the Yankees fourth and final run of the series. They outplayed the Red Sox for most of the series and should have won three of the games but only came out with one victory. Boston will have to set up differently as their leadoff man and free agent to-be, Jacoby Ellsbury has suffered a broken foot. They are still a force without the center fielder but the top of their lineup will not be as intimidating.

The Yankees enter a crucial four game series against the Orioles in Baltimore starting tomorrow. CC Sabathia will make the start after delivering a solid performance against the White Sox last week. Chris Tillman will start against the Yankees in search of his sixteenth win with only five losses.