Kuroda Dominates in Yankees Win

yankees.lhblogs.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

July 25^th, 2013

New York Yankees Texas Rangers Post Game Recap

Final Score: Yankees 2 Rangers 0

The New York Yankees were able to a big win on Thursday afternoon in Texas against the Rangers behind a strong pitching performance by Hiroki Kuroda, which allowed the Yankees to split the four-game series. The win moves the Yankees to (54-48), and are now 6.5 games behind the Boston Red Sox in the AL East.

Offensively the Yankees weren’t very good, but the two runs they scored were enough to get the win in this game against Derek Holland. It took until the sixth inning for the first run of the game, but a Brent Lillibridge double scored Austin Romine for the first run of the game. The second and final run for the Yankees came in the eighth inning giving the bullpen a nice insurance run to work with, as Eduardo Nunez grounded into a fielders choice which scored Robinson Cano. For Holland he picked up his six loss of the season, but he did pitch well enough to earn the win, as he went 7.1 innings allowing just two runs on eight hits and one walk.

Despite Holland pitching well for the Rangers, he was one upped by Yankees Starter Hiroki Kuroda, who earned his 10^th win of the season, as he continues to prove that he is the true ace of this Yankees staff. Kuroda went seven shutout innings, allowing just six hits and one walk before handing it over to the bullpen.

Joe Girardi had it set up perfectly for him, as after seven great innings from Kuroda, David Robertson came in a pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning to earn his 24^th hold of the season. Mariano Rivera came in the ninth inning to close the door on the Rangers to earn his 33^rd save of the season, and got some nice cowboy boots on his farewell tour from the Rangers.

Overall it was a good series for the Yankees being able to split in Texas despite the offense not hitting very well, as they only scored eight runs in the four games. The pitching really was good though, as Ivan Nova, Phil Hughes, Andy Pettitte, and Hiroki Kuroda all had good starts.

Next up for the Yankees will be a big series against the second place Tampa Bay Rays at home, and the Yankees will have C.C. Sabathia (9-8, 4.37) facing Chris Archer (5-3, 2.76) in the series opener.