Yanks Go Yard Recap: New York Yankees Eliminated From Playoff Contention

Sep 25, 2013; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Phil Hughes (65) heads to the dugout after being relieved during the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Well, the inevitable has happened. For only the second time since 1995, the New York Yankees won’t be a part of October baseball. The Yankees were eliminated tonight before their 8-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays when the Cleveland Indians won their game.

In what very well could be Phil Hughes last start as a New York Yankee, he did what he had done all season long; struggle. After a leadoff out, Wil Myers doubled. James Loney followed with a double of his own to make it 1-0. The Yankees would tie it in the bottom half. Eduardo Nunez led off with a double and scored when Robinson Cano drove him home with a double.

Loney got his second double of the game leading off the third. Evan Longoria, David DeJesus and Delmon Young singled to bring home another run and knock out Hughes. David Huff came in and got Matt Joyce out on a sac fly and eventually out of the inning down 3-1. Nunez made it 3-2 in the third with his third homer of the year.

The Rays would put it out of reach in the seventh. Longoria hit his 30th homer of the year after Ben Zobrist and Loney reached. DeJesus followed with his eighth homer of the year.

The Yanks tried to mount a comeback in the eighth. With one out, Ichiro Suzuki pinch-hit for Alex Rodriguez and singled. Cano singled and Vernon Wells walked to load the bases. Lyle Overbay drew a pinch-hit bases loaded walk to drive in a run, but Curtis Granderson would ground out to end the inning.

Longoria hit his second home run of the night in the ninth of Preston Claiborne.

YGY Player Of The Game: Longoria

The series wraps up with Mariano Rivera‘s final home game. Ivan Nova will face Alex Cobb at 7:05.

Notes: Before tonight’s game Travis Hafner was activated off the 60-Day DL and CC Sabathia was placed on it.