Saturday, April 23, 2016

Recap: Yankees 3, Rays 2

During their recent cold streak, the Yankees have been desperately searching for someone to spark their offense.

They found him Saturday in the form of Brett Gardner.

Gardner crushed a walk-off solo home run off Erasmo Ramirez in the ninth, lifting the Yankees to a 3-2 win over the Rays at Yankee Stadium.

Gardner went 3-for-4 on the afternoon, tying the game with a bases-loaded infield single in the seventh. The hit likely would have plated another run had it gotten through to center, but Rays lefty Xavier Cedeno was able to deflect it.

Gardner's late heroics helped the Yankees overcome nonexistent hitting in the early-going.

The Yanks' bats managed just one earned run -- coming on a wild pitch in the first -- on two hits in five innings against rookie Blake Snell, who was making his major-league debut.

But thanks to a second straight strong start by Masahiro Tanaka, New York kept it close.

Tanaka surrendered just two earned runs across seven innings, yielding five hits while walking one and striking out seven. He allowed an RBI double to Corey Dickerson in the fourth and a solo shot to Kevin Kiermaier in the fifth, but never let Tampa Bay extend its lead.

And with the Yankees' bullpen as good as it is this season, that's all the team really needed.

Dellin Betances fanned two in a 1-2-3 top of the eighth, and Andrew Miller worked around a one-out single to put up his own zero in the ninth.

The Yankees then began the bottom of the frame with a couple of weak groundouts, before Gardner ended it by clubbing a 3-1 fastball into the upper deck in right.

WHAT IT MEANS: The Yankees clinched their first series victory since taking two of three from the Astros Opening Week. They are now 7-9 on the year, 3 1/2 games behind the first-place Orioles.

NEXT UP: The Yankees go for the three-game sweep on Sunday. Michael Pineda (1-1, 5.29 ERA) and Drew Smyly (0-2, 2.91 ERA) are slated to be your starters, with first pitch set for 1:05 p.m. ET.

18 comments:

  1. Wow, good thing Judy showed up. Just kidding Reed, I couldn't help myself!

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  2. Jeff Levin...it is the other Ken that thinks Brett is only a punch & Judy hitter. I, on the other hand, think he is a good player playing out of position.

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    1. My bad. I apologize. It was Hans I was trying to tease.

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    2. Gardner a bi product of Yankee Stadium. Look at his HR numbers home and away, by the way he a half a season wonder as well. Dispute those thoughts Levin?

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    4. You know I can't stand him, I think he is too timid, but that ball was crushed. Stayed until the Gatorade was poured, too. 

      And again, I bet Hans would like him more if he kept up those #s for a full season... It's 162 games, the point isn't to start strong, make the allstar game, then suck it July to September. 

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    5. You guys all label him star. I think he is a career 262 hitter or there abouts give or take a few points either way. He's a decent ball player that has a weak arm. Great defender and again is a bi product of Yankee Stadium. Just look at his HR splits and you will see I'm correct. I haven't stated one fact on here that is incorrect.

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    6. In the defense, again, not that I like him, players are either acquired to take advantage of home field, or develop/alter their games to take advantage of it.

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    7. And I don't remember ever labeling Gardner a star. I like him, he's a Yankee and he's gritty (which gets his ass hurt more times than not but still), but I am under no delusions that he's a star.

      And we don't need stars. Paul O'Neill wasn't a star and neither was Bernie, Posada, etc. etc. etc. not to compare them to Gardner.

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  3. Since we haven't argued this subject in months, I'll indulge. But only in good fun! First, that was in the second deck buddy. That would have been out in any ballpark. Also, saying Gardner is a product of Yankee Stadium means you have to lump McCann in that same category. Check the numbers you love to manipulate if you don't believe me. As far as the second half collapse, you got me. I have no argument. I believe he plays 110% for as long as he can. He doesn't know how to pace himself.

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    1. P.S.-At least admit that he has mad skills for half a season!

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    2. No arguing from me. My comment on Gardner's HR is like saying that even a blind squirrel finds an acorn every once and awhile. You left out terrible base runner as well.

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  4. Speed Kills but it also wears one down faster. The big problem is, he is a center fielder playing out of position in left field...a power spot for every team except ours.
    When one compares him to other CF players he stacks up very well. And as Jeff pointed out, very well, being a smallish player he works much harder to do some of the things others do...although most, not as well as Brett. In Yankee stadium one should be a CF type player to play LF, Brett gets to many balls other LF would never reach or cuts off a hit to make it a single rather than a double. Using his speed so much and playing like there is no tomorrow also wears him down.
    Actually, he is the type of player I would like on my team any day.
    He is not a star and never will be, but he helps the team much more than he hurts them.

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    1. Reed I didn't expect you to agree with me anyway so no harm no foul

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    2. Hans, I know you didn't expect to agree with what I wrote but, I have a question for you; Who ever said Brett was a star? It wasn't me, that's for sure! He has a better arm than our CF'er. His arm is rated good...for a center fielder. I keep telling you, as a center fielder he is rated as very good. If he can stay healthy all year and not play as often as he has the last few years he will be a good player all year long.

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    3. hmmmm let's see Reed who thinks Brett is a star???? Give you one guess? Maybe the guy who originally wrote the thread and I totally disagree with you which should be no surprise about his arm being stronger than Ellsbury.

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    4. When HEALTHY Brett is the best we have for left field, as of now. Daniel put it better than I did but the same goes for me...when he is in top shape and going well (the two always coincide it seems) he is very good for the team...and that is the bottom line, THE TEAM!

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    5. Problem is Gardner is not a left fielder. His bat doesn't support him in left field and neither does his throwing arm in a lot of stadiums. He's in left field because Ellsbury was signed, not because he is the best option.

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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)