Yankees Complete Double-Header Sweep Against Blue Jays

nypost.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

August 20^th, 2013

Toronto Blue Jays vs New York Yankees Post Game Recap Game 2

Final Score: Blue Jays 2 Yankees 3

The New York Yankees were able to complete the double-header sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays with a walk-off win on Tuesday night. The win moves the Yankees to (66-59), which is 6.5 games behind the Rays and Red Sox in the AL East, and now just 5.5 games behind the second Wild Card spot.

A very rare occurrence happen for Phil Hughes on Tuesday night, and that was him pitching well in Yankees stadium, but despite the good start Hughes only got a no decision for his efforts. In the first inning the Blue Jays go one of their two runs off of Hughes on a wild pitch that allowed Rajai Davis to score, and then in the fifth inning Davis hit a sac-fly to score Munenori Kawasaki. Hughes ended up going six innings allowing just the two runs on seven hits, two walk, while striking out six batters, and he also didn’t allow a home run in a home start, which is a rare thing. Any improvement from Hughes will help the Yankees, as they continue their push towards a playoff spot.

Blue Jays Starter Mark Buehrle also gave his team a very good start, but like Hughes only earned a no decision for his efforts. The Yankees only got two runs off Buehrle, as in the third inning Robinson Cano singled home Austin Romine. Cano had quite the day at the plate going six for eight, which certainly helps the batting average. Jayson Nix would get the best of Buehrle in the seventh inning, as Nix hit his third home run of the season to tie the game up at two runs a piece at the time. Buehrle finished up going 6.2 innings allowing just the two runs on six hits, and one walk.

This game came down to a battle of the bullpens after both teams Starters gave them a good performance, and for the Yankees their 26^th man for the double-header Preston Claiborne gave them two solid innings allowing just one hit. Mariano Rivera had to work double duty on Tuesday pitching in both games, and in the second game he allowed two hits, but no runs, and earned his fourth win of the season.

In the ninth inning the Yankees got to Darren Oliver, as after a lead-off walk by Mark Reynolds, he was pinch-ran for by Ichiro Suzuki. A sac-bunt and then a steal of Third Base set up Jayson Nix to be the hero and that’s exactly what he was, as he singled home Ichiro for the walk-off win.

Next up the Yankees will look to take the four-game series against the Blue Jays, as Adam Warren(1-2, 3.57) will be making the start for the Yankees against R.A. Dickey (9-11, 4.49).