Yankees Regain First Place - Sept 5, 2012

   
September 5, 2012

     After dropping six of their last nine games, the Yankees rolled into the final game of the series in Tampa tied in first place with their division contenders the Baltimore Orioles.  Prior to that the Yankees have maintained first place for 87 consecutive days.  It was clear the Yankees needed a wake up call and with a team meeting before the game, they might have just gotten that kick in the engine.

     The Bronx Bombers had their 37 year old veteran Huroki Kuroda on the mound.  Things did not look good in the bottom of the first when Evan Longoria drove home the first run with an RBI single.  The Rays pitcher Matt Moore pretty much held the Yankees hitting down until the top of the fourth when finally the Yankees did what they could not do so often during the season, hit with runners in scoring position.  With runners on first and second, Alex Rodriguez ringed a double to left field which knotted the game at 1.  Then Russell Martin hit a ground rule double to right field scoring Robinson Cano and Rodriguez giving the Yankees a 3-1 lead.  The Yankees would surrender that lead and the Rays would tie it at 3.  Then in the top of the sixth, Russell Martin would come up to the plate and bomb one over the left center field wall putting the Yankees ahead 4-3.  At the bottom of the sixth however, Luke Scott would take one out off of Kuroda to re-knot the game at 4.  We then go to the top of the seventh and with a little help from Tampa's defensive miscues, with one out and Ichiro Suzuki and Steve Pearce at third and second, Derek Jeter's ground ball to second was mishandled by Elliot Johnson who committed a throwing error past the catcher scoring both Suzuki and Pearce.  This put the Yankees up 6-4 and at that point, Rafael Soriano came in for his 36th save of the season.  It was a much win by the Bronx Bombers.

     The Yankees were able to salvage the final game of the series in Tampa and with the Baltimore Oriloes losing to Toronto, the Bombers regain sole possession of first place.  Manager Joe Girardi and the Yankees might finally breathe some fresh air but nothing will get easier as they roll into Baltimore and play the next four against a hot Orioles team breathing right on them.

B.C Sports

Brian Chin