THE YANKEES TURN TO THE USUAL HEROES

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.

Final: Yankees 2 - Angels 1 

 
   
--Steve Skinner, BYB Guest Writer
Twitter: @oswegos1

 

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