With
the two most dependable players putting the team on their shoulders and
carrying them yet again, the Yankees opened a four-game series against
the Angels with a 2 – 1 win.
All
season the formerly high-powered offense has found itself being
jump started by Brett Gardner. The speedy center fielder came into the
game hitting .313 with runners in scoring position and did not
disappoint the home town fans by lacing a two-out RBI single to left
center in the third inning. It was a lead that the team would not
relinquish.
Curtis Granderson contributed what turned out to be the game winning run with
an explosive home run to right field off Angel pitcher Garrett Richards
in the seventh.
However,
the night belonged to Hiroki Kuroda. The 38-year old hurler was
brilliant in limiting the potent Los Angeles offense to just three hits
and a walk in eight innings. He struck out seven and threw 107 pitches
in lowering his ERA to 2.33 for the season.
How can anyone NOT include the name Hiroki Kuroda when talking about the 2013 CY Young candidates?
The night’s performance by the right-hander only solidified his position as the Bomber’s ace in 2013.
The
game, of course, was not without its drama as Boone Logan opened the
top of the ninth by allowing a base hit to JB Shuck who later scored
on a bloop double by Josh Hamilton (his second of the night) off David
Robertson.
DRob settled down after that and struck out Mark Trumbo and
former Yankee Chris Nelson to end the game.
The
victory was the Yankees third in the last four games against two
opponents who historically have their number. Perhaps it is a sign that
the team has finally turned a corner as it heads into the home stretch
of the current campaign?
Only
time will tell if that is the case, but one thing is for certain – the
team will need to keep turning to their most dependable players (like
Kuroda, Gardner and DRob) to reach the post-season.
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