Game 93 / 52-41 / 1st / +5G : Behind a solid Ivan Nova start, and big flys from Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez the Yankees moved to a season high 11 games over .500 with a 4-3 victory over Baltimore. The loss knocked the Birds to a game under .500 and 6 back in the American League East. New York goes for the series sweep tomorrow afternoon behind Masahiro Tanaka.
Here’s the box score, full recap, and video highlights.
Yankees 4, Orioles 3
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- Ivan Nova Outside of one mistake pitch to Orioles second-baseman Ryan Flaherty (for 2 run homer in the third), Nova had a sharp outing, going 6 innings while allowing only 3 hits. A small sample, but Flaherty is working on some ownage of Nova, going 4-9 with tonight’s 1 home run.
- Middle of the Lineup Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead once sang: “If the thunder doesn’t get you, then the lightening will” — well, tonight they both struck. Teixeira provided the lightening with a scorching line-drive home run just inside the right field foul pole in the 1st, and A-Rod the thunder with a 453ft. no-doubter to left-center in the 5th. Rodriguez’ blast proved to be the game winner, and also added yet another milestone to his incredible season. His 20th home run was the 3,024th hit of his career and passed St. Louis Cardinals great Lou Brock for sole possession of 24th place on the all-time hits list.
- The Bullpen Once again it was executed the way it was written up — a dominant 8th inning from Dellin Betances, and the finish by Andrew Miller. The closer was touched up for a solo home run by Chris Davis in the 9th (hanging slider), but had no trouble with anyone else in the inning. It was 22nd save out of 22 chances. This ‘pen is delivering like the Stanton–Nelson–Rivera days.
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“Those are the kind of games we have to win in October, so it’s good we’re playing well in one-run games.” ‐ Alex Rodriguez (h/t: Bryan Hoch and Grace Raynor/mlb.com)
MEMORY LANE : July 19th has historically been a busy trading day between the Yankees and the San Diego Padres. It was one year ago today the Yanks sent Rafael De Paula (minors) and Yangervis Solarte to the San Diego Padres for Chase Headley (and cash!) … and in another deal with San Diego on July 22, 2003, the Padres sent Jesse Orosco to the Yanks as part of a conditional deal … In 1989, the Padres sent Walt Terrell and a player to be named later to New York for Mike Pagliarulo and Don Schulze. The player to be named later turned out to be Freddie Toliver, whom San Diego sent to the Yanks on September 27, 1989 to complete the trade … (h/t: Baseball-Reference.com)
In 1954, the Yankees signed signed Ralph Branca as a free agent, and released Ralph Houk.
FOOTNOTES : Tomorrow’s series finale is an afternoon tilt that features Masahiro Tanaka (6-3, 3.65) matching up with Ubaldo Jimenez (7-5, .329).
