Brett Gardner The Hero As New York Beats Tampa Bay In Extras
This season New York is pretty much a young club with veterans mixed in.
Thursday night though the veteran left-fielder Brett Garner was the hero as they played two extra innings and beat Tampa Bay in the opener of a four -game set by a score of 6-5.
In a season when the youngest Yankees have merited most of the headlines, their longest-tenured player delivered two big hits, the second of which allowed Brett Gardner to stomp on Yankee Stadium's home plate at the center of a joyous celebration (although one that cost Aaron Judge part of his tooth). "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/244886472/brett-gardner-leads-yanks-comeback-vs-rays/
Gardner sparked a game-tying rally with a leadoff triple in the ninth inning, then cracked the third walk-off homer of his career in the 11th as the Yankees rallied for a 6-5 victory over the Rays on Thursday evening at Yankee Stadium, closing within a half-game of the division-leading Red Sox. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/244886472/brett-gardner-leads-yanks-comeback-vs-rays/
"The last week and a half, we've been playing better baseball since the All-Star break," Gardner said. "We still fully believe that we have a good enough team to win the division and go to the playoffs. That's our goal." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/244886472/brett-gardner-leads-yanks-comeback-vs-rays/
Down to their final three outs, the Yankees evened the score against Alex Colome. Gardner dashed to third base after his drive to the left-center-field gap, and Gary Sanchez knocked a grounder through over-shifted infielders Adeiny Hechavarria and Tim Beckham, who watched the game-tying hit roll into left-center field. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/244886472/brett-gardner-leads-yanks-comeback-vs-rays/
"Once I hit it, I thought they had a really good chance of catching it," Sanchez said through an interpreter. "I noticed that both of them froze. What's important is I got the hit and we were able to tie the game there." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/244886472/brett-gardner-leads-yanks-comeback-vs-rays/
Aroldis Chapman recorded six outs, striking out four, to pick up the win ahead of Gardner's career-high 18th homer, which came off Andrew Kittredge. The Yankees won for the sixth time in seven games. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/244886472/brett-gardner-leads-yanks-comeback-vs-rays/
"That loss stunk, no doubt about it," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "That loss is going to stink on the first day of the season, the last day of the season, on whatever today is. We're not going to make a bigger issue. We had a chance to win a ballgame. It would have been nice to win. But things didn't go our way." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/244886472/brett-gardner-leads-yanks-comeback-vs-rays/
The Yankees had trailed since the fifth, with Evan Longoria and Corey Dickerson slugging homers in support of Chris Archer's 10-strikeout performance. Brad Miller gave Tampa Bay the lead with a pinch-hit, two-run double off Chad Green, who relieved CC Sabathia after just 4 1/3 innings. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/244886472/brett-gardner-leads-yanks-comeback-vs-rays/
Aroldis Chapman recorded six outs, striking out four, to pick up the win ahead of Gardner's career-high 18th homer, which came off Andrew Kittredge. The Yankees won for the sixth time in seven games. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/244886472/brett-gardner-leads-yanks-comeback-vs-rays/
"That loss stunk, no doubt about it," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "That loss is going to stink on the first day of the season, the last day of the season, on whatever today is. We're not going to make a bigger issue. We had a chance to win a ballgame. It would have been nice to win. But things didn't go our way." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/244886472/brett-gardner-leads-yanks-comeback-vs-rays/
The Yankees had trailed since the fifth, with Evan Longoria and Corey Dickerson slugging homers in support of Chris Archer's 10-strikeout performance. Brad Miller gave Tampa Bay the lead with a pinch-hit, two-run double off Chad Green, who relieved CC Sabathia after just 4 1/3 innings. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/244886472/brett-gardner-leads-yanks-comeback-vs-rays/
Archer held the Yankees to three runs -- including Sanchez's 15th homer -- and seven hits over six innings. Matt Holliday contributed a run-scoring fielder's choice that made it a one-run game in the eighth. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/244886472/brett-gardner-leads-yanks-comeback-vs-rays/
"Any time you're going up against a guy like Chris Archer, you've got your work cut out for you," Gardner said. "He's one of the best in the game. It's a tough game to win." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/244886472/brett-gardner-leads-yanks-comeback-vs-rays/
Sabathia expressed displeasure after being lifted with one out in the fifth inning, having thrown just 86 pitches, but Yankees manager Joe Girardi thought Sabathia was beginning to lack movement. Miller made Girardi regret that quick hook by lacing a double well out of Judge's reach in right field that chased home Hechavarria and Peter Bourjos, giving Tampa Bay its first lead of the evening. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/244886472/brett-gardner-leads-yanks-comeback-vs-rays/
"I'm always upset to come out of a game, but it worked out for us," Sabathia said. "We got the win and that's all that matters." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/244886472/brett-gardner-leads-yanks-comeback-vs-rays/
After newly acquired Rays reliever Dan Jennings permitted hits to the only two batters he faced in the eighth, Brad Boxberger was able to keep it a one-run game. Holliday's pinch-hit fielder's-choice grounder brought home Didi Gregorius with New York's fourth run, and Todd Frazier's two-out single pushed the tying run into scoring position, but Boxberger induced Tyler Wade to ground into an inning-ending 6-3 double play. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/244886472/brett-gardner-leads-yanks-comeback-vs-rays/
"He had some tough at-bats tonight," Girardi said of Wade. "It's a young kid. He's a 22-year-old kid. You're going to go through those moments. The biggest thing is to learn from them and slow the game down." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/244886472/brett-gardner-leads-yanks-comeback-vs-rays/
Girardi was ejected by home-plate umpire Stu Scheurwater in the home half of the seventh inning for arguing balls and strikes. It was Girardi's third ejection of the season. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/244886472/brett-gardner-leads-yanks-comeback-vs-rays/
"I just thought it was really inconsistent tonight," Girardi said. "He didn't want to hear it." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/244886472/brett-gardner-leads-yanks-comeback-vs-rays/
New York improves to 54-46 while Tampa Bay drops to 53-50. New York is now 0.5 games back of their rival Boston who is leading the American League East with a record of 56-47.
New York and Tampa Bay will play game two of their game series Friday at Yankee Stadium.
New York right -hander Masahiro Tanaka who has a record of 7-9 with an earn run average of 5.37 will start the second game against Tampa Bay. Tanaka has looked much better since his poor string of starts in May, but he's lost his last two decisions against the Brewers and Redsox. In his most recent outing, he allowed four runs in six innings against the Mariners. He will go up against Tampa Bay right -hander Austin Pruitt who has a record of 5-1 with a 6.25 earn run average. Though Pruitt has spent most of his career starting, he earned a spot in Spring Training in the Rays bullpen. He's made 18 appearances for the Rays. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/rays-vs-yankees/2017/07/28/491641#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491641
First pitch is set for 7:05 pm. The game will be televised on the Major League Baseball Network and Yes. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/rays-vs-yankees/2017/07/28/491641#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491641