Yankees Return Home and Defeat Blue Jays

nytimes.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 25th, 2013

Toronto Blue Jays vs. New York Yankees Post Game Recap

Final Score: Blue Jays 3 Yankees 5

The New York Yankees were able to bounce back from losing their series in Tampa Bay against the Rays, as they were able to return home to Yankees Stadium, and get a win over the Toronto Blue Jays. The win moves the Yankees to (12-9) on the season, which puts them in third place in the AL East.

Yankees Starter Hiroki Kuroda had a very difficult time in the first two innings of the game allowing three runs, but Kuroda was able to settle in and give the Yankees a quality start and earn his third win of the season. Kuroda finished the game going six innings allowing three runs on six hits, and one walk. The damage came early against Kuroda, as he allowed a two-run homerun in the first inning to Edwin Encarnacion, and then a solo-homerun to Brett Lawrie in the second inning. In Kuroda’s final four innings however he didn’t allow a hit to the Blue Jays.



After Kuroda it was smooth sailing from then on, as the bullpen for the Yankees was great in this one. Joe Girardi got to use the formula of Joba Chamberlain in the seventh, David Robertson in the eighth, and then of course Mariano Rivera in the ninth. Chamberlain and Robertson each picked up their second holds of the season, and then Rivera closed the door, while striking out two for his seventh save of the year.

A tough series hitting-wise in Tampa Bay luckily didn’t follow the Yankees back North as they were able to get to Blue Jays Starter Mark Buehrle. Vernon Wells got the Yankees on the board, as his tear against his former team continued in the second inning with a solo-homerun to Center Field. For Wells the homerun was his sixth of the season, and now has 10 RBIs.

Robinson Cano kept up his MVP start to the season with another big game for the Yankees, and his one hit was the difference maker in the win. Cano hit his seventh homerun of the season in the third inning, which was a three-run shot, and now has 17 RBIs on the season; it is certainly a great start from Cano.

Francisco Cervelli gave the Yankees their final run of the game in the fourth inning with a solo-homerun, which was his third of the season, as Cervelli and Chris Stewart have done great this year replacing Russell Martin.

Next up for the Yankees will be Game Two of the series with the Blue Jays, as Ivan Nova (1-1, 6.14) will be facing Aaron Laffey (0-0, 7.20).