|
Right-handers Danny Salazar and Cody Allen combined on a
four-hitter, and the Yankees' offensive woes continued as the
Indians beat New York 2-1 Wednesday night at Progressive Field.
The Yankees lost their fifth in a row and have scored only six
runs in the five games. The Indians have won four in a row. New
York's loss coupled with Toronto's win over Oakland pushed the
Blue Jays ahead of the Yankees for first place in the AL East.
Following the final game of the series in Cleveland on Thursday,
the Yankees go to Toronto for a three-game series with first
place in the division on the line.
"It's going to come down to the last 50 games of the season,"
Yankee manager Joe Girardi said. "We knew we were in a battle
before today's game started, and we're still in it."
This is the first time the Yankees have been out of first place
since July 1. The five-game losing streak is due mostly to a
lack of offense.
"We had a chance to win a lot of the games we lost, but now
we're in a rut," Girardi said. "Three of the losses in this
streak were 2-1 losses. Obviously we've got to get going."
Salazar (10-6) pitched 7 1/3 innings, allowing one run on four
hits. He struck out eight and walked five. Salazar, leading 2-1,
was removed from the game after walking consecutive batters with
one out in the eighth inning.
With runners at first and second, Allen entered the game and got
designated hitter Alex Rodriguez to ground into an inning-ending
double play.
"Everyone likes to pitch in big spots like that, the big
momentum time in the game. Those are fun times to pitch," Allen
said after pitching the ninth inning to pick up his 23rd save.
Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia (4-9) seemed to run out of gas
in the middle innings, giving up hits to six of the last 10
batters he faced. In his six innings of work, Sabathia threw 110
pitches and gave up two runs on nine hits with two strikeouts
and two walks.
"I didn't have my best stuff but I was able to battle, get a
double play when I needed it," Sabathia said. "My focus in every
start is to keep us in the game and give us a chance to win. I
think I did that tonight."
Five of the nine hits allowed by Sabathia came in the fifth and
sixth innings, when the Indians overcame an early 1-0 New York
lead. The Indians tied it with a run in the fifth inning.
In the sixth, designated hitter Carlos Santana led off with a
single and went to second on a single by right fielder Jerry
Sands. Third baseman Giovanny Urshela grounded into a force out
at second for the first out. But center fielder Abraham Almonte
lined a single to center, scoring Santana and giving Cleveland a
2-1 lead.
Sabathia, the 2007 Cy Young Award winner with the Indians, held
his former team scoreless on three hits through the first four
innings.
Salazar made his first career start against the Yankees. The
only run he allowed came with one out in the second when catcher
Brian McCann smashed a towering drive over the right-field wall
for his 19th home run of the year, giving New York a 1-0 lead.
Salazar walked the next batter but then retired the next 10 in a
row.
"His stuff was really good tonight," Francona said.
Trailing 1-0, the Indians broke through in the fifth. Catcher
Roberto Perez led off with a single and went to second on a
single by left fielder Mike Aviles. After a sacrifice bunt by
second baseman Jose Ramirez moved the runners to second and
third, Shortstop Francisco Lindor drove a single through the
right side of the infield, scoring Perez with the tying run.
NOTES: Before the game, 1B/INF Garrett Jones was designated for
assignment by the Yankees and RHP Branden Pinder was optioned to
Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. ... The Yankees also recalled
RHP Nick Goody and purchased the contract of RHP Chris Capuano
from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Manager Joe Girardi said all four
roster moves were the result of the 16-inning game Tuesday that
left the Yankees short on pitching. ... Indians RHP Trevor
Bauer, who will start Thursday's game, has struggled at
Progressive Field this year. He is 4-5 with a 5.60 ERA in 12
home starts and 5-3 with a 2.35 ERA in 10 starts on the road.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
|
