After a big 13-4 win on Wednesday night in Detroit, the New York Yankees took the field on Thursday night looking to continue with the offensive power against the Tigers, and hoping for their second straight series win.
Yankees’ ace Masahiro Tanaka (ERA 3.22), who was playing off just five days of rest for the first time this season, went up against Detroit’s Anibal Sanchez (ERA 5.96), who had a rocky start against the Chicago White Sox on Saturday. But, after what seemed to be a pitcher’s duel between both Tanaka and Sanchez, a balk would end up being just what the Yankees needed to get back in the game and earn the 2-1 win, taking the series and moving to two games above .500.
The Tigers’ took an early 1-0 lead when Anthony Gose scored off a sacrifice fly by Victor Martinez. Tanaka continued to pitch well after allowing the early run, using his slider and 2-seam fastball to get the job done. He would get in trouble in the 4th inning after J.D. Martinez doubled but wound up getting out of the inning. Tanaka’s final line would be 6.1 innings, allowing three hits, one run and struck out six batters.
The Yankees got on the board in the top of the 6th, which started with a walk by Jacoby Ellsbury. While Brett Gardner was at the plate, Ellsbury stole 2nd and a pop out by Gardner, advanced Ellsbury to 3rd. With Brian McCann at-bat, Sanchez balked, which was called by the 3rd base umpire sending Ellsbury home. Tigers’ Manager Brad Ausmus argued that Sanchez had not balked and would end up being ejected with a ballgame tied at one.
The Yankees’ Dellin Betances (ERA 0.00) pitched the last out of the 7th and then the entire 8th using just 18 pitches to get the job done and striking out two in the process.
In the top of the 8th, Ellsbury started the inning with a double off Tigers’ Tom Gorzelanny (ERA 2.70) and a bunt by Gardner advanced him to 3rd. Ellsbury then scored after Brian McCann grounded out with combined with slow fielding by Detroit first baseman Miguel Cabrera, to put the Yankees up 2-1.
Yankees’ closer Andrew Miller (ERA 0.00) followed Betances’ dominance and struck out two of the three batters he faced in the 9th to secure his sixth save of the season. Betances earned the win (3-0) as Gorzelanny was charged with the loss (0-1).
Stats:
New York:
Jacoby Ellsbury: 1 for 2, 2 R, DBL, SB
Brian McCann: 0 for 4; RBI
Chris Young: 1 for 4
Detroit:
Anthony Gose: 1 for 4; Run
J.D. Martinez: 2 for 4
Next Game:
The New York Yankees will now return home to face their croostown rivals, the New York Mets, for a three-game series starting on Friday night. The Mets are currently 13-3 and have the best record in baseball. RHP Michael Pineda (2-0, 5.00) will get the start against RHP Jacob DeGrom (2-1, 0.93).
The Detroit Tigers will start a three game series against the Cleveland Indians on Friday night with former Yankee RHP Shane Greene (3-0, 0.39) taking the mound for Detroit against the Indians’ RHP Danny Salazar (1-0, 3.00).
Bethany Cohen
Bethany is a Graduate of the University of South Florida and currently resides in Tampa. She is a die-hard Yankees' fan and has been a freelance writer for six years. She has covered the Yankees' Minor League System since 2010 and also does freelance work for Examiner.com and CBS Local Tampa Bay. Follow her on Twitter @TampaBethany
