Yankees Ride Hot Offense To Fifth Straight Win

 

 

Pineda was solid in his start last night. Photo Credit: AP

 

The New York Yankees offense continued to cook as they belted three home runs in an 8-1 rout of the Kansas City Royals on Monday night. New York has now won five consecutive games which matched their longest winning streak of the season.

By: Sunil Sunderraj

 

Yankees starter Michael Pineda (3-2) continued to impress in his return  despite his first two outings being no-decisions. In this start, he tossed six innings, allowing one run on five hits while walking none and striking out five to record his first victory since April 16th. Pineda became just the third American League pitcher in last 100 years to allow two runs and five hits or fewer in each of  his first seven starts to a season.

The Yankees took the early lead in this game on a fielder’s choice by Derek Jeter in the 3rd inning. Kansas City answered back in the bottom half of the inning on a Mike Moustakas lead off solo shot, his 15th of the season into the right field seats tying the game up at 1-1.

Hitting under .200 and mired in a slump, Stephen Drew was moved up in the batting order which paid off as Drew wrapped a solo home run around the right field pole, his sixth of the season in the 4th inning ,giving New York a 2-1 lead at the time.

In the 7th inning, New York increased their lead as Martin Prado hammered his seventh home run of the season over the 387 foot sign in left field making the score 3-1. Prado continues to be red hot with the bat as is hitting over .400 with three home runs and 10 RBI’s in his last nine games.

The Yankees would add some more runs on. It started with  Chase Headley and Ichiro Suzuki with back to back singles. Zelous Wheeler reached on a fielder’s choice after a failed sacrifice bunt attempt. Jacoby Ellsbury singled through the hole into right field which scored Ichiro Suzuki furthering the lead to 4-1. A lucky bounce on a Derek Jeter thit hat kicked up off the heel off Royals starting pitcher James Shields( 12-7) and deflected past shortstop Alcides Escobar into left field allowing Wheeler to trot in for the fifth run of the game.

Brian McCann flied out to right field as Ellsbury raced home attempting to score. Initially ruled out at home plate, Joe Girardi challenged the ruling on the field. After a second on video review, which showed Ellsbury’s left foot sliding underneath tag of Royals catcher Salvatore Perez the ruling was overturned giving the Yankees a 6-1 advantage. New York has won 19 of 24 challenges this season, an average of 79.2% which is best in MLB.

The hit parade continued in the 9th inning as Ellsbury walloped his  11th home run of the season, a two run shot several rows into the right field seats extending the lead to 8-1. Ellsbury ended up going 3 for 5 with 3 RBI’s while collecting his 1000th career hit.

Every Yankee had a hit in the game. The 13 total hits represented the most since July 6th at Minnesota. Next stop for New York (68-61) on the road trip a three game series at Detroit starting on Tuesday night.


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