GAME 139: Whatever optimism was generated by last night’s thriller, it was swept away tonight by a gem at the arm of James Shields. A pitcher whom the Yankees defeated just a couple of weeks ago tossed a masterpiece for 8.1 innings. With Shields pounding the strike zone, no Yankee was able to even work a walk. He scattered 3 hits — and only Brett Gardner‘s two-out double in the 4th made it interesting.
“We just really never got anything going,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.
Michael Pineda’s Gem
Almost overlooked in yet another offensive letdown was the gem-like performance of Pineda. 7 innings, no earned runs, no walks. And no run support. In his nine starts this season, the Bombers have backed him up with a total of 16 runs — an average of 1.7 runs per start.
Whatever happens down the final stretch, a Pineda spot in the 2015 rotation is something to look forward to. Since coming off the DL, he has been outstanding.
Here’s the box score and recap.
ALL-TIME MATCHUP: Coming into tonight’s game the Yankees hold a 275-187 win-loss record advantage over the Kansas City Royals.
Today in Yankees Baseball History
MEMORY LANE: On today’s date in 1982, Roy Smalley hit a pair of three-run homers, one from each side of the plate, as the Yankees beat the Kansas City Royals 18-7.
On September 5th, 1964, the Yankees traded players to be named later and $75,000 to the Cleveland Indians for Pedro Ramos. The New York Yankees sent Ralph Terry (October 21, 1964) and Bud Daley (November 27, 1964) to the Indians to complete the trade.
HAPPY 39th BIRTHDAY to Randy Choate!
SOURCES: TodayInBaseballHistory.com, Baseball-Reference.com, Baseball-Almanac.com
