GAME 87: On a day where the struggling Yankees designated Alfonso Soriano for assignment and traded Vidal Nuno, the team unsuccessfully tried to blow a 9 run lead.
With the Yanks ahead 9-0 going into the bottom of the fourth, the Twins clawed back and actually had the winning run at the plate in the bottom of the ninth. David Robertson earned his 21st save in the 9-7 final.
Hiroki Kuroda was finally provided a huge run cushion, but gave 4 back and was lifted after 5.2 innings. Jacoby Ellsbury led the offensive outbreak with a home run, double, and 4 RBI. Derek Jeter contributed 2 RBI going 3-4. Ichiro went 3-4, as well. Kelly Johnson and Mark Teixeira chipped in 2 hits apiece.
Soriano DFA’d, Nuno Traded to D’Backs
Mired in a prolonged slump and a lack of available at-bats, the club made the tough decision of releasing the 38-year-old Soriano. In another move, the Yanks traded lefty pitcher Vidal Nuno to the Arizona Diamondbacks for 6’7″ right-hander Brandon McCarthy.
Here’s the box score and recap.
MEMORY LANE: On July 6th, 1933, the first major-league All-Star Game is played at Comiskey Park, and Babe Ruth is the star. His two-run home run is the margin of victory in the American League’s 4-2 win. John McGraw comes out of retirement to manage the National League … On july 6th, 1999, the Yanks outlasted the host Detroit Tigers 9-8 in a game where Mariano Rivera blew the save in the 9th and got the win in the 10th. A Chili Davis smash to center scored Bernie Williams for the go-ahead run. New York pounded Tiger pitching for 17 hits, as Hideki Irabu started and went 6.1 innings. Ramiro Mendoza earned the save … The On this date in 1914, the Yankees purchased Boardwalk Brown from the Philadelphia Athletics. Not familiar with Boardwalk, but that’s a great baseball name! … And a Happy 60th Birthday to Wille Randolph! … (Sources: Today in Baseball History and Baseball Reference.)
