New York Yankees Game Recap: All-Star Gardner Leads Yankees to 6-2 Victory Over Oakland

The New York Yankees (46-39) defeated the Oakland Athletics ( 39-49) 6-2 in the rubber-match of a three game series on Thursday. Masahiro Tanaka (5-3 ) faced Jesse Chavez ( 4-9) at Yankee Stadium.  Tanaka pitched a 7.2 inning gem, allowing two early runs, but then shutting down the A’s offense retiring 13 straight batters before being pulled in the eighth inning for reliever Chasen Shreve. Tanaka looked sharp finishing with two hits, two runs (only one earned), giving up only one walk and striking out six.

The Yankees led off their six-run day with a solo home run by All-Star Brett Gardner into the right field bleachers. The speedy outfielder was making his case for inclusion in the summer classic with his 50th career home run by giving the Yankees a 1-0 lead in the first inning.

It was announced mid-game that Gardner was chosen as a replacement for the injured Alex Gordon. Gardner showed that he deserved to be an All-Star going 3-5 with two singles and a home run.

The A’s scored both of their runs in the second inning. Josh Reddick reached first on catcher’s interference against Brian McCann.  Billy Butler doubled to left field to score Reddick from first base to tie the score at one. Mark Canha gave the A’s the lead with a 2-out RBI double to center over Jacoby Ellsbury‘s head. The A’s led 2-1.

The Yankees tied the game in the third inning and never looked back.  The dynamic duo of Ellsbury and Gardner picked up where they left off before the Ellsbury’s injury sidelined him for nearly two months as the two set the table for a third inning scoring rally that would be the difference in the game. An Ellsbury walk and Gardner single to centerfield  put runners on first and second for All-Star Mark Teixeira who plated Ellsbury with an RBI single to centerfield tying the game 2-2.

Jul 9, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury (22) hits a two run single in the fourth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

The newly returned Ellsbury was once more in the thick of things in the 4th inning when a Yankees rally pushed the Yankees into the lead. A Stephen Drew walk and the MLB career first hit for rookie Cole Figueroa  led to a 2-run RBI by Ellsbury giving the Yankees a 4-2 lead.

The Yankees would never look back, tacking on two more runs in the eighth to secure the 6-2 victory. Adam Warren  came into the game in the 9th inning to get the final out.

It was a satisfying victory for the Yankees as their offense produced six runs on two hits and the effective pitching performance of Tanaka and Shreve. The Yankees announced Gardner’s selection to the All-Star game  while Gardner was in the field. Yankees’ fans began chanting “Brett-Gardner” and he tipped his cap to fans. He was greeted with hugs and high fives in the dugout on his return to the inning.

The Yankees took a series from the A’s for the first time this season and will  travel to Fenway Park to begin a three-game series with the Boston Red Sox (41-45) this weekend. First up, is Michael Pineda (8-5, 3.79 ERA) against Clay Buchholz (7-6, 3.27 ERA) on Friday, July 10th. The game is scheduled to start at 7:10 EST.

This will be the Yankees final series before the All-Star break.

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