Yanks Go Yard Recap: Overbay Sparks New York Yankees To Victory

Lyle Overbay is going to make it very hard for the New York Yankees to get rid of him when Mark Teixeira comes off the DL later this week.  Overbay started the tying rally in the ninth and hit the game winning homer in the 11th as the Yankees beat the Rays 4-3 in 11 innings.

May 25, 2013; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; New York Yankees first baseman Lyle Overbay (55) is congratulated by teammates after he hit the go-ahead home run to beat the Tampa Bay Rays during the eleventh inning at Tropicana Field. New York Yankees defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Yankees got the scoring started right away off Rays’ starter Matt Moore. Brett Gardner led off the game with a double, went to third on a groundout and scored on Travis Hafner‘s single. The game stayed that way until the fifth. Jose Molina doubled with one out of Vidal Nuno. Two batters later, Desmond Jennings doubled him home.

The Rays took the lead in the seventh. James Loney led off the inning with a single, knocking Nuno out of the game. Shawn Kelley came in and promptly gave up a double to Matt Joyce. Boone Logan then relieved Kelley. Kelly Johnson singled in Loney. Yunel Escobar then grounded into a fielder’s choice that brought home Joyce.

Fernando Rodney was brought in to shut the door, but he wouldn’t be able to shoot his bow and arrow on this day. With two out, Overbay walked. Brennan Boesch pinch-hit for Austin Romine. Overbay went to second on balk. Boesch then doubled in Overbay. Gardner followed with a single to tie the game. Overbay’s homer in the 11th gave the Yankees the lead, and Mariano Rivera got his 18th save of the season with a 1-2-3 11th.

YGY Player Of The Game: Overbay

CC Sabathia and Alex Cobb will face off at 1:40 today, as the Yankees look for the sweep.

Notes: The Yankees claimed David Huff off waivers from the Cleveland Indians and designated Francisco Rondon for assignment. Huff is out of options, and the Yankees have until Tuesday to make a move on the 25-man roster or lose him. Boesch took Curtis Granderson‘s spot on the roster, after Granderson was placed on the 15-day DL. Andy Pettitte expects to return June 1.