Game 92 / 51-41 / 1st / +5.5G : In case you’re wondering who knocked in the game-winning run, it wasn’t an extra from the cast of Boardwalk Empire. It was Brendan Ryan, who spent most of 2015 on the DL and is the lone holdover from the ‘mustache gang’ of earlier this season. Ryan got the start tonight over Stephen Drew to face Baltimore lefty Wei-Yin Chen, and slashed a double down the left field line to plate Didi Gregorius from first for a 3-2 New York lead in the 6th.
Ryan’s double was huge, as the Birds had tied the game at 2 in the top of the inning, and the Yankees were leaving runners in scoring position left and right. But Nathan Eovaldi turned in a good outing, got a great catch in center by Jacoby Ellsbury, Mark Teixeira’s glove work was excellent as usual, and the bullpen held it down after the 6th, although Justin Wilson allowed a run on a single to right that was charged to Eovaldi.
Here’s the box score, full recap, and video highlights.
Yankees 3, Orioles 2
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- Nathan Eovaldi Not the length Joe Girardi surely wanted out of Eovaldi (5.2 innings), but he seemed to pitch smarter and not rely on 100mph heaters when he got behind. He also didn’t get his usual run support, so it was a solid outing overall to keep the potent O’s lineup at bay.
- Alex Rodriguez A-Rod has shown great discipline at the plate all season, rarely fooled on non-strikes. His sac fly put New York on the board in the first.
- Onward & Upward After 2 previous tries, New York finally broke through the 9-games over .500 plateau. After 2 more with the Birds at home, it’s a 3-city, 9-game road trip at the Twins, Rangers and White Sox to close out July. August should be more kind to the Yanks, with no extended road trips and 16 of their 27 to played at home.
MEMORY LANE : The Seattle Mariners have been making fools of the Yankees for decades in terms of trade negotiations. On today’s date in 1988, the Yankees made one of the worst trades in the history of the organization, sending a player to be named later, minor leaguer Rick Balabon and ***Jay Buhner*** to the Seattle Mariners for Ken Phelps. New York later sent minor leaguer Troy Evers on October 12, 1988 to complete the trade….
Buhner spent the next 14 seasons with Seattle, excelling on defense and hitting more than 40 home runs in the 1995, 1996 and 1997 seasons. Phelps was drafted in 1972 by the Braves, in 1974 by the Yankees and again by the Phillies the same year, but never signed with any team. After finally signing with The Kansas City Royals in 1976, Phelps made it to the bigs in 1980, then was traded to the Montreal Expos and ultimately Seattle where he spent 6 years with the M’s before being included in the infamous trade. Phelps played the 1988 and 1989 for New York, hitting a total of 17 home runs, batting .224 and .249 respectively.
(h/t: Today in Baseball History)
FOOTNOTES : Ivan Nova (1-3, 3.42) makes his 5th start of the season tomorrow night at The Stadium, against right-hander Kevin Gausman (1-1, 5.00).
