Game 20 : The Yankees took sole possession of first place in the AL East in a well-played, well-pitched showdown with the upstart Tampa Rays. New York used outstanding mound efforts from starter Adam Warren, and the usual suspects from the bullpen to make a few timely hits from the offense stand up for a 4-1 win. The victory also snapped Tampa’s five-game winning streak, and improved New York’s head-to-head record with the Rays to 4-0.
Brian McCann launched a no-doubter halfway up the second tier in right to break a 1-1 tie in the 6th inning. Jacoby Ellsbury, Brett Gardner and Stephen Drew added ribbys.
Here’s the box score, full recap, and video highlights.
Game 20 Notes
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- Lights Out ‘Pen Once again, Girardi needed double digit outs from the bullpen, and once again they did not disappoint.
- Congrats, Tex! Mark Teixeira was named AL Player of Week for his 5 home run, 10 RBI outburst. Keep up the good work, Tex!
- Off The Schneid! Carlos Beltran snapped his 0-14 streak with an RBI double. The team needs his bat to heat up, as someone will inevitably cool off soon!
- Andrew Miller Not bad work — 20 games into your first season with the New York Yankees and you bump MLB’s all-time greatest closer down a peg in the team history books! Miller recorded his 8th save by game number 20, improving on Mariano Rivera‘s previous record of 7 saves in the first 20 games of a season.
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- LOB / RISP Led by Gardy and A-Rod (with 4 apiece) the Yankees left a total of 19 runners on base, and going 1-7 with RISP. McCann’s dinger and a few timely extra base hits got it done thanks to the outstanding pitching effort.
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