The Yankees do the unthinkable and actually score some runs for Kuroda.
In what could be Hiroki Kuroda's last start at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees did the unthinkable and actually provided him with some run support. Although they did not score a run after the fourth inning, they did enough damage early on to hold onto the win.
The game got off to a quick start, with the Blue Jays getting on the board immediately thanks to a two-run home run by Edwin Encarnacion. Kuroda settled down after that, and ended the night with seven strikeouts and zero walks. Toronto tacked on another run in the fifth inning after Jose Reyes singled, stole second base, and advanced to third on a throwing error by Brian McCann before Jose Bautista grounded out for the RBI. Other than the first inning, it was a great outing by Kuroda who has been solid all year.
The Yankees wasted no time in making up those runs. Jacoby Ellsbury led off with with a double that almost left the park, but bounced off the wall instead. That was followed by a line drive by Derek Jeter that deflected off of Adam Lind's glove, then McCann beat the shift with an RBI through the hole in left. In the third inning, Ichiro Suzuki hit a lead off single, then Ellsbury got to re-do the first inning, and hit a long home run to give the Yankees the lead. The final runs came in the fourth inning, when Ellsbury grounded into a force out with one out and the bases loaded. Stephen Drew and Chase Headley both made it home safely, but Ellsbury injured himself running to first base. He was removed from the game and replaced by Chris Young, and it was later confirmed that Ellsbury left the game with a right hamstring strain. He will be getting an MRI, because of course that would happen.
With two outs in the seventh inning, Josh Outman entered the game and promptly gave up a ground rule double to Reyes. Esmil Rogers replaced him and worked himself into (and out of) a bases loaded jam, then went back out for the eighth inning. Adam Warren was called on to close out the last 1.2 innings of the game, and he did a great job, notching three strikeouts without giving up a hit.
That's three wins in a row for the Yankees. They'll try to keep the streak going tomorrow with Chris Capuano set to face Marcus Stroman at 4:05 pm EST.