The playoff chase finally caught up with the New York Yankees on Sunday.
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Sanchez homered and nearly hit another while Tampa Bay was trying to intentionally walk him, leading Masahiro Tanaka and the hard-charging Yankees to their season-best seventh straight win. “And he’s done a really good job”.
Hernan Perez had four hits and three RBIs for the Brewers, who won their season-high fifth straight on the road. But they prevented a four-game sweep behind Andriese (7-7) and Whitley, who tossed two innings of relief in his Tampa Bay debut. They are now four games back from first place in the division, as well as being only two games back from the second wild-card spot.
Souza had his third multihomer game of the season, and second at Yankee Stadium.
The eighth-inning IBB-turned-sac-fly plated the Yankees’ fourth run of the night, though it very almost brought in even more than that.
“That was pretty cool. I think that has a lot to do with it”. “So it was just really, really fun”.
“There’s a plan between us”, Sanchez said through the interpreter. “I wish he would have gave up a few runs today, but the rest of the way I hope he does well”.
NEW YORK – Rookie Tyler Austin homered with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, lifting New York over Tampa Bay.
Rays manager Kevin Cash termed it a “very odd outing”. Going from a dreary, old, and uninspiring team to an entertaining, energized, and young club is certainly an improvement, but the Yankees were just one game over.500 and had essentially thrown in the towel on 2016.
Jeff Hoffman (0-3) lasted 2 2/3 innings, allowing seven unearned runs, six hits and two walks.
Arcia had three hits and raised his average to.367 over his last 15 games. “This home stand has started off great, and we need it to continue, but we’re scoring runs and we’re pitching well and the bullpen has been outstanding, and it’s a great combination”.
Teixeira and Girardi went through their dance Thursday night, and it was decided Teixeira would start at first base Friday night against Rays left-hander Blake Snell.
On the whole, the Yankees’ aggregate first baseman has hit like a defensive replacement: a.631 OPS to date.
“I ran a bike for a little bit, got stretched, put some red-hot on my arm and just made sure I stayed as loose as I can, ” Betances said.
The Rays signed veteran shortstop Alexei Ramirez before the game, and Cash said the team will shuffle him, Nick Franklin and Brad Miller at short, with Franklin getting the most reps. He is 0-4 with a 3.15 ERA in his last six starts against the Yankees and last faced them August 12 in NY, when he allowed Alex Rodriguez’s RBI double in his final game and gave up five runs and seven hits in six innings. After their roll call of Yankees starters, the Bleacher Creatures briefly chanted “USA!”
Kevin Kiermaier had his first career multi-homer game and Steven Souza Jr. recorded his third for Tampa Bay.
“It could be my last one”, he said.
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McCann hit two homers for the Yankees. But should he play first base for the Yankees again? Rookie INF Ronald Torreyes started at second. In 18-games since being acquired at the deadline, Clippard has posted a 0.53 ERA and allowed only three runs. He has very good instincts, andhe sees the adjustments that he has to make offensively and defensively. Archer went 6.1 innings, surrendering two runs, striking out nine and walking one in a 5-3 defeat to the Blue Jays in his last outing.
