Yankees Win Rubber Game of Series with Orioles

espn.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 14th, 2013

Baltimore Orioles vs. New York Yankees

Final Score: Orioles 0 Yankees 3

The Yankees were able to take the rubber game of the series against the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday Night Baseball, as Yankees Starter Hiroki Kuroda was sensational in the win.

Kuroda pitched went the distance in the complete game shutout, which was his fifth of his career. Kuroda only gave up five hits in his nine innings of work, and was able to striking out five batters. The win moves Kuroda to (2-1) on the season, and helped his ERA go from a 6.75 to a 2.87.

The Orioles Start Wei-Yin Chen also pitched very well, but was out dueled by Kuroda in this one. Chen went six innings allowing only three runs on six hits, and one walk. Chen was matching Kuroda until the fifth inning when the Yankees were finally able to strike first.

Brennan Boesch getting the start in Right Field went two for three at the plate, and was able to score the first run of the game on a Jayson Nix sacrifice fly. Boesch in his limited time has played well thus far for the Yankees, as he is batting .313.

Overall the bottom of the Yankee order did very well, as Boesch, Francisco Cervelli, Lyle Overbay, and Jayson Nix combined for five hits, and one walk. The production from the bottom of the order was a real difference maker for the Yankees with the heart of the order not getting a hit.

Leadoff hitter Brett Gardner provided the pop in this one in the fifth inning with a moon-shot off the top of the foul pole, which scored Cervelli. For Gardner, who isn’t known as a power hitter by any means it was his second homerun of the season.

The Yankees will be starting their first Inter-League series of the season against the Arizona Diamondbacks in a re-match of the great 2001 World Series, as Ivan Nova (0-1, 7.71) will be facing Brandon McCarthy (0-1, 7.71).