Teixeira singled and scored during a five-run third inning powered by Starlin Castro’s first career grand slam. The switch hitter stands with Lance Berkman as the best power hitting switch hitter of this century.
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Tomlin was hit for seven earned runs on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings, joining Danny Salazar, Carlos Carrasco and Trevor Bauer as Indians starting pitchers to to struggle.
Teixeira got two hits after tearfully announcing this will be his final big league season, and the NY beat the Yankees beat the Cleveland Indians 13-7 Friday night with the help of Starlin Castro’s third-inning grand slam off Josh Tomlin.
On Friday Teixeira, at age 36, cited the injuries as the primary reason he made a decision to announce he’s retiring at the end of this season. Hours later, he helped the Yankees (55-54) to their first double-digit run total since they scored 11 against the Indians on July 10. Then he went 2-for-4. While it was surprising to see him announce his retirement, the timing felt right for Teixeira.
“As the season went on, I just kind realized that my body can’t do it anymore”, Teixeira said as teammates looked on. That’s special. It’s nice to get those kinds of congratulations. Tonight you saw it; up and down the lineup, we had contributions. Even Aaron Hicks, one of the biggest offensive culprits for most of the year, hit his fourth homer in the seventh.
“What he did, his attitude and his willingness to win, his willingness after being the best reliever in the American League past year, his willingness to say ‘I’ll step down, I don’t need to close, let’s just do whatever it takes to win here, ‘” Girardi said.
“I know Matz is a good kid”.
What helped Pineda get through the early innings was the arm of catcher Gary Sanchez, a key part of the Yankees youth push who had been the DH the previous two nights.
The Yanks needed offense Friday since their pitching wasn’t as stellar.
Pineda started the game, going five innings while giving up four runs on six hits while striking out six. He made one All-Star team (2005) and won two Gold Gloves and two Silver Slugger awards in Arlington. “If I don’t have to, I probably won’t very often”.
Teixeira began the 2010 season batting a dismal.136 in April, and came out his slump in a big way in Fenway Park against Boston.
The New York hitters don’t have as much punch as they did before the trade deadline.
That included Sanchez, whom they called up from Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday.
“He’s going to catch”, Girardi said, leaving open the possibility he would have Sanchez behind the plate again Saturday afternoon. “It’s a lot to remember”. Then you’re supposed to block, and you’re supposed to frame, and you’re supposed to throw runners out.
Sanchez displayed his strong arm Friday.
Sanchez also contributed at the plate on a big offensive night for the Yankees, who jumped on Indians started Josh Tomlin in the first inning. Ellsbury smacked a one-out double to right field and Teixeira followed with a single to second base. Brian McCann got the run in with a ground ball for a quick 1-0 lead. Indians starters have now tossed an ERA of 17.18 with a WHIP of 3.44 over five games in August. Two pitches later, Castro sent a cutter over the right-field scoreboard for his 12th homer this season and first career slam.
In Washington, Gio Gonzalez pitched seven innings of two-hit ball and Trea Turner and Wilson Ramos homered as the Nationals beat San Francisco 5-1 in a matchup of first-place teams. Teixeira, as you are taught since little league, continued around the bases with two outs as Luis Catillo dropped a sure game-ending out.
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Cleveland scored three in the eighth inning, but Adam Warren struck out Chris Gimenez with the tying run on deck.
