The Yankees’ Week In Review: Drama Drama Drama!

In the most exciting week of Yankees’ baseball in this young season, there was ejections, injections (in the lineup), and lack of affection (Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park, rivalry senses dinging!).

Apr 24, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; New York Yankees first baseman

(25) is congratulated by left fielder

(11) after hitting a homerun off Boston Red Sox pitcher

(not pictured) during the third inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

The Yanks closed the final game of a 3-game Rays’ series on Sunday, avoiding the sweep with a 5-1 victory at Tropicana Field. Preston Claiborne earned his first win of 2014 after the Yankees score 4 runs in the top of the 12th inning.

After a day off on Monday, the team prepared for what would be one of the more heated series in the league this season. After Masahiro Tanaka pitched an absolute gem in Game 1 on Tuesday (9-3 win), Michael Pineda blew up social media and baseball networks everywhere after he was caught with a big splotch of pine tar on his neck, resulting in a 10-game suspension for the big righty, excluding the contest he was thrown out of. New York would end up losing to the Sox 5-1.

Game 3 was started by C.C. Sabathia, and he pitched well, striking out eight batters in six innings, with three hits and walks each. But the real story was the offense, racking up 14 hits against a wild Felix Doubront and a porous field. Mark Teixeira finally hit his first homer of the season, Jacoby Ellsbury had three hits and three RBI against his former team, and Yangervis Solarte led the team with 4 RBI. The Yankees would take the final game of the series 14-5, capturing 5 games out of seven this season from the archrival.

Friday was not as nice for the boys from the Bronx as they played the Los Angeles Angels. The team looked lethargic, as Hiroki Kuroda allowed 8 runs (6 earned) in less than five innings of work. Only Derek Jeter scored for the Yankees, as the team only mustered 1 run against starter C.J. Wilson. Ian Stewart, Albert Pujols, Collin Cowgill, and Erick Aybar hit home runs as the Angels rout the Yankees 13-1.

Saturday was a pitching matchup between Vidal Nuno and Hector Santiago. Both went 4.1 innings; Santiago surrendered four runs, Nuno gave up three runs. Yankees win 4-3. Dellin Betances earned the win after two innings of relief, David Robertson picked up the save, and John Ryan Murphy had 3 RBI, including his first Major League home run!

The Yankees also lost Ivan Nova for the season after he will have Tommy John Surgery to repair a partially torn UCL in his arm. Overall, it wasn’t a horrible week for the Yankees, but the negatives stand out.