New York Yankees defeat Texas Rangers 4-1 to snap three-game losing streak - MLB Update
New York Yankees has splintered the three-game losing streak in stunning manner, over-powering the Texas Rangers 4-1 in the first game of the three-game series at Rangers Ballpark on Friday, May 6.
Curtis Granderson hammered a huge 443-feet long two-run homer off Matt Harrison, the Rangers’ starter in the first inning to provide the Yankees an early 2-0 lead. Derek Jeter, who due to a right hip problem was not present in Thursday’s game against the
Tigers, had a good start than Alex Rodriguez who was given rest on that day adding an RBI single in the second inning.
Rodriguez stepped to the plate in four at-bats, but could only manage one hit on fifteen pitches he faced. Looking at Rodriguez’s .167 ERA in last eleven games, the Yankees’ skipper Joe Girardi was already ready for such a performance as he had mentioned
this one day before the game. Girardi was in favour to give some more rest to Rodriguez, but the slugger was eager to make his way back in line-up for this game.
Girardi said, "If we run him out there today and run him out there the next couple of days, you're talking about running him out, like, nine or 10 days in a row. The last thing we want to do is wear him down early in the season,” He further added. “So I
think there can be an advantage, because you come back, you feel fresh going into Texas, you're facing a couple left-handers -- maybe you get going again."
The Yankees’ right-hand pitcher, Ivan Nova made a splendid start, his sixth of the season to hold the opposition to just two hits and one walk over seven innings. He also gave a run in the eighth inning, when Julio Borbon singled to the right side of the
field to earn the Rangers a RBI single.
With such a demanding performance, Ivan earned his third win of the season in his second career start since May 1, against the Toronto Blue Jays where he earned his second triumph. On that day, he allowed just two earned runs, took five batters and allowed
one homer over six innings.
Rafael Soriano relieved Nova in the eighth inning and tossed six strikes off seven pitches to take one batter while Mariano Rivera threw a perfect ninth inning for his twelfth save of the season.
On the other hand, Matt Harrison, the Rangers starter was unable to show some good form to his manager, Bruce Bochy. Harrison gave away three runs on four hits, allowed two earned runs and five walks over six innings. With his fourth loss, the right-hander
now has a 3-4 record with a 4.35 ERA in this season.
Granderson launched another homer off Ryan Tucker, the Rangers’ reliever in the first inning to take his multi-homer game-streak to eight.
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