Game 62 | 34-28, T-1st : Patience at the plate was key to ending the Yankees three-game loss streak and clinging to a share of first place in the division. The combination of 4 consecutive walks and a John Ryan Murphy slash down the third baseline put 3 runs on the board in the 5th inning, and the bullpen made it stand for a 5-3 victory over the Orioles.
Why This Game Was Important : Two reasons — Stop The Bleeding! With everyone in the AL East heating up (except Boston), this is no time for an extended funk. Given the tightness at the top of the division, the Yankees can find themselves looking up from 4th place in a matter of days. Secondly, the Toronto Blue Jays! A franchise record 11 straight victories and looking like they won’t lose again this season (but they are beating up on the Red Sox at them moment, so take that for what it’s worth). The only upside to this is that the Jays are not on the Yankees’ schedule anytime soon. Baltimore won six straight before today, and the Rays are hanging around longer than predicted. No easy way out in the 2015 American League East.
Here’s the box score, full recap, and video highlights.
Yankees 5, Orioles 3
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- Adam Warren After a shaky start Warren settled down, getting 8 in a row at one point, but allowed Baltimore to threaten with 2 runners on in the 5th inning and was yanked in favor of Chasen Shreve, who ended the drama by getting O’s right-fielder Travis Snider to fly out to left (on a nice running catch by Brett Gardner).
- Don’t Call Me JR! A much-needed, absolutely huge 2-run double by John Ryan Murphy gave the Yankees a 5-3 lead in the top of the 5th. Trailing 3-2, New York loaded the bases on 3 straight no-out walks. Garrett Jones then walked to tie it at 3, and the Yanks were looking at a big inning. After Mason Williams and Stephen Drew failed to get a run in, Murphy smashed a line drive down the third base line which glazed Manny Machado’s glove and trickled into short left, allowing two runs to score. Murphy went 3-5 this afternoon and called a solid game behind the plate, giving respite to Brian McCann after a night game.
- The Bullpen Tasked with getting 13 outs and holding a 2 run lead over the powerful Baltimore lineup, the ‘pen answered the call. Chasen Shreve, Justin Wilson and Dellin Betances strung together 4.1 no-hit innings to close it out. Betances notched his third save of the season.
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FOOTNOTES : With the Baltimore series loss behind them, the Yankees travel to Miami tomorrow for a two game set versus the Marlins, and this just in from Wallace Matthews (espn.com): “Alex Rodriguez going home for a rest” — reporting that Joe Girardi will sit A-Rod unless he’s needed as a pinch-hitter, given the no-DH rule in National League parks, as it would be highly unlikely for Rodriguez to play in the field.
And a very Happy Birthday to Andy Pettitte (43) and Ramiro Mendoza (43) …
MEMORY LANE : On today’s date in 1953, the Yankees 18-game winning streak ended with a 3-1 loss to the St. Louis Browns. The victory ended a 14-game St. Louis losing streak, and Johnny Mize became the 93rd player in recorded MLB history to reach 2,000 hits with a fifth inning single. (h/t: Today in Baseball History)
