DEAD BALL ERA MAKES A CAMEO & A GUT-WRENCHING WIN

This was a win the Yankees had to have, especially after so many opportunities. In the bottom of the 12^th, with the bases loaded and one out and failing to score, and then scoring the tying run but failing to score the winning the run in the 13^th, the win finally came in the bottom of the 14^th. Fittingly, Chase Headley, in his first game as a Yankee, hit a walk-off base hit to give the Yankees the win.

There is nothing as exciting as watching a 0-0 game go into extra innings. Literally, nothing. For the second consecutive game, the Yankees made starters with ERA’s above 5.00 look like 20-game winners. Nick Martinez and the Rangers bullpen held the Yankees scoreless through 14. If you count last night’s game, the Yankees went 13 consecutive innings without an extra base hit and 17 consecutive innings failing to put a man on third, let alone score a run, before the 13^th.

Here are some more statistics. When Derek Jeter hit a double in the ninth inning, it was the first time the Yankees had a man in scoring position in the entire game. The Yankees went 6 for their first 39, that translates into a .125 average. You get the point.

The first honorable mention goes to Chase Whitley, who pitched a gem. He threw six scoreless innings, giving up 7 hits, striking out 6, and no walks. The Yankees really needed a quality start, and they got it tonight. His pitches had movement and batters struggled to put wood on the ball. When the Rangers did get men into scoring position, he maintained his composure and got out of trouble.

The next honorable mention goes to David Robertson. Keeping his pitch count low in the ninth, he was able to give the team two innings of work with three strikeouts. He ended up throwing 32 pitches, so it is unlikely that Robertson will be available in tomorrow’s game. Nevertheless, he kept us alive and went the extra mile to do so.

When you are trying to catch the division leader, you take advantage of as many opportunities to win as you can. When you have a 3-game series at the Stadium against a team that has dropped 24 of their last 28 games, you win those games. Losing the first and needing to go to extras in the second, knowing that their ace is coming up in the third does not fill one with hope that this team is on steady ground. It was a win they needed. One can only hope that they can keep this going.

Final: Yankees 2 - Rangers 1

--Ike Dimitriadis, BYB Senior Staff Writer
Twitter: @KingAgamemnon
My blog is: Shots from Murderer's Row

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