The #Yankees take the series with the Indians!
FINAL: Yankees 11, Indians 7.#StartSpreadingTheNews pic.twitter.com/uVukdppjLO
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 10, 2016
The New York Yankees capped off a dismal first half by taking the final game from the powerful Cleveland Indians.
- New York Yankees: 11 (44-44)
- Cleveland Indians: 7 (52-36)
- American League, FINAL, Box Score
- Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio
Entering this series and especially after a crushing loss in game two of this series, it seemed as though the New York Yankees were going to end this disappointing first half as a losing team.
Instead, they took three-out-of-four from the second best team in the American League and evened up their record following an 11-7 victory at Progressive Field on Sunday afternoon.
Masahiro Tanaka got the starting nod for New York and entered today’s start with a 1.14 earned run average in eight road starts. He didn’t quite dazzle as usual, but he did hold the Indians to three earned runs over 4.2 innings pitched.
On the other side, Carlos Carrasco got zero help from his defense as he warranted five runs (only one earned). In total, Cleveland’s defense made three errors which led to eight unearned runs on the day.
Highlights:
The Yankees got on the board in the top of the second thanks to a defensive miscue by Indians’ first baseman, Carlos Santana.
Rob Refsnyder hit a chopper to shortstop Francisco Lindor who made a nice stop followed by a catchable throw across the diamond. Santana, however, could not handle it as the throw rolled passed the bag and allowed Starlin Castro to score.
The @Yankees take the early lead 1-0 on an overthrow.#YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/1BMm5MDcSn
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) July 10, 2016
Following an Austin Romine double and a strikeout by Brett Gardner, Jacoby Ellsbury ripped a three-run home run over the wall in right field to put the Yankees up 4-0.
What a #SundayFunday looks like at the plate:#YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/NS9FZotKXk
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) July 10, 2016
It was Ellsbury’s fourth home run of the season and his first since June 8. Since then, he has batted a porous .248.
.@JacobyEllsbury on his big home run as the @Yankees finish the first half of the 2016 season with a win:https://t.co/8W7lQ2WF1g
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) July 10, 2016
After Rajai Davis ripped a single to left to score Mike Napoli which cut the deficit to 4-1, the Yankees took complete control of the Indians for the time being.
In the top of the fifth, following a Gardner RBI fielder’s choice, Chase Headley reached on a throwing error by Lindor which allowed Mark Teixeira and Didi Gregorius to score to put the Yankees up 7-1.
A throwing error leads to a pair of runs as the Yankees extend their lead 7-1 in the top of the 5th. pic.twitter.com/TFy4Qpf63m
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) July 10, 2016
Then, following back-to-back sac flies for Romine and Gardner, Carlos Beltran ripped a line drive to centerfield which allowed Refsnyder to score. That made it 10-1 but Teixeira made it 11-1 after singling home Ellsbury on a TJ House changeup.
‘Los and Tex want in!
A pair of RBI singles put the #Yankees lead into double digits! #LetsGoYankees
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 10, 2016
At the time, it seemed like an easy win that the Bombers could easily hold onto. However, the Indians made it a game again following a fifth inning rally of their own.
It started with a Lindor RBI double and an RBI single from Jose Ramirez to make it 11-3 Yankees but the big dent came on a non-Didi like error by Gregorius.
His errant throw granted Mike Napoli and Ramirez to score to make the score 11-5 and then Tyler Naquin turned on a 74-MPH curveball from Tanaka and crushed it into the seats.
Now a 2-run BLAST for @TyNaquin!
His 9th of the year — 422 feet — cuts the Yankees lead to just 4!
MOOD: pic.twitter.com/DuPgaLIDCH
— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) July 10, 2016
The 25-year old’s ninth home run of the season not only made it a four-run ballgame but it also knocked the Yankees ace out of the contest.
4️⃣8️⃣ minute inning.#YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/U0wm0iEUXY
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) July 10, 2016
Then, manager Joe Girardi turned to Nathan Eovaldi to help New York slam the door on a dominant Indians team and Nasty Nate did just that.
RECAP: #NastyNate earns win with 4.1 innings of relief as #Yankees take series with Indians. https://t.co/oi7ITVZb4l pic.twitter.com/L2OPIu0bOL
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 10, 2016
Across 4.1 innings of relief, Eovaldi struck out three and only surrendered one hit to a Cleveland offense that entered this game with the fifth most hits in the American League.
With that, the Yankees prevailed in the final game of this four-game series to even up their record at 44-44. Yes, their record could have been better but they can use this big series win as momentum to carry them into what needs to be a dominant second half.
#YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/WcnBwjsGEr
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) July 10, 2016
What’s Next:
The 87th All-Star game us up next but only for three members of the Yankees: Dellin Betances (78 K’s), Andrew Miller (5-1, 1.37 ERA), and Carlos Beltran (.297, 19 HR, 55 RBI).
The contest will be on Tuesday, July 12 at Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres with a start time of eight o’clock eastern time. You can catch all the best in baseball square off on FOX.
After the break, they will return to the Bronx to play host to the Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, and San Francisco Giants.
Onto the Midsummer Classic!#YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/Y0cvIrdN7B
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) July 10, 2016
A look at the @Yankees upcoming schedule:#YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/AUfK5Fthp4
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) July 10, 2016
