Dodgers Get Walk-Off Victory Against Yankees

usatoday.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

July 30^th, 2013

New York Yankees vs Los Angeles Dodgers Post Game Recap

Final Score: Yankees 2 Dodgers 3

The New York Yankees eight-game road-trip got off to a rough start in Los Angeles, as they lost to the Dodgers in heart breaking fashion. The loss moves the Yankees to (55-51) on the season, and they are now 8.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for first place in the AL East.

Andy Pettitte gave the Yankees a second very good start, but despite pitching well he didn’t factor in the decision of this game. Pettitte only made a few mistakes on Tuesday night in the early innings, as in the first inning Hanley Ramirez hit a base-hit to score Yasiel Puig. In the second inning the Dodgers got their final run off of Pettitte, as Juan Uribe hit a solo-home run, which was his sixth of the season. Pettitte finished up going seven innings allowing just the two runs on eight hits, and zero walks, in what was another good start from the veteran lefty.

Dodgers Starting Pitcher Zack Greinke also had a very good start, but like Pettitte also didn’t factor in the decision. Really only one player was a thorn in Greinke's side, and that was Yankees First Baseman Lyle Overbay. Overbay hit a solo-home run in the second inning, which was his 12^th of the year, and then he a RBI ground out that scored Alfonso Soriano in the fourth inning for the Yankees final run of the game.

In a game that went to the battle of the bullpens, the Dodgers bullpen got the best of the weak Yankee lineup. Ronald Belisario pitched a scoreless eighth inning, and normal Closer Kenley Jansen pitched a scoreless ninth inning, and got his fourth win of the season.

After an impressive nine pitch eighth inning by David Robertson, Joe Girardi decided to go with Shawn Kelley in the ninth inning, who picked up his first loss of the season. Kelley would allow a base-hit to Andre Either, and then him and Chris Stewart fell asleep allowing Either to steal Second Base, which was just his fourth steal of the season. The steal of second base by Either was huge, putting him in scoring position with two outs for Mark Ellis. Ellis would then deliver the walk-off base-hit to get the Dodgers the win.

Next-up will be the final game of the season between the Yankees and Dodgers, and both teams will be sending their best pitchers to the mound, as Hiroki Kuroda (10-6, 2.51) will be facing NL Cy Young frontrunner Clayton Kershaw (10-6, 1.96).