Gehrig Remembered, Yanks Hold On For 6-5 Win

Adam Warren, Brett Gardner, Brian Roberts, CC Sabathia, Chase Whitley, Darryl Strawberry, Dave Righetti, David Huff, David Robertson, Dellin Betances, Don Larsen, Francisco Cervelli, George M. Steinbrenner, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jim Beattie, Joe Girardi, Jon Sterling, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Minnesota Twins, Phil Niekro

GAME 85: Yankees great Lou Gehrig was honored across Major League Baseball today, while Brian Roberts did the pinstripes proud this afternoon in Minnesota. The second-baseman went 4-5 with three doubles and a triple, leading the Yanks to a 6-5 win over the Twins.
Chase Whitley had another shaky start, and was pulled in the third inning after letting a 6-1 lead become a 6-4 squeaker. In relief, David Huff, Adam Warren, Dellin Betances and David Robertson held the Twins to only one run the rest of the way. Huff tossed three perfect innings, and Robertson earned his 20th save out of 22 chances.
Francisco Cervelli, catching in place of Brian McCann, had a solid day, going 3-4 and nailing an attempted steal with a perfect peg to Roberts at second. After a 5-game losing streak, the Yankees have climbed back over the .500 mark with their second straight win.
Here’s the box score and recap.
GAMEDAY NOTES: According to manager Joe Girardi, it’s ‘safe to assume’ that CC Sabathia is done for the season. LoHud‘s Chad Jennings has the report here: Microfracture surgery possible for Sabathia.

MEMORY LANE: July 4th is a busy day in Yankees history. In 1939, a tearful Lou Gehrig tells 61,808 fans at Yankee Stadium, ‘I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.’ Gehrig’s uniform number four is retired, the first Major League player so honored … In 1960, Mickey Mantle‘s three-run first-inning home run off Hal Woodeshick is the 300th of his career. Mantle becomes the 18th player to join the 300 club, but the Yankees drop a 9-8 decision to Washington … In 1983, Dave Righetti pitches the Yankees’ first no-hitter since Don Larsen‘s perfect game in the 1956 World Series. He handcuffs the Red Sox 4-0 before a holiday crowd of 41,077 at Yankee Stadium … In 1984, Phil Niekro strikes out five batters in the Yankees’ 5-0 win over Texas to become the ninth pitcher in major league history to record 3,000 career strikeouts … In 1996, the Yanks purchased the contract of Darryl Strawberry from St. Paul (Northern League). … YANKEE BIRTHDAYS: A very Happy Birthday to Yankees radio announcer John Sterling, former Yankees hurler Jim Beattie, and a fond remembrance of ‘The Boss’ — George M. Steinbrenner (1930-2010). (Sources: Today in Baseball History and Baseball Reference.)