Recap: Beltran Blast Lifts Yankees Over O’s

Jun 20, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees right fielder

(36) has gatorade dumped on him by left fielder

(11) after hitting a walk off three-run home run against the Baltimore Orioles during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees defeated the Oriole

Coming into this game, the Yankees had just outpitched, and outhit the first place Toronto Blue Jays three games in row, en route to earning the sweep. They looked to keep that trend going Friday night.

Mark Teixeira got the scoring started for the Yankees in the first, when he lined an RBI double through the teeth of the shift to score Jacoby Ellsbury, making it 1-0 Yankees.

Hiroki Kuroda got the start for the Yankees, and did not allow a hit through the first five innings of play. That quickly changed however, as he gave up four hits which resulted in two runs, and a 2-1 Orioles lead. RBI hits came off the bats of Steve Pearce and Adam Jones.

The Yankees had plenty of opportunities, loading the bases in the second, fifth, and sixth innings, but the Yankee offense failed to come through with even a single run each time.

In the ninth, Steve Pearce again drove in a run off of pitcher David Huff, to extend the Orioles’ lead to 3-1.

In the bottom of the ninth, Brett Gardner led off with a base hit into left field off Orioles’ closer Zach Britton. After a Derek Jeter strikeout and a Jacoby Ellsbury fly out, Mark Teixeira worked a walk. It was all up to Brian McCann to keep the game alive, and he did just that, lining a clutch base hit into center field to drive in Gardner from second, cutting the Oriole lead to 1.

Now it was up to Carlos Beltran, who has struggled since coming off the DL for the Yankees a couple of weeks ago. After working a 3-1 count, Beltran came up big time, sending a MONSTROUS shot into the left field seats to seal a 5-3 Yankees’ win. It was Beltran’s first homer since coming off the DL, and boy, was it a big one. It was also the Yankees’ first walk-off of the season. It was also truly the Yankees’ best win of the young season. And who was there afterwards ready to give Beltran the celebratory Gatorade bath? Who else, but Brett Gardner!

Vidal Nuno (1-3, 5.90 ERA) will get the start for the Yankees as they go for their fifth win in a row tomorrow, against Bud Norris (6-5, 3.73 ERA).