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.

Yankees Complete Sweep of Blue Jays

espn.go.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

August 22^nd, 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 pick up the win after a three hour rain delay on Thursday afternoon, as they completed the four-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays. The win moves the Yankees to (68-59), which is six games behind the Boston Red Sox for the AL East, but now just 3.5 games behind the two Wild Card spots.

Andy Pettitte made his second straight very good start for the Yankees on Thursday, as he picked up his ninth win of the season. Pettitte went six innings allowing just one run on four hits and three walks. The only mistake by Pettitte came in the fifth inning, as Blue Jays Catcher J.P. Arencibia hit a solo-home run, which was his 19^th of the year, and was the first run for either team in the game.

Yankees Unable to Sweep Blue Jays in Toronto

sbnation.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 21st, 2013

New York Yankees vs. Toronto Blue Jays Post Game Recap

Final Score: Yankees 4 Blue Jays 8

The New York Yankees were unable to sweep the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon, but they took two out of three games against them. The Yankees have been rolling despite the loss on Sunday, as they have won two out of three games in their last three series, and that has gotten them a record of (10-7) after the bad first week.

Yankees Starter Ivan Nova’s tough beginning to the season didn’t get any easier in Toronto, as he once again didn’t pitch well, but on the bright side for Nova he didn’t get a loss just a no-decision. Nova went only five innings allowing four runs on seven hits, and four walks. Pitch count was once again a problem for Nova, as he threw a whopping 32 pitches in the first inning, and after that it was clear he wasn’t going to make it very deep into the game.

Nova wasn’t the only Yankees pitcher who struggled in this one, as David Phelps had a rough appearance out of the bullpen. Phelps went the final three innings for the Yankees, but allowed three runs on three hits, and two walks. Phelps ERA is at 6.23 so far this season, which is about three points higher than he finished last year. For Phelps the big mistake came in the seventh inning, when Blue Jays Catcher J.P Arencibia hit a two-run homerun for his seventh homerun already this season.

The Yankees offense was started by backup Catcher Chris Stewart, who for being a defensive Catcher is hitting the ball very well to start the season. Stewart hit a solo homerun in the third inning, which was his first homerun since July 28th of last season. He finished the game going two for three at the plate, and is now hitting .353 on the season.

The top of the order for the Yankees was great in this game, but despite the top three hitters all having multi-hit games they only combined for one run scored. Brett Gardner, Robinson Cano, and Vernon Wells all had two hits, but only Cano was able to touch home plate. Wells capped off a great series in Toronto going seven for 15 at the plate, and got a ton of boos from his former home crowd.

The main reason for the Yankees top of the order not scoring in this game was that Travis Hafner really struggled with runners in scoring position. Hafner went zero for three at the plate with RISP, and the Yankees in as a whole went 1 for 12, which just won’t get the job done.

Next up for the Yankees will be a trip down to Tampa Bay to play the Rays, as C.C Sabathia (3-1, 2.57 ERA) will be facing Matt Moore (3-0, 1.00 ERA) in what should be a good pitchers duel.