Ellsbury made a daring two-out, two-strike dash to steal home and score the tying run in the fifth as the Yankees rallied from behind to beat the Rays, 6-3, at Yankee Stadium. Ellsbury provided it in most unusual fashion.
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But, for one night, anyway, the Yankees looked just fine.
The Yankees had seen this before from Ellsbury – in 2009 with Boston, he pulled off a straight steal of home against Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte. Ivan Nova picked him up and pitched 2.1 innings of perfection while striking out two en route to getting the win.
It was a much-needed victory for the Yankees, who still have issues with their rotation – and lineup – that one night won’t fix. He now has 20 strikeouts in eight innings.
No piggybacking a steal of second base.
The Rays lead didn’t last long, however, as McCann blasted his third homer of the season in the bottom of the inning on a 2-1 pitch from Moore. He got into another jam in the fourth inning when Forsythe hit yet another double and Brandon Guyer drove in a run on a line drive to center field. He has a sore left shoulder. Next up was Evan Longoria, who doubled to right.
With runners now at second and third, Moore opted to work from the wind-up.
Moore was in command, having retired seven in a row when he allowed a pair of two-out singles in the fifth inning. Nova came in to get the last out of the inning.
The Yankees trailed 3-2 in the fifth when Ellsbury singled with two outs and Didi Gregorius followed with a single off Matt Moore (1-1).
Later in the same at-bat, Ellsbury broke for home and slid under Casali’s tag to tie the game.
Ellsbury became the first Yankee with a successful straight steal of home since Derek Jeter on May 5, 2001 against the Orioles.
The Yankees took the lead in the bottom of the sixth after McCann singled, then tacked on a couple more runs in the eighth for good measure.
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Betances came on in the eighth inning and struck out the side.
