Yankees Lose 7-6, Split Series With Rangers

The Yankees were looking to win the series against the Rangers on Thursday and keep their AL East lead at 6 games. The Yankees started CC Sabathia and the Rangers started Yovani Gallardo.

Jacoby Ellsbury lead the game off with a triple to left, and scored on a Brett Gardner sacrifice fly. Then Mark Teixeira hit a home run to make it 2-0. After that, Brian McCann singled, Carlos Beltran walked and Chase Headley singled in McCann to make it 3-0.

This lead would not last long as the Rangers scored 3 of their own in the bottom of the first. Delino Deshields and Elvis Andrus had back to back singles to start the inning. The Yankees got two straight outs, but could not get Hamilton who homered to tie the game at 3.

In the bottom of the second, Shin-Soo Choo led the inning off with a home run to right, taking the lead for the Rangers 4-3.

In the third, Mark Teixeira singled and was followed by Brian McCann who hit his 16th home run of the season to put the Yankees ahead 5-4.

In the bottom of the 4th inning, the Yankees gave up an inside the park home run to Ryan Rua. This tied the game at 5.

CC Sabathia exited the game in the 6th finishing with 5 innings pitched, 9 hits, 5 earned runs, 1 walk, and 3 strikeouts. He gave up 3 home runs in the game. Justin Wilson came in to replace him.

After all of the early runs,  nobody scored again until the top of the seventh inning when Mark Teixeira put his 26th home run of the season over the center field fence and took the lead for the Yankees, 6-5.

The Rangers also scored in the seventh. Robinson Chirinos walked to lead the inning off, and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After Wilson struck out Deshields, he was taken out and replaced by Dellin Betances. Elvis Andrus then hit a single to move Chirinos to third, who then scored when Prince Fielder reached on a fielder's choice. The game was tied again 6-6.

In the bottom of the 8th, Nick Goody came in for Dellin Betances. Betances gave up 1 hit in 1.1 innings of work. Goody would only pitch 0.1 innings and would be taken out in the 9th for Andrew Miller.

In the 9th, Goody walked Deshields to start the inning, then Jacoby Ellsbury made a great catch going back towards the wall to get Elvis Andrus. Leonys Martin then singled. Deshields was hit by the ball and was determined out, and Martin was given a base hit. After Adrian Beltre walked, Josh Hamilton singled to score Martin and win the game 7-6.

MY TAKES: The Yankees bats are pretty consistently hot, scoring 35 runs in this 4 game series (although the majority was the 21 run game). The pitching is what seems to be the problem, giving up too many runs. Yes, I mean CC Sabathia mostly. With Michael Pineda hurt now, and being a little unsure on how long he may be gone, I think it is a good time to call up Luis Severino and get some good outings out of him. And if the Yankees don't do that, I would like to see Adam Warren back in the rotation in that spot. Didi Gregorius has finally come around lately on the offensive side. This series he had 9 hits in 15 at bats (.600 BA), in 4 games in Texas. Hopefully he can keep it going.

LOOKING FORWARD: The Yankees will play their last series of this 10 game road trip against the Chicago White Sox. In game 1, Nathan Eovaldi will match up against rookie, Carlos Rodon. Game 2 will see John Danks for the White Sox, and the Yankees have not yet announced who will pitch. Game 3 will be Ivan Nova facing off against Jeff Samardzija.

Article By: Greg Wilson

Twitter: @gregwlsn13

Blog Twitter: @BronxBomberBlog