Garza Shines in Debut with Rangers

sbnation.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

July 24^th, 2013

New York Yankees vs Texas Rangers Post Game Recap

Final Score: Yankees 1 Rangers 3

After a great come from behind win on Tuesday night the New York Yankees offense was shutdown on Wednesday in the loss to the Texas Rangers. The loss moves the Yankees to (53-48) on the season, and with the Boston Red Sox losing the Yankees stay at seven games behind them.

Andy Pettitte gave the Yankees a very good start, but like so many times this season the Yankees offense couldn’t help a Yankees Starter get a win, and for Pettitte he got his eighth loss of the season. The Rangers got to Pettitte in the first inning, as A.J. Pierzynski had a RBI single to score Ian Kinsler for the first run of the game. Pierzynski would get the best of Pettitte again in the sixth inning for the Rangers final run off the lefty, as Pierzynski hit a solo-home run, which was his 10^th of the season.

Newly acquired Matt Garza earned his first win in his first start with the Rangers after being traded from the Chicago Cubs less than a week ago. Garza in his first start back as an American League Pitcher since his days with the Tampa Bay Rays went 7.1 innings allowing just one unearned run on five hits with five strikeouts. The one run the Yankees scored with Garza on the mound came from a Robinson Cano RBI single that scored Brett Gardner, who reached on a throwing error by Garza on what should have been an out at First Base.

The Rangers final run of the game came off of Reliever Shawn Kelley, who gave up a solo-home run to David Murphy in the eighth inning, which gave the Rangers a 3-1 lead. Kelley went two innings allowing just the one home run to Murphy, and one walk.

The bullpen for the Rangers finished this game up with relative ease after the great start from Garza, as Neal Cotts got the hold, by going 1.1 innings without allowing a base-runner, and then Joe Nathan came on to earn his 32^nd save of the season, by getting Eduardo Nunez to pop out to end the game.

On Thursday afternoon the Yankees will look to try and split the series with the Rangers, as Hiroki Kuroda (9-6, 2.65) will be facing Derek Holland (8-5, 3.10).