The Yankees must have spent all their offense yesterday, as two home runs aren't enough to take the series win from the Rangers.
Last night, the offense had to score 12 runs to win the game, and it was barely enough. They responded to tonight's game by failing to reach base after the 3rd inning. Hiroki Kuroda had a shaky first inning, but was able to settle down and pitch six clean innings. Unfortunately, the offense couldn't pick him up.
The game started well for the Yankees, with Brett Gardner wrapping up a fantastic series against the Rangers by hitting his fourth home run in just three days. In the third inning, Jacoby Ellsbury followed suit with his own home run to right field. Following the third inning, the offense ran out of gas and failed to get a hit or base runner for the rest of the game. The only other player to collect a hit during the night was Carlos Beltran, who singled twice early in the game.
On the other side of things, the Rangers scored all of their runs in the first inning. A single by Shin-Soo Choo, followed by an RBI double off the bat of Elvis Andrus put the Rangers on the board. Adrian Beltre singled up the middle to bring home Andrus. Then, with two outs, Mark Teixeira decided to let a ball hit by Leonys Martin slowly roll one inch foul. It seemed like Tex probably could have gotten to the ball to end the inning. Martin then drove in what ended up being the game-winning run on a line drive to left field.
After the first inning, it seemed like Kuroda might be in for a rough night, but he was able to turn it around for the rest of the game, and he even pitched 7 innings, which the bullpen needed. He ended the night having allowed 9 hits, 3 runs, and 1 walk with 4 strikeouts. David Huff came in for the eighth inning, and although he walked two batters, he didn't allow any runs to score.
Alex Rios was hit by a pitch in the third inning, and then removed from the game in the fifth, leading to questions of whether he had been traded. It was later said that his quad had swelled up from the HBP.
Tomorrow is a much needed off day. The Yankees will start a three-game series in Boston on Friday at 7:10 pm EST, with new Yankee Chris Capuano expected to face off against John Lackey.