Kuroda Struggles Again in Loss to Blue Jays

nytimes.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

August 28th, 2013

New York Yankees vs. Toronto Blue Jays Post Game Recap

Final Score: Yankees 2 Blue Jays 7

The New York Yankees suffered a bad loss in the rubber game of the series they needed to win against a poor Toronto Blue Jays team, which hurts their playoff hopes. The loss moves them to (70-63), which is now 8.5 games behind the Boston Red Sox in the AL East, and also 5.5 games behind the two Wild Card spots.

For the third straight start Hiroki Kuroda wasn’t very good for the Yankees, who heading towards the home stretch of the season appear to not have an ace anymore due to the recent struggle of Kuroda. The loss was Kuroda’s 10th of the season, and is the third straight start he has lost. The first inning was a tough one for the Yankees, as Brett Lawrie hit a two-run double to get the Blue Jays going early. Later in that inning a weird play allowed two more runs to score after a strikeout of J.P. Arencibia, Chris Stewart had to throw him out at first, but the throw was wild allowing two runs to score. In the second inning Edwin Encarnacion hit a two-run home run, which was his 34th home run of the season. The final run off Kuroda for the Blue Jays would come in the third inning, as Jose Reyes hit a sac-fly that scored Arencibia. Kuroda went five innings allowing seven runs, five of which were earned on nine hits and one walk.



The Blue Jays had a surprisingly good start from Todd Redman, who was able to earn his second win of the season. The Yankees were only able to get to Redman in the fourth inning, as Alex Rodriguez singled home Curtis Granderson for the first Yankees run. A few batters later Mark Reynolds doubled home Alfonso Soriano, and Alex Rodriguez was thrown out trying to score. Reynolds had a good day filling in for the injured Robinson Cano, as he went three for four at the plate. Redman finished going 5.2 innings allowing just the two runs in the fourth inning on three hits and four walks, while striking out seven batters.

The bullpen for the Blue Jays was also very good, as the combination of Aaron Loup, Sergio Santos, and Darren Oliver all were able to strikeout two batters in there innings of work.

Next up for the Yankees will be a day off to lick their wounds before starting another important series against the Baltimore Orioles, with C.C. Sabathia (11-11, 4.81) on the mound.