Phelps Delivers Again in 6-4 Win, Yanks Sweep Toronto

 
GAME 71: With the back end of bullpen in dire need of a night off, the Yankees needed David Phelps to go deep into the game, and he delivered. On the heels of his previous stellar outing in Oakland, Phelps stepped up and did it again. One mistake pitch aside, which old friend Melky Cabrera crushed for a game tying 2-run homer in the third, Phelps was in control. He struck out seven, walked two, and scattered 6 hits.
After Phelp’s dominant performance, the bullpen was asked to get 6 outs in securing the victory. In the eighth inning, Shawn Kelly walked Jose Bautista and grooved a fastball to Edwin Encarnacion which tightened the score to 6-4 Yankees. Manager Joe Girardi turned the ball over to Matt Thornton, who induced a foul pop which Yangervis Solarte snagged for the final out.
In the top of the ninth, Cody Rasmus singled off Thornton to lead off the inning, and Girardi went to Adam Warren, who nailed down the win, getting his second save in the process.
The offense showed signs of continued patience at the plate, moving runners, and getting timely hits. RBI were provided by Derek Jeter, Carlos Beltran (2), Kelly Johnson, Yangervis Solarte, and Jacoby Ellsbury.
Here’s the box score and recap.
MEMORY LANE: On June 19, 1982, the Yankees outlasted the Baltimore Orioles in a 16-inning tilt, 4-3. The score was knotted at 3 from the seventh inning. In the bottom of the 16th, Willie Randolph‘s single to right scored catcher Butch Wynegar for the winning run. Ron Guidry started and went 6.2, allowing 3 ER and striking out 7. George Frazier, Goose Gossage, Roger Erickson, and Dave LaRoche blanked Baltimore over the next 9 innings. LaRoche got the win. The Bombers were managed by Gene ‘Stick’ Michael, the O’s by Earl Weaver …